The Exchange Project was arranged and sponsored by the Rotary Club de Silves to provide participants with opportunities to experience school life in the UK. The project was started in 2013 and has run successfully since then, with a break during the pandemic. The English students spent time in the Algarve in March, and this was the chance for the Portuguese students to attend an English school and stay with the host UK families.

Rotary Club President Pam Winn travelled with the 5 students and two teachers who unanimously agreed how useful the trip had been. This kind of activity not only improves language and communication skills but also allows participants to develop new skills and ideas along the way.

One parent, after the trip, said: “Thank you, RC Silves and all the teachers involved for this unforgettable experience. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the fantastic exchange experience between our Portuguese kids and the English students. It was truly unique and invaluable. An experience filled with learning, sharing, and connection. I am immensely especially grateful for the opportunity you have provided to our children. This experience has enriched them in countless ways, both personally and culturally, and will surely stay with them for a lifetime.”

This is one of many projects that RC Silves works on in the local community. If you are interested in seeing more, their website is www.silvesrotaryclub.org. To attend a meeting, contact MOC.silvesrotaryclub@gmail.com