Per aspera ad astra simul: Through difficulties to the stars together

Abstract: In this article, we detail the strategic partnerships "Per Aspera Ad Astra Simul" and "European Collaborating Astronomers Project: Espa~na-Czechia-Slovakia". These strategic partnerships were conceived to foment international collaboration for educational activities (aimed at all levels) as well as to support the development and growth of early career researchers. The activities, carried out under the auspices of these strategic partnerships, demonstrate that Key Action 2 of the Erasmus+ programme can be an extremely valuable resource for supporting international educational projects, as well as the great impact that such projects can have on the general public and on the continued development of early career researchers. We strongly encourage other educators to make use of the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ scheme.