Staff make international partnerships ahead of student adventures in Slovenia
Enhancing wellbeing through nature is one of the key aspects looked at by a team of lecturers at Coleg Sir Gâr ahead of a student trip to Slovenia.
The team made headway in making partnerships with local communities in Idrija and a company called More to Explore, who will be developing a bespoke and accessible package for students who are on learning programmes who need a little extra support.
Funded by Taith, the trip, scheduled for June 2025, will offer students on independent living skills (ILS) and foundation courses, a five-day experience of exploring Slovenian culture.
ILS learners from Coleg Ceredigion will also be going on the trip and the partnership hopes to building lasting relationships between the partner colleges.
Slovenia was chosen due to its majestic landscapes of forests, mountains and lakes and because it is very accessible.
Students will stay in a hostel and interact with the local community and its youths, taking part in activities and workshops including lace-making and a local music festival which local people are planning for the visit.
As well as exploring mountains and lakes, they will also be shopping, cooking and learning about budgeting in a different country with a different language, offering a unique experience, especially for those who have never left the UK.
Helen Edwards, head of ILS, Fresh Start and Foundation at Coleg Sir Gâr said: “Slovenia is really beautiful and I think it will be perfect for our students.
“The people are really friendly and Idrija is not a tourist area but we will still have the guidance from Mikaela from More to Explore, who shares our vision and will provide a very person-centred experience for our students.”
Mikaela Toczec, founder of More to Explore in Slovenia added: “As a former lecturer at Coleg Sir Gr, and founder of More to Explore, I am really excited about working with Tanya, Helen and the team to create this unique adventure here in my home region of Idrija in Slovenia.
“I strongly believe that time spent outdoors, exploring new places and connecting with new cultures can lead to powerful experiences for anyone given the opportunity, and that in some cases these can be truly transformative.
“Making this happen for a group of learners from Coleg Sir Gâr is really special and I was delighted to share a small taste of our forests, rivers, mountains and community, with Tanya and Helen on their November visit. I can’t wait to welcome them back in June with the whole group.”
Tanya Knight, Coleg Sir Gâr lecturer and foundation course tutor added: “I’ve worked with Mikaela previously during a Welsh Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for Duke of Edinburgh Award. Having the opportunity to re-connect in Slovenia to offer our learners this opportunity is just wonderful. Mikaela has so much experience in leading expeditions and has linked in with locals in Indrija to offer us a bespoke package. This is perfect for a visit with our learners to experience Wild Slovenia.”
Taith is a Welsh Government funded programme delivered by International Learning Exchange Programme.
