Dates: 19–23 May 2025

Title: Transforming Education: An Innovative Approach for Improving Mental Health, Well-Being & the School Climate

Participants:

• • Noelia, Visiting teacher from IES Calderón de la Barca, Madrid (Spain)
  • Antonio Pedro, TM Teacher and director CCCTVM (TM organization in Portugal)
  • Paulo, Host Teacher / TM Teacher and Mobility Coordinator, A. Iria School (Portugal)

✈️🌿Well-Being in Practice: From Madrid to Olhão – Five Days of Discovery Through Erasmus+ Mobility

In May 2025, Noelia— secondary school teacher (VET in administration field) from IES Calderón de la Barca in Madrid and Associated Professor Business and Administration – Universidad CEU San Pablo —partecipated in an Erasmus+ staff mobility to Escola Dr. Alberto Iria in Olhão, Portugal. Her goal? To witness firsthand how the Quiet Time with Transcendental Meditation (QT/TM) programme is transforming the school climate and to gather inspiration for inclusion, emotional intelligence, and resilience-building in her own vocational and university setting.

This was not just a visit. It was a structured 5 days Erasmus+ mobility and full immersion that brought together personal growth, professional insights, and intercultural exchange — it was a rediscovery of the true purpose of education

🌱 A Living Model of Educational Innovation

The job shadowing was carefully designed to offer hands-on insights into the FRIENDS model: a whole-school approach to well-being and inclusion through Quiet Time with Transcendental Meditation. It gave Noelia the opportunity to observe, participate, and learn directly from students, teachers, parents, and the local educational community.

From group meditations with teachers and students to one-on-one conversations with students practicing TM, the experience offered continuous moments of reflection and inspiration.

As Noelia shared:

Antonio Pedro, the TM teacher who supported her throughout the week, added that A. Iria School has seen a visible shift since implementing QT/TM:

Paulo, the hosting teacher who coordinated the entire mobility, commented:

These first impressions paint a powerful picture of what’s possible when inner peace becomes part of school life.

✨ A Week of Immersion, Insight, and Inspiration

During her mobility, Noelia engaged in a rich and well-structured program that offered deep immersion into the FRIENDS model. She was warmly welcomed by the school leadership and introduced to the Quiet Time with Transcendental Meditation (QT/TM) programme. She also had meaningful conversations with the principal and vice-principal—

— “Very kind and supportive,” she said.

Throughout the week, she met with teachers and parents, exchanging insights about the programme’s impact on reducing stress, improving well-being, and creating a more peaceful school climate.

From a professional standpoint, the mobility offered Noelia valuable insights into how inclusive and peaceful school environments can be fostered—including in institutions working with socially and economically disadvantaged students or those with a migrant background, much like her own school in Madrid. Witnessing the FRIENDS model in action provided her with practical tools and a renewed inspiration to promote emotional well-being, motivation, and a sense of connection within her own educational context. She returned home with fresh clarity and a deepened sense of purpose:

🌍 Bridging Contexts, Building Capacity

Back in Madrid, Noelia works in a school where only about 30% of teachers remain stable, while the majority frequently rotate or leave due to the difficult social environment and high levels of difficulties among students. This constant turnover makes it hard to build a strong team spirit or a stable, supportive environment for students. She came to Portugal seeking concrete, transferrable strategies to improve school climate and student well-being in her VET setting—and that’s exactly what she found. At Escola Dr. Alberto Iria, she was struck by the contrast: around 90% of teachers are stable and committed, contributing to a palpable sense of harmony and trust throughout the school.

🧘 A Precious Gift: Learning TM

One of the highlights of the week was Noelia’s own learning of Transcendental Meditation which became a deeply meaningful part of her journey. She described TM as a very precious gift… the cherry on top of the cake.

🔹 Research, Reflection & Deeper Practice

Throughout the week, Noelia explored classroom dynamics and how QT/TM builds classroom harmony. She actively took part in group meditations, joining QT/TM sessions with students of 7th and 8th grades, experiencing how TM is used in different grade levels.  She also took part in sessions of group meditation with teachers, which she enjoyed a lot.

She engaged in rich dialogues that connected practice with theory, emotion with science, and received a presentation highlighting FRIENDS research findings on the impact of TM in education.

The long-term impact of TM was also reflected in a special moment shared by Paulo, the host teacher. During the same week, a former student —who was practicing TM in school years ago—returned to A. Iria School to make a talk on biology with younger students. The student commented privately to Paulo:

— “I still meditate, and it’s really meaningful!”

For Paulo, it was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. As he said:

— “It’s a gift to the students for life, it changes lives!”

