Case Studies

Name of the teacher

No teacher

Country:

Greece

Name of the School:

Regional Directorate for Education of Central Macedonia

Country:

Greece

City:

Thessaloniki

Background and Context:

The Regional Directorate for Education of Central Macedonia, the Macedonia's Coordination Office for the Education of Refugees, the Refugee Training Coordinators of Central Macedonia and the Deputy Educators of the Host Structures for Refugee Education in Central Macedonia cooperated all together to organize a great athletic and cultural feast for refugees at Kaftantzoglion Stadium in Thessaloniki. The action included refugee children from Central Macedonia camps, attending the Refugee Education Reception Structures, as well as Greek pupils of primary schools and Secondary schools. The action took place in 23 May 2017, from 09:30 - 14:00 am. The idea was implemented with the support of IOM and UNHCR.

Factual Description:

The idea for the action was first heard by a sports teacher and implemented by the coordinators for the education of refugees, teachers who devoted an amount of time and good willing to organise the activities and prepare the children. Each teacher had to explain at first the whole procedure to the children and the parents. Among the preparations was the health certificate for the participation of the pupils in the athletic actions. Then the programming of the activities each child wanted to participate and training time. The cooperation step by step of the teachers with the students and the training time was accepted with joy by both parts.

Activities carried out:

Parents with their daughters and sons, girls with or without scarves attended the feast. Children played soccer, volley, painted and ran in relay race.
At first refugee children from all schools entered the stadium holding the Olypmic flag under the sound of "Chariots of Fire". The schools followed, each wearing a different color of shirt and a banner with the school name. The children were welcomed by a group of pupils and musicians from Stavroupoli with Pontian music and dances, symbolically old refugees welcoming new refugees.
Cups were given to all teams from different camps and a certificate of participation to every child.

Assessment and lesson learnt:

The title of the action was " We play together" which in greek is translated "ΠαίΖουμε Μαζί". In greek the title has a word play, meaning we play and we live together simultaneously. That was actually the aim of the action. Through the athletic and cultural events refugees and greek children will learn to live together. It is vital for refugee children from school or out of school to have a normal everyday life. Starting with their willingness to cooperate with the teachers in order to represent in the best way their team, they developed their abilities and skills believing they can achieve everything they wish. Futhermore the normalising of their everyday life playing together with local students from other schools gave them the feeling of acceptance and welcoming. The joy and happiness of all students, their parents, their teachers and of course all the others that helped or watched the activity was profound.