Kočevje AEC provided an opportunity for women, most of them mothers who immigrated to Kočevje, Slovenia, to develop their skills. They are highly motivated to learn despite their very basic knowledge of Slovenian. The programme offers them a chance to confidently absorb knowledge about the characteristics of Slovenian culture and environment. They met regularly in the literacy improvement programme called Training for Success in Life.
The common core of the programme is the acquisition of literacy-related basic skills, social skills and the principles of lifelong learning and active citizenship. In addition to improving literacy, the two female mentors guided the participants through the steps of learning Slovenian in all areas (writing, reading, speaking). While learning Slovenian, they were introduced to the features of local culture and the countryside.
Their knowledge of Slovenian was enriched through menus and recipes for their own dishes. Their able hands created delicious cheese bureks, pies, croissants, etc. Of course, the recipes were prepared in Slovenian.
We ended the July programme by learning about the local history and natural values of the Kočevska Reka settlement. The participants were very keen to hear about the historic secrets of the Škrilj Bunker and walked along the Eagle’s Trail around the Reško Lake in Kočevska Reka with curiosity. They had to use their senses to explore the forest.
We ended the July programme by learning about the local history and natural values of the Kočevska Reka settlement. The participants were very keen to hear about the historic secrets of the Škrilj Bunker and walked along the Eagle’s Trail around the Reško Lake in Kočevska Reka with curiosity. They had to use their senses to explore the forest.
By way of forest pedagogy tasks and didactic aids, they saw how different the forest and forest animal experience can be. To surprise them, the Kočevska Reka unit of the Slovenian Forest Service made it possible for them to watch the nest of the only pair of white-tailed eagles through a telescope.
We built a genuine relationship with the participants and encouraged them on their first steps towards integration into their new environment. Good luck!
Maja Rupnik (maja.rupnik@lu-kocevje.si), Kočevje AEC
