The eTwinning project “The Children’s Train” brought together students and teachers from Italy, Turkey, Belgium, and Romania in a rich intercultural learning experience focused on literature, history, children’s rights, and essential life skills.
The project was coordinated by dedicated teachers: Iordache Mirela and Aldea Carmen Lăcrămioara from Colegiul Naţional Pedagogic „D.P. Perpessicius”, Brăila, Romania; Barış Ünal from Kaymakam Mehmet Tahir İmam Hatip Secondary School, Turkey; Mara Cordua from Istituto Comprensivo Portici 3 don Peppe Diana; Piera Nardozza from IC SERINO, plesso "B. PICELLA" di Forino AV, Italy and Melissa Van Everbroeck from MPI Het Vindingrijk Evergem, Belgium.
Inspired by Viola Ardone’s novel The Children’s Train, the project explored the emotional and historical story of post-World War II Italy, when thousands of children from the South were temporarily hosted by families in the North, receiving care, education, and hope. Through reading, film analysis, and discussion, students engaged deeply with themes of identity, belonging, and resilience, with a particular focus on the character Amerigo Speranza.
Working in international teams, students collaborated across borders, using digital tools to create presentations, e-books, posters, and multimedia stories. Platforms such as Canva, Padlet, Google Docs, Book Creator, Mentimeter, Vimeo, Picsart, and Suno supported their creativity and strengthened their digital and communication skills.
A key dimension of the project was its integration with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, helping learners reflect on fundamental rights such as education, protection, and family. This fostered civic awareness and a stronger sense of global responsibility.
“The Children’s Train” proved to be far more than an educational initiative. It became a transformative journey that strengthened empathy, collaboration, and intercultural understanding. By connecting literature with real-world values, the project showed that solidarity can cross borders and change lives—just like the symbolic train that inspired the story.