The CAAP (Citizen Action for All Programme of the European Schools) was one of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Schools priorities in 2022. Building on 2021 Spanish Presidency inspiration, young people in the European Schools’ system are encouraged to support their local community through acts of service and participation in a range of concrete activities.

CAAP 2024 Launch Inspires Active Citizenship at Escuela Europea de Alicante!

Reet Escribano, AMPA president:

On 27th of November the kick-off meeting for CAAP 2024 took place in Alicante.
Thanks to the efforts made by the school project coordinator, Philip Jones, and our AMPA ex vice president, Interparents representative, Sara Portela, this CAAP initiative could become a reality in 2023 for 70 S6 students from ESA. Mr Fitzgerald, Irish inspector, also praised parents’ contribution to this project. We should be very proud that Alicante was one of the most dedicated schools in this initiative. Pupils really enjoyed the experience and hopefully CAAP 2024 will be the same success as CAAP 2023.

Philip Jones, European School of Alicante CAAP coordinator:

Escuela Europea de Alicante. Monday morning, 27 November, the usual routine took a different turn. Instead of heading to Language 4, Ethics or Mathematics, all Year 5, 6 and 7 students were treated to an interactive CAAP event in the Salón de Áctos. In the presence of management, AMPA president Reet Escribano, the Irish inspector Dr. John Fitzgerald, the volunteering project CAAP – short for Citizenship Actions for All Programme – was celebrated. The purpose of this event? Reflecting on past experiences and looking ahead to strengthen the students’ civic competences.

For the current Year 7 students the meaning of CAAP is fully clear. After all, they were last year’s guinea pigs in this European School system pilot project, introduced under the Irish Presidency. In June 2023 seventy Year 6 students took on the challenge and prepared hundreds of three-course meals for people who aren’t as fortunate to always fill their stomachs with yummy, healthy, nutritious food. They also visited local care homes to keep the elderly company, listening to their life stories, bringing smiles to their faces.

Because that is what CAAP is about: fearlessly stepping out of the familiar school environment, unlocking your potential as active citizens, and gaining invaluable experiences.
For a new generation of volunteers the CAAP 2024 launch was an ideal moment to already taste how they too can ignite the spark of active citizenship, creating a positive impact in our local, Alicante community. Listening to the heartfelt words of Sofija Pubule and Dimitri Domzalski, reminiscing about their volunteering experiences, encouraged the current Year 5 and 6 students to contribute positively to the community as well.

Sara Portela. 2022/2023 Vice President of AMPA:

For once I will openly express myself to be very happy and proud of my personal and as an AMPA member contribution to both projects. Sintigo is the NGO with which I first established cooperation through the Canteen committee for our solidarity project: No Food Wasted. I contacted Alberto last year to involve Sintigo AYUDA in CAAP.

Gema from Alicante Gastronómica – AGS accepted my proposal to get involved as a first try in CAAP, giving our students a chance to get involved in solidarity projects. Some students were happy to be using the experience acquired in another of my AMPA’s projects: the Survival Cooking Course.

Both Alberto and Gema really enjoyed the experience and accepted to renew their Cooperation Agreement with the School for this school year.

Personally I am very happy to be leaving this legacy at the ESA for future generations and really hope that both projects will have continuity and help our students be aware of the wealth received when giving of one self to the community.

Read more on CAAP 2023