Students’ Mobility Trip to Stavanger within the Nordplus Junior Project DABA Hub
- 30. apr.
- Lasīts 5 min
As part of the Nordplus Junior project “DABA Hub”, a group of students visited Norway and had an opportunity to learn more about its culture, history, nature, and everyday life. The trip was not only an excursion, but also a meaningful experience that combined environmental education, cultural exchange, communication, and personal growth.
One of the first places visited in Norway was the IVAR Recycling Centre in Stavanger. The visit was educational, interesting, and eye-opening. At the beginning, students were shown the area where people bring everyday items for recycling. The workers explained how different materials are carefully sorted before being processed further. The students were impressed by how organised the system was and how seriously recycling is taken in Norway.
Later, the group visited the more industrial part of the centre, where large waste materials are delivered. There, students saw huge amounts of wood, metal, bottles, and other bulky waste. The staff explained how each type of material is separated and prepared for recycling or reuse. One of the most surprising facts was that some special types of wood are transported to Latvia for further processing.
The students also learned about electronic waste and how old electronics are collected and handled safely in order to reduce environmental pollution. Another important topic was bio-waste, which is processed and transformed into soil that can later be sold and used for gardening and agriculture. The visit to the IVAR Recycling Centre gave students a new perspective on waste and recycling. It showed how modern recycling systems can help protect the environment and create useful products from materials that many people would simply throw away.
The trip also included many memorable activities and impressions. One student described Norway as very interesting and memorable, especially because of the kind and welcoming host family. The students took part in exciting activities such as hiking, visiting two museums, and taking a boat trip through a fjord. The views were amazing, and Norway’s nature left a strong impression. The food was also remembered positively: students tried tacos, grilled food, and other tasty meals. At the same time, they noticed that Norway is quite expensive and that some programme days were long and tiring, lasting almost until 8 p.m. Still, the experience was described as enjoyable and valuable.
Stavanger itself became a very special place for the students. Even heavy rain and strong winds did not ruin the experience. On the contrary, the weather made the landscapes feel even more atmospheric and mysterious. While hiking toward the fjords, students walked through narrow trails, dense forests, dark lakes, giant rocks, and tall trees. The fresh and humid air, mist moving down the mountains, wet stones, and massive landscapes created the feeling of being inside a film or a fairy tale.
Students wanted to take photos of almost every moment. Raindrops on leaves, fog above the lake, wet stones, mountains, and fjords all looked unforgettable. During the hike, they also noticed athletes running around the lake despite the rain and wind. This gave them a strong impression of the Norwegian love for nature, movement, and freedom. When they reached the top, they saw an incredible view of the fjords, mountains, and endless water. They spent time taking photos and eating Norwegian chocolate among the clouds and wind.
The boat trip also gave students a chance to experience Norwegian nature more closely. Although it was raining heavily during the cruise, this made the experience even more powerful. Huge mountains rose straight from the water, and waterfalls flowed down the cliffs like silver threads. The landscape felt almost unreal, as if they had been painted by hand. Each mountain seemed to have its own shape, character, and story.
Evening walks around the area where students stayed were also memorable. The streets were clean and peaceful, and the students lived close to the water with a view of the fjords. They often walked along the shore and piers. In the evening, the water became still and reflected the mountains and sky like a mirror. Students noticed that they did not see litter or dirt during the trip, and this created the feeling that people in Norway truly respect and protect nature.
For some students, one of the most valuable parts of the project was staying with a host family. One student and her friend stayed with the family of Joseph Berg, the director of Norlights Montessoriskole in Stavanger. From the first day, the family welcomed them warmly and made sure they felt comfortable. Every evening, Joseph chose different routes home to show them the surrounding areas and organised spontaneous visits to interesting places. During these trips, they had many lively conversations comparing the cultures, mentality, and traditions of Latvia and Norway.
The Berg family created a warm and friendly atmosphere. The students quickly became friends with their older daughter, Maria. On the first evening, they started a tradition of sitting together in the kitchen with tea and discussing many different topics. The family treated them to authentic Norwegian dishes and traditional Turkish desserts. One of the most memorable evenings was when everyone played a Turkish board game together, laughing and enjoying the time as they became even closer. Thanks to the hosts, the students also saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, which became an amazing experience.
Living with a host families helped students develop not only knowledge and skills, but also social connections, language confidence, and a better understanding of everyday life in another country. The student reflections describe the host-family experience as comfortable and peaceful, almost as if she had always been part of the family. By the end of the stay, the friendship had become so strong that on the last evening the students were already looking for tickets to visit Norway again in the summer.
On the way back home, the group also had around six hours before their flight and decided to visit Oslo. Although students were tired after several busy days, they were excited to see the capital city for the first time. Oslo felt different from Stavanger: bigger, busier, and more modern, but still calm and cosy. The students walked around the city centre, explored the streets, looked at the architecture, visited shops, took photos together, and enjoyed spending their last hours in Norway as a group.
The students noticed how clean and organised Oslo was. Modern buildings stood together with older ones, making the city look interesting and beautiful. Even simple moments, such as sitting near the fjord or walking through the streets, felt special because the whole trip had already created so many good memories.
The mobility trip to Stavanger within the Nordplus Junior project “DABA Hub” left students with valuable knowledge, strong emotions, new friendships, and unforgettable memories. They learned about recycling, waste management, Norwegian nature, culture, hospitality, and everyday life in another country. Most importantly, the trip showed that cultural exchange projects are not only adventures, but also valuable experiences that help young people grow, communicate, understand others, and see the world from a new perspective.
Overall, the Nordplus Junior project “DABA Hub” was a great success and was highly appreciated by students, teachers, partners, and the wider school communities involved. The project fully achieved its aims by raising awareness about sustainability, ecological thinking, and responsible action among young people and educators. Through workshops, debates, mobility trips, creative tasks, game development, conferences, and intercultural cooperation, participants gained valuable knowledge, practical skills, and new perspectives on environmental challenges. The project strengthened collaboration between schools in Latvia, Estonia, and Norway, encouraged student leadership, and resulted in useful educational materials that can continue to support sustainability education after the project. It left participants with positive emotions, stronger international connections, and motivation to promote sustainable thinking in their schools and communities.
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