From 10 to 14 February 2025, our school had the honour of hosting the fifth international ARISE project meeting in Leuven, welcoming partners from Spain, France, the Netherlands and Germany for a week of collaboration, learning and lived European citizenship.
The international delegations arrived throughout Monday, some taking the chance to explore the city centre or enjoy a drink at the Oude Markt before settling into the Ibis Budget Hotel near the station. In the evening, everyone gathered at Campus Corso for a warm welcome dinner. Sharing Belgian fries around the table immediately broke the ice, and the atmosphere was relaxed and curious — a promising start to a week of collaboration and discovery.
On Tuesday morning, all students met again at Campus Corso at 9 a.m. for an energetic speed-date session to get to know one another. What began with slight shyness quickly turned into engaged conversation and laughter. Shortly after, the group set off on foot to Stordeur for a physical activity session, where climbing and bouldering helped create trust and team spirit in a playful way. After a shared lunch back at Campus Corso, journalist Rien Emmery from VRT NWS led a workshop on fake news, guiding students through how misinformation spreads and how to verify sources — a topic that immediately sparked discussion. In the early evening, the group stayed at Campus Corso for dinner and ended the day with a lively sing-along session, which brought the different cultures together in a joyful, informal setting.
Wednesday took the project to the European capital. At 8.30 a.m., the group met at the hotel and travelled together by train to Brussels. There, the students split into smaller groups to visit several major European institutions — including the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and the European Economic and Social Committee together with the Committee of the Regions. These visits made the abstract idea of European democracy feel tangible and real. After lunch around the Mont des Arts area, the students began a city game titled “Who killed Ursula?”, sending international teams across Brussels to collaborate, solve clues and explore the city’s landmarks. The rest of the afternoon allowed for some free exploration at their own pace before regrouping in the evening to travel back to Leuven together.
On Thursday morning, everyone returned to Campus Corso for a workshop by Hans Verhoeven from iVox, who demonstrated how political communication and social media influence public opinion — an eye-opening and highly relevant session for the digital generation. After lunch, the afternoon continued with a historical perspective as Martine Wellens from UCLL introduced the topic of propaganda across time, providing valuable context to current democratic challenges. The late afternoon gave students some time off, before everyone returned in the evening for a final shared dinner and celebration. The closing evening was warm, musical and reflective — a fitting conclusion to a week built on trust, cooperation and genuine exchange.
Friday marked the departure day, with partners returning home and students resuming regular lessons. What remained, however, was the sense that this was more than just a project meeting — it was a lived European experience. Students did not only learn about democracy; they practised it through dialogue, responsibility and cultural openness. Leuven 2025 will be remembered not for its programme alone, but for the authentic connections it created and the shared belief in a democratic future it inspired.
