This project gave 8 Foundation Learning students from Myerscough College in the UK the opportunity to improve their vocational education and personal social development on a 2 week vocational placement at the Associação de Paralisia Cerebral de Coimbra (APCC) in Portugal. The participants were aged between 17 and 27 and had a range of physical and learning difficulties to varying degrees. They were studying on land-based vocational programmes including agriculture, horticulture, equine and animal care. The host organisation, APCC, was an established non-profit making organisation with vast experience in rehabilitation, integration and development of people with disabilities with a focus on cerebral palsy. The centre is recognised in the areas of medical rehabilitation and functional education, education and vocational training (19 courses). With their experience with people with disabilities and an organic farm suitable for training, they were an ideal partner and this was the second time that they had received students from Myerscough College and their 4 support staff. The objectives of the vocational work placement were to: - enhance the quality of vocational education training for the participants and enable them to experience and acquire new skills in a different culture/environment - improve the participants? levels of confidence and develop their social skills and self-esteem through working with European students with similar challenges - expand the learners' experience of 'the world around them' from the small environment of their home and College to international scales - increase the learners' understanding of different cultures, language, currency and environment The project was very successful and all the objectives were achieved. Vocational skills were enhanced on the farm where the participants learnt about different crops than they see in the UK and took part in planting, harvesting, bagging up and pricing, making compost and mucking out horses. Cultural trips to festivals, markets and museums widened participants? horizons and increased their understanding of different cultures. The participants? personal development improved greatly over the 2 weeks. Their confidence levels and communication and interpersonal skills were enhanced by working alongside and mixing socially with their Portuguese peers. The experience of travelling abroad, managing their own money and having to dress and organise themselves greatly improved their confidence levels and self-esteem. These improvements carried on after their return and have had an impact on their development and independence both at College and in their own personal lives. The impact on the learners is evident in their e-diaries and participants reports. The majority (7) strongly agreed that they were more confident, knew their strengths and weaknesses better and were more able to adapt and act in new situations. All of them strongly agreed that they were more open minded and curious about new challenges and had improved their communication skills and team working. The majority of students agreed that their analytical and problem solving skills had improved. All agreed or strongly agreed that they could better express themselves creatively and plan and carry out their learning independently. The majority (7) strongly agreed that they could see the value of different cultures, were more tolerant to other persons? values and behaviours and more able to cooperate with people from other backgrounds and cultures. By involving all the other students on Foundation Learning programmes at the College through regular updates and social media, sharing teaching material about Portugal and generally raising awareness it really 'made a difference' to them as well. Longer term, the benefits to the participants will be immeasurable as they continue on their journey through education or on to the world of work.