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COLEGIUL TEHNIC DE TRANSPORTURI AUTO B-dul Carol I nr.5

DROBETA TURNU-SEVERIN, 220099 Mehedinţi

Tel: +40(252)313149 Fax: +40(252)319403

COMENIUS PROJECT REPORT

BIODIVERSITY OF RIVERS COM – 13-PM-364-MH-PL

DROBETA TURNU-SEVERIN, ROMANIA

Cooperation within multilateral Comenius project "Biodiversity of Rivers" was materialized between

30th April and 4th May through the third project meeting held on Colegiul Tehnic de Transporturi

Auto in Drobeta Turnu Severin. Attended the meeting 16 teachers and 21 students from all partner

schools from Poland, Turkey, France, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus. Have joined many students and

teachers from our school, Colegiul Tehnic de Transporturi Auto and also representatives from

Mehedinti County School Inspectorate and our local partner, the Iron Gates Region Museum.

The arrival of foreign delegations took place during the day of Wednesday, 30th April 2014.

Guests were welcomed by representatives from our school with bread and salt, a traditional

Romanian custom expressing hospitality, friendship and appreciation.

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The activities of the meeting began on the morning of 1st of May , 2014 with the welcome speech of

the headmaster of the school, Mr. Costel Olteanu . Through the words addressed to the participants,

he expressed on behalf of Romanian teachers and students, the joy and honor of being the hosts of

an event so important for our school.

To make our region known to the guests, he invited Mrs. Dr. biologist Sorina Mataca and Mrs. Dr.

geologist Florina Diaconu, representatives of the Iron Gates Region Museum to present two of the

most important regions in terms of biodiversity in Mehedinti County: the Natural Park " Iron Gates "

and the Geopark of Mehedinti Plateau. These presentations have introduced the points of interest

that were to be known in the coming days, in our documentary trips.

Then, it came the turn of students to present their scientific projects that have focused this time on

the theme „Invasive species leading to loss of native species and habitats in rivers". Through films,

Ppt or Prezi presentations, they impressed the audience thanks of rich information content of their

works and the competence of transmitting them in English.

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A cultural program presented by Romanian students concluded the first day of the meeting.

They were applauded for their artistic performance, for their traditional and modern dances and

songs that have transmitted joy and good humor to all.

At some point, everyone stood up, teachers and students from all countries have joined hands in a

cheerful Romanian ring dance .

Because our meeting took place a short time after the Easter holidays, we wanted to share with our

guests, a little from our traditions. We prepared a basket full of Easter eggs and have served the

guests with the traditional Romanian cake - "cozonac".

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In the same day, the coordinators from all countries and teachers involved in the project have

reunited in a working meeting. Took place an assessment of student work, mid-term review of the

project activities and discussion about the theme which will be prepared by students for the next

Comenius meeting, in Spain.

In the afternoon, after lunch, the students and teachers were invited to a walk through our city to

get to know its sights and its stories from old and new times.

Important points of the project meeting in the next day, 2nd of May 2014 were: a visit to the” Iron

Gates I” Hydroelectric Power Station and the trips of study and documentation - first one carried

out on the Vodița River valley for knowing the flora and fauna of the area and the second one to the

Danube river, to see the beautiful landscape of the Danube Gorge area.

We have visited first the “Iron Gates I” Hydroelectric Power Station Museum, where a guide

provided us scientific data about the construction of the Hydroelectric Plant, the largest on the

Danube River. The tour ended with the most interesting part, the descent in the turbine hall where

we could saw the giant Kaplan turbines.

We could also see material evidence of human settlement in the area,

inhabited since the Paleolithic (30,000 years ago), a water mill,

considered the forerunner of modern Pelton turbine and elements of

the natural environment.

Water mill

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The field trip in the Vodita River valley, a tributary of the Danube River, had the aim to invite the

students and teachers to explore the flora and fauna in this area and discover the richness of local

biodiversity. For this, Mrs. biologist Sorina Mataca have suggested the students an easy learning

method using a "game". She gave them envelopes with photos of flora specimens and they had to

find these samples, by exploring the nearby area. They were helped by their biology teachers and

together, with patience and care have resolved the tasks. It was a good opportunity to see the

teachers' interest and love for natural science transmitted to their students.

For few minutes, Testudo hermanni, the beloved and strictly protected tortoise in Romania was the

“star”, being photographed by all of us.

The “outdoor biology hour” passed quickly and we left these wonderful places and took the bus to

the Orșova town and from here a boat for the trip on the Danube River.

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The old river Danubius offered us fabulous landscapes in the Danube gorge – the place where the

force of the waters encounters the mountains with its calcareous relief with lapies and caves.

Unique views, nice pictures...

We had a really great time with our visitors during our trip , we had lunch together on the boat and had the possibility to talk and get to know better each other.

In the evening of the same day, we all, students and teachers had the joy of being together at the "Romanian evening", a party with traditional Romanian dishes, folk dances and cheerfulness.

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Saturday, 3rd of May, we took the bus for another trip, this time in the north side of the Mehedinti county, to see the karstic complex from Ponoarele, a natural reserve with a unique landscape, characterized by disruption of the hydrographic network.

A true outdoor laboratory with numerous karst phenomena such as the lapies field, the cave Ponoarele, the Natural Bridge of Ponoarele or the karst lake Zaton.

Unique landscapes of a great beauty made us feel overwhelmed by the generosity of nature.

On a closer look, we can observe that the activities from the meeting schedule have followed some of the specific objectives of the project, such as: carry out observations of landscape, fauna and flora living in river's valley and take some photos of them, visit to hydroelectric power plant, exchanging ideas between students from different countries, developing skills in the use of ICT tools to make research, to communicate, organize and present information.

Performing these activities lead us to the project purpose and in addition, in our way, we create a beautiful "Comenius story".

From which we all have something to learn. Firstly, all the problems we encounter have at least one solution. And all the situations we do have the aim to develop us, personally and professionally. Secondly, we must adapt to the changes and constantly learn to be creative.

But most importantly we must not forget about the characters from our story. They are those special friends who bring joy to our hearts, precious moments, emotions and who learn us about the

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"strength" that a Comenius team can offer. It is the strength to work for a common goal , to overcome your limits, to accept different mentalities and to believe in TRUE FRIENDSHIP.

The meeting ended on 4th of May.

Hugs, words of farewell, thanks, handshakes, kisses ... the last moments of meeting made us, teachers and students, realize how much we liked to be together and share unforgetable moments.

And also to realize that this meeting had reinforced the bonds between us, which now could not be broken by absence, distance, or time.

LAURA FILIMON Romanian coordinator of the project “BIODIVERSITY OF RIVERS”