FRG26 CAE – Peace Creating around the values of olympism

As part of the Erasmus project dedicated to the values ​​of Olympism, students participated in a morning ceramics workshop led by Marcela Matone. This collaborative artistic activity aimed to allow students to express their understanding of Olympic values ​​through the creation of a collective artwork in clay. The morning began with a group discussion and reflection on the values ​​of Olympism: respect, friendship, excellence, solidarity, self-improvement, and peace. The students first proposed different ideas for general shapes and created several preparatory drawings representing these values. Each student was able to express their creativity and share their ideas with the other group members. The discussions helped the students understand the importance of dialogue, listening, and cooperation in a collective artistic project. Before beginning to model the clay, the students learned about the different stages of preparing the clay. They learned to knead the clay to make it more pliable and homogeneous, thus developing their patience, precision, and technical skill. This preparatory work also allowed them to understand that all creation requires time, attention, and perseverance. Divided into small groups, the students then modeled several symbolic elements chosen collectively: doves representing peace and unity among peoples, hands symbolizing mutual support and solidarity, medals evoking effort and success, a podium illustrating self-improvement, as well as an Olympic cup and flame recalling the spirit of the Olympic Games and the transmission of sporting values ​​throughout the world. Gradually, each group contributed to the creation of the final piece: a realistic heart composed of several assembled pieces. This collective work possesses a powerful symbolism. The heart represents the universal human values ​​that unite individuals beyond cultural, sporting, or social differences. The assembled pieces symbolize the students themselves: each brings their personal contribution, ideas, talent, and sensitivity to build a stronger and more harmonious collective work. As in the Olympics, unity is born from diversity and cooperation. Creating this sculpture also allowed the students to experience firsthand the values ​​of respect, listening, and teamwork. They had to collaborate, make decisions together, demonstrate creativity, and sometimes accept compromises in order to achieve a shared goal. This artistic experience strengthened group cohesion and allowed each student to feel involved in a rewarding collective project. Through this workshop, the students discovered that art, like sport, can be a means of expression, sharing, and transmitting positive values. This morning with Marcela Matone was an enriching experience combining artistic creation, civic reflection, and a spirit of cooperation within the framework of the Erasmus project.