Between January 2020 and December 2021, a number of educational trips and outdoors activities took place within the framework of the HELIOS project of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Soft Skills courses. These aim to strengthen the contact of refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection with Greek reality and allow them to familiarise themselves with basic daily practices. Instructors from the IRC for the soft skills courses, as well as Greek language instructors from METAdrasi, escorted the students to places which some might have already visited, but also to new places, always framing the visits with information and activities.
Starting from Ancient Athens
In March 2020, instructors and students visited the Acropolis Museum and the centre for the Integration of Migrants. The visit to the museum was made in the context of the course “Greek History”. Participants made interesting questions about the artefacts