One School One Country: Inside the meeting between Competitors and local students

The highly anticipated One School One Country (OSOC) Day finally took place this morning, marking a memorable start to WorldSkills Lyon 2024! 69 WorldSkills delegations visited more than 6,000 students in 52 schools across the Lyon region, engaging in meaningful cultural exchanges. At the Middle School Léonard de Vinci in Chassieu, the South African delegation was warmly welcomed by the students who had been preparing the encounter for months. The programme was packed with activities, including friendly sports games, cultural activities, music and dances, and an exchange of gifts. The morning wrapped up with a ceremony at the city’s town hall, followed by a convivial aperitif.  

The One School One Country cultural exchange programme, part of the WorldSkills Competition since 2007, was launched during the Competition Preparation Week for WorldSkills Lyon 2024 last January. Schools in the Lyon region were paired with international delegations at the event, marking the beginning of preparations for this morning’s meeting between the delegations and the schools. At the Middle School Léonard de Vinci in Chassieu, near Lyon, around forty students and their teachers welcomed the entire South African delegation composed of WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Competitors, Team Delegates, Experts, members of the South Africa skills team and government officials. The French attendees included Jean-Jacques Selles, Mayor of the city, and Jérôme Bourne Branchu, Academic Director of the Rhône National Education Department, along with key members of the school’s education team and city hall officials. Their presence underscored the significance of the cultural exchange, both for local schools and the broader city and region. 

All participants shared a warm and lively morning, introducing themselves, sharing a typical French breakfast and later lunch, exchanging symbolic gifts from both South Africa and France, and learning about each other’s cultures while enjoying themselves. The activities, which included dances, sports games, singing, heartfelt speeches, and warm interactions between students, Competitors, and officials from both countries, created a welcoming atmosphere in the school and fostered a strong sense of friendship between these two cultures and nations. By the end of the morning, no one wanted to leave, as the bonds formed had already made a lasting impact on everyone. 

The OSOC programme not only highlights the importance of cultural exchange but also serves as a perfect way to start a day celebrating skills and unity. With the Opening Ceremony scheduled this evening, the OSOC morning set the tone for the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Competition, symbolizing the international exchanges and friendship that the event aims to inspire across nations.