Ceci n'est pas Brussels

Job shadowing in Brussels

The Erasmus+ mobility in Brussels involved 1 pedagogue, 1 nursery educator and 3 kindergarten teachers and offered the participants a rich and complex experience, revealing the city as a multi-faceted Northern European capital. Brussels presented itself as a place of fascinating contrasts — artistic and popular, regal and humble, cosmopolitan and provincial — reflecting its multilingual and multicultural identity, but also its contradictions. Transport efficiency and attention to sustainability coexist with intrinsic complexities, making the experience a true 'metaphor' for European challenges.

Within the educational services visited, a remarkable quality of the educational offer emerged, often in the face of limited resources. The warm welcome and the availability found made the exchange particularly significant. A salient aspect was the observation of Dutch schools where girls and boys, even of the third or fourth generation with foreign origins, demonstrate trilingualism in an officially bilingual city (Dutch and French).

The experience made it possible to appreciate the solidity of the Bolognese educational culture for early childhood, characterized by a close integration between politics and pedagogical vision in daily practices. Brussels is taking its first steps in the inclusion of girls and boys with disabilities in public settings.

A particularly effective model found are the “Huis van het Kind” (centers for children and parents), capable of creating spaces and activities that promote encounter and self-organization between families, counteracting the sense of isolation that can emerge in a big city.

The Erasmus Hogeschool in Brussels welcomed the participants with enthusiasm, promoting a climate of fruitful exchange. In particular, university training for pedagogical coaches was presented, with a focus on identity and narrative aspects, essential for supporting educational personnel in complex contexts. The mobility ended with the intention of continuing the collaboration, exploring the opportunity for internships for Dutch students at Bolognese child services, in order to deepen inclusive practices and encourage their transfer to Belgium.

Services involved: Ada Negri kindergartens, Anna Serra plexus 1, Arco Guidi Costa, Carli kindergarten.