The partners from Argentina, El Salvador, Colombia, Hungary, Romania and Spain were eager to finally meet face to face in Argentina to discuss all aspects of the VET Pact project, which is funded by Erasmus+. Although some of the partners had previously met through other projects, it was necessary and beneficial to meet everyone in person.
The objectives of the meeting were to establish personal connections with the partners, thoroughly discuss important project aspects, clarify any uncertainties, and become familiar with the Argentinian partner and the city where the meeting took place.

A total of 10 individuals participated in the three-day meeting, originally planned for 12 participants, including one project coordinator and a representative from each country’s financier. However, the El Salvadorian and Spanish partners were represented by only their project coordinators as the financiers were unable to attend due to objective reasons.

The first day of the meeting involved getting acquainted with the Argentinian host organization, the Network of Argentine Municipalities Against Climate Change. We had discussions with the president and a representative of the institution’s main donor, and each association briefly introduced themselves to establish a better understanding of each other. We then reviewed the two-year project timeline, divided into days, and discussed upcoming administrative tasks and the research on vocational schools, which would help identify the main challenges faced by students and teachers. In the afternoon, we focused on the communication and dissemination strategy of the project, presenting the project logo and other communication tools, and assigning communication responsibilities on a weekly basis. Finally, we delved deeper into the research process, discussing the next steps regarding interviews and expert teams.

On the second day, a guide took us on a tour of the city of Rosario, visiting notable sites such as the historic port, customs office, a youth center, and the Che Guevara Museum (as he was born in Rosario). We also walked along the Paraná River, visiting the Falkland Islands memorial and the flag memorial (where the Argentinian flag was first raised in the city), and exploring the Americas Flag Museum. After lunch, we had a three-hour self-guided visit to the Museum of Democracy, where we observed exhibits and stories related to human rights, migration, South American Juntas, and slavery.

On the morning of the third day, we discussed project finances, presenting potential cost categories, monitoring and reporting tools, and the currency exchange platform to the partners. In the afternoon, we finalized the number of participants and dates for the meetings in Spain and El Salvador, addressing all project-related inquiries. To conclude the meeting, we reviewed urgent and upcoming tasks and evaluated the overall success of the gathering.

Every planned topic was thoroughly explored, primarily in English, with occasional clarifications in Spanish by the four Spanish-speaking partners. Essential information was shared through Google Drive and PowerPoint presentations, but most of the meeting was conducted through discussions.

In summary, the meeting was highly successful. The hosting organization was extremely supportive, providing a safe environment for everyone to understand their work, methodologies, and motivations. The positive attitudes and dedication of all partners reinforced our confidence in the project’s potential for success.