Aprenem a Cooperar is a project aimed at fostering cooperation and cultural exchange between Malawi and Catalonia, which promotes the knowledge of Malawi, the Music Crossroads-Malawi and our NGO, as well as two-way cooperation. . This results in a series of workshops in primary and secondary schools in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sabadell, Rubí and Barcelona. These workshops are part of the Educational Promotion Plan (PDE) of the City Council of Sant Cugat del Vallès.

«Aprenem a cooperar» aims to bring primary and secondary school students closer to the cooperation model based on solidarity, respect, mutual knowledge and the analysis of all the factors involved in this process, leaving aside the traditional concept of cooperation. We are committed to global cooperation, in which the agents of change take part and promote the empowerment of the people with which it entails (values, organization, teamwork …).

The project is being carried out in coordination with the teachers of the centers and at the first contact the children and young people are presented with projects that can be implemented in Malawi for the betterment of the country. It is a way in which youth empowerment, leadership and entrepreneurship are encouraged.

During the first work session, this workshop is conducted with a theoretical and explanatory basis based on:

In the second phase of the project, a group of 10 children and 3 teachers from Malawi come to Sant Cugat for three weeks, where they are hosted by several families. These are selected by our counterpart, as they study music or dance at MCM or study at one of the elementary and secondary schools near Area 23 (Lilongwe). They are part of the Hear Us Children Choir group and in this exchange several workshops are held at schools participating in the «Aprenem a cooperar» project.

They visit participating schools showing off their Malawian culture, dancing and traditional music. This space is a two-way cultural exchange, where an atmosphere of solidarity and collaboration is created, and also allows the children of the Hear Us Children Choir to present their traditional music. The exchange represents a great opportunity to discover another culture, sharing different knowledge between the young people of Sant Cugat and Lilongwe. This experience affects various areas of children, both in the educational and personal spheres. Visits and workshops at Catalan Centers allow young people to see other forms of learning and help them work on co-operation, the global issues of Catalonia and Lilongwe.

The guys at the Hear Us Children Choir take on the challenge of traveling to another country, separating themselves from family and friends, which is a cultural shock. In addition, they must be integrated into a new family nucleus, where they learn other family models. Teachers at Hear Us Children Choir and Catalan centers have the opportunity to acquire new ways of educating children and methodological and pedagogical skills.