The official final event marked the closing of the Active Sister Schools project, bringing together schools and partner organisations from Denmark, Poland, and Ukraine for an unforgettable celebration of unity and friendship.
 
The highly anticipated final event of the Active Sister Schools project took place in Warsaw, Poland, from April 16th to 17th, 2024. Over the course of two days, teachers, principals and project partners from Denmark, Poland and Ukraine gathered to celebrate the successful completion of this initiative. The event included a series of activities aimed at highlighting the impact of the project.

Official closing ceremony at the Residence of the Ambassador of Denmark in Poland

The highlight of the event was a ceremony hosted by the Danish Ambassador to Poland, Mr. Ole Toft, who ceremonially inaugurated the meeting.
The event brought together not only representatives from the winning schools from these three countries and the coordinating partners of this project but also a delegate from the Polish Ministry of Sports, Polish Ministry of Education and Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNESCO, and local authorities responsible for sports and education.

Despite the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, being unable to attend the event in person, the project partners were honored to receive a letter from him expressing gratitude for the initiative. I am grateful for your dedication to the Active Sister Schools initiative, as this project has been instrumental in creating a safe space for Ukrainian schoolchildren, particularly those learning away from home due to the loss of their schools. The importance of such initiatives cannot be overstated, and I am confident that the outcomes of the project will have a positive and lasting impact, the Minister wrote.

It should be emphasised that the biggest highlights of the event were the school representatives, without whom the gathering could not have taken place. It's remarkable that Polish, Danish, and even Ukrainian teachers and principals made the journey to Warsaw, despite many of them spending long hours travelling and crossing the border to attend. Their commitment and dedication truly made the event a success.

Days filled with activities and cooperation

During these two days, participants went beyond the official ceremony at the Residence. The first day started with a tour of Warsaw, delving into the city's rich history and culture. In the evening, there was a concert featuring the Copenhagen Sankt Annæ Symphonic Orchestra and the Warsaw Chopin Secondary Music School Orchestra at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. On the second day, collaboration and exchange continued with practical workshops at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Poland. It was a great opportunity for everyone to connect, share experiences, and build lasting relationships.

About “Active Sister Schools” project

Active Sister Schools is an international initiative fostering unity among school children from Denmark, Poland, and Ukraine. Through the innovative use of Physically Active Learning, the project aims to create meaningful connections and promote integration among students.
 
The pilot edition of the project, running from September 2023 to February 2024, engaged 15 international teams, each composed of schools from Denmark, Poland, and Ukraine. Participants enthusiastically embraced monthly challenges, where they not only had fun but also taught each other about their countries.

The project has been implemented through a collaboration of four partners - V4SPORT Foundation (Poland), Danish School Sport (Denmark), UkraineActive (Ukraine), and International Sport and Culture Association (international, based in Denmark). The initiative has been funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

As the project comes to a close, a new edition of Active Sister Schools has already begun, with Spanish students joining the initiative, and a kick-off meeting of the new round was also held during these days in Warsaw!