MONDAY, MAY 13 After 14 hours of travel (Orleans – Paris Charles De Gaulle – Istanbul – Adana – Silfke) by train, metro, RER, planes and buses we reached at 19:30 our meeting place. Verdat, the head of the Turkish project, has given us a warm welcome that we shared with the other members of the team around a coffee and oriental pastries. Then at 23h we returned to our hotel on the edge of the river Göksu.
TUESDAY, May 14
After a welcome where the team of teachers and staff presented themselves, we attended a performance of dances and folk songs staged by the students in the open amphitheater of the establishment.
A second more official welcome by the director with the exchange of gifts between the Turkish committee and the other countries took place in the best conditions. Then a meeting was held to conclude the project; a listing by country of actions planned and carried out over the past two years (conferences, professional meetings, creation of flyer documents, start ups, visits to institutes, specialized institutions), points not made but replaced by others and finally, actions that have not come into existence have been achieved.
At midday a meal with local colors (spicy dishes, yogurt with goat’s milk produced in the region, oriental cakes) was served in the boarding school.
The afternoon ended with a visit to “Catacombs” Azize Thecla with the basilica under Terence of St. Thecla dating from the 4th century BC. We then continued with a panoramic view of the city from the Silifke Castle and then visit the Resadiye Cami mosque in the city center.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
This morning was dedicated to the discovery of the Mersin region with the visit of Gilindire Cave with a depth of 500 meters and ending with a lake. After a meal in high school we visited a specialized school for young people with disabilities and also a training center and public guidance for people with disabilities.
In the afternoon, we took advantge of the good weather to discuss the project during an outside conference. It was the moment to discuss future projects as well.
THURSDAY, May 16
Departure 8:30 for a working meeting in high school on the last steps to be done by country (mobility tool) so that the French coordinator of the project can make the final report: latest actions (Europe Day, and analysis of videos on the theme disability and thanks by students mobility) to put in place and final report of each country to develop. The delivery of visit certificates was also done at the end of the meeting.
We went to town to visit a private rehabilitation center for people with reduced mobility or with physical and mental disorders. We met patients in full work with their physiotherapists, psychomotor speech therapists.
In the evening a farewell dinner was held in a local restaurant and a last drink was served at a local brewery. The departure by bus for a journey of 14h was made at 23h.
