In Northern Portugal and Galicia, Spain, primary and secondary students reconnect with their shared heritage through the annual Interschool Communication Day. Organized by the NGO ‘Ponte… nas ondas!’, this event is the culmination of a year-long school-based radio initiative where students and teachers delve into living heritage practices and collaborate with practitioners to produce audio content. Over 300 schools and 5,000 students have participated in research and broadcasts on topics such as Galician-Portuguese traditional games, oral traditions, and culinary practices. In addition to strengthening cultural ties across the border, this initiative has fostered intergenerational dialogue and sparked greater interest and awareness among youth about their shared cultural heritage.
© Aine Veloso Álvarez, 2009
What was the need?
In the neighboring regions of Northern Portugal and Galicia in Spain, communities on both sides of the national border have long shared cultural practices and knowledge, including oral traditions, songs, proverbs, and toponymies, fostering a deep sense of shared identity. However, challenges such as socio-cultural change, diminished economic opportunities, and migration to urban areas and other regions have disrupted the environments where this Galician-Portuguese heritage was traditionally transmitted. As a result, younger generations have become increasingly unaware of the cultural significance of their living heritage, placing the continuity of these practices at risk.
‘Schools from Galicia and Portugal jointly participated in a live radio broadcast the day the bridge over the Minho River was inaugurated. (…) I can assure you that in both sides I could only find smiles, excitement and joy. We realized that there was a bridge joining us since a long time ago.’
Raúl Francés, participating teacher
What approaches were implemented?
In 1995, as a bridge was being built over the Minho River to connect two municipalities - Salvaterra de Miño in Spain and Monção in Portugal - a group of primary and secondary school teachers, inspired by this new connection, launched a co-creative interschool radio broadcast. This initiative brought together students from both sides of the river to explore their shared heritage. Since then, it has expanded to other schools and evolved into the annual Interschool Communication Day.
Each edition involves teachers and students on both sides of the Minho co-developing activities around a common theme and producing radio content to be broadcast on school radio channels. Over the years, these broadcasts have featured interviews with living heritage bearers, created ‘oral inventories’ of traditions, showcased grandparents’ customs, performed traditional songs, and more. After numerous editions, the content has become a rich audio library on Galician-Portuguese intangible cultural heritage. With support from university students, the broadcasts have evolved into audiovisual programmes and later shifted to podcasts, now being shared online via social media and school websites.
Recognized for its innovative approach, ‘Portuguese-Galician border ICH: a safeguarding model created by Ponte…nas ondas!’ was selected for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in 2022.
‘Reaching out to our neighbours in our community is one of our goals, to bring us closer to our neighbours. The bridge that this project builds is essential to strengthen ties and understand our cultures in a different way.’
Carla Marqués, radio journalist
© Elia Veloso Álvarez, 2017
How did it work?
The Interschool Communication Day has allowed young generations to deepen their understanding of their history and traditions. Over twenty editions of this initiative have engaged over 5,000 students and 3,000 teachers from over 300 schools in Spain and Portugal, as along with their families and communities. It has encouraged them to take an active role in safeguarding their shared living heritage, while also building cultural and educational bridges.
The activities have expanded beyond annual events and now take place throughout the year. This approach has fostered meaningful, context-based learning, while the innovative educational model has strengthened collaboration between the education systems of the two countries. In addition, the research conducted as part of the radio programmes has been instrumental in identifying and documenting the shared living heritage of Galicia and Portugal.
As a cross-border initiative, the participatory methodologies of the Interschool Communication Day provide a powerful framework for fostering international dialogue while ensuring the intergenerational transmission of shared cultural traditions.
© Xerardo Feijoo Rapela, 2015
How was the community involved?
This initiative was launched by teachers and residents, with the active participation of school communities in the two neighbouring countries. The annually changing themes promoted by the Interschool Communication Day - such as ‘Living Treasures’, ‘Grandparents’ Treasure’ and ‘Living Libraries’ - have brought the knowledge and experience of elders into schools. Moreover, the initiative takes a whole-school approach, encouraging the involvement and decision-making of principals, teachers, students and their families. This inclusive model ensures that the entire school community engages in safeguarding and transmitting living heritage.
Contacts for sharing experience
Ponte… nas ondas! Portugal
Azenhas, 21 A 4930-341 Ganfei, Portugal
Languages for contact: Portuguese, Spanish, Galician and English
+351917662972
pontenasondas@pontenasondas.org
To learn more
- Video about this experience