👩‍🏫 Visiting the Teacher Training Center Ria Formosa

Noelia visited the local Teacher Training Centre Ria Formosa at the João de Deus Cluster of Schools. Here, Maria Eugénia, coordinator of the centre, and very enthusiastic of the QT/TM programme, shared valuable insights on how teacher training is organized in Portugal, highlighting key differences with the Spanish system. She spoke passionately about the growing interest in QT/TM-based training across the region. Noelia and Maria Eugénia exchanged ideas on professional development and discussed opportunities for future collaboration:

The Ria Formosa Teacher Training Centre, a public institution under the Ministry of Education, supports a network of 49 schools across Faro and Olhão. It plays a key role in enhancing the skills and competencies of teachers, offering accredited courses that promote innovation and well-being in education. As a strong partner in the FRIENDS and EUROPE projects, the centre has already helped raise awareness of QT/TM training in over 90 TTCs across Portugal. Their work not only strengthens local teacher development but also contributes to broader policy dialogue and sustainable, systemic change in education.

👨‍👦 A touching exchange with one student and his father

One of the most touching moments of the mobility was Noelia’s exchange with a 14-year-old student and his father, both eager to share their experience with TM.

Noelia expressed her astonishment at the maturity and emotional intelligence of the student. She described the encounter with the student:

His father, though not a TM practitioner himself, expressed to the TM Teacher Antonio Pedro, deep appreciation for the transformation of his son—and how as a father, he was enjoying the opportunity to have now meaningful conversations with his son about its own great interest: inner growth and personal development. It was a moment that beautifully captured the quiet power of Transcendental Meditation to build bridges between generations.

🏫 Visiting a Vocational Education and Training (VET) Center

Additionally, Noelia visited a local VET school in Olhão, where she was very impressed by the modern equipment and inspiring learning environment. She saw advanced labs, 3D printers, and other tools that showed how the school supports students with up-to-date resources:

The school, AEFFL (Agrupamento de Escolas Dr. Francisco Fernandes Lopes), offers a strong focus on practical, career-oriented education in fields such as technology, design, and industrial innovation, preparing students for the workforce with high-quality technical training. The visit gave Noelia new ideas for improving vocational training in her own school and opened up possibilities for future collaboration and Erasmus+ student exchanges.

🎓 Looking Forward

The week concluded with the handover of Noelia’s participation certificate, accompanied by moments of reflection and discussion about future steps. She received her official job shadowing certificate, but what she took back was far more: a toolkit for change, a support network, a renewed sense of purpose and a vision for what’s possible when peace and purpose are integrated into education.

This FRIENDS mobility has reinforced in her the idea that well-being, inclusion, and educational excellence are not only compatible—they are inseparable.

If you are a school leader, teacher, or policymaker looking to be part of this movement, we welcome you to discover, learn, and grow with us!

💬 In Their Own Words – 🌟 Reflections from the Heart

Antonio, the TM teacher guiding Noelia through her personal TM learning, was moved by the experience:

Paulo, the teacher who coordinated the entire mobility, shared:

Noelia, the visiting teacher shared:

🎯 Meaningful Learning, Real Impact

During the week, all the goals set together at the beginning of the mobility were met in a meaningful and practical way. Noelia explored the FRIENDS model in depth, observed inclusive practices that support students from disadvantaged or migrant backgrounds, and experienced the Quiet Time with Transcendental Meditation programme firsthand.

The mobility also gave her valuable insights into emotional well-being, vocational education, and international project management. Through visits, discussions, and hands-on experiences, she gained concrete tools to bring back to her school in Madrid—laying the groundwork for future Erasmus+ collaboration and long-term impact.

🌍 A Message to Other Schools

This mobility provided an example of how transforming education is possible—gently, practically, and profoundly. It confirmed that meditation, well-being, and harmony are not luxuries, but necessities in today’s schools—especially those facing social and economic challenges.

About IES Calderón de la Barca

IES Calderón de la Barca is a public secondary and vocational education school located in Carabanchel, a historically working-class district in southern Madrid.

Positioned at Calle Antonio de Leyva, 84, the school is part of a culturally diverse urban area and serves a student population that includes many young people from migrant and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school offers both general secondary education (ESO and Bachillerato) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways, with a focus on Business and Administration.

Known for its commitment to educational inclusion and innovation, IES Calderón de la Barca is actively involved in European Erasmus+ mobility projects, fostering international cooperation and supporting both students and staff in developing personal, social, and professional skills.

With a dedicated teaching team, the school works to promote values of resilience, equity, and opportunity, seeking to empower learners through quality education and a strong sense of community.