Tree of Friendship
The Ambassador of Finland to Croatia Timo Rajakangas along with the Ambassador of the Czech Republic Martin Kosatki visited the elementary school in Velika Ludina, a small town close to Zagreb on 12 December, 2013. During their visit, they had the opportunity to learn more about the school’s activities, pupils and teachers, but also about the cooperation this small, but active Croatian school has with with two elementary schools in Finland and the Czech Republic. Two teachers from the Alakylä School, Kiiminki visited Velika Ludina on this occasion - class teacher Johanna Kemppainen and English teacher Katja Juntunen.
The three schools are working together on a joint EU-funded project that promotes entrepreneurship in primary schools. In Velika Ludina for instance, children are exposed to entrepreneurship from first grades. One example of entrepreneurial spirit is that the children produce their own organic chamomile tea and soap. They also cultivate their own ecological garden in the school yard and sell the harvest at the local market.
The Principal of the Croatian School Sonja Pribolšan-Pongračić, together with the foreign guests, planted two Linden trees in the school yard as a symbol of long-term cooperation and friendship between these three schools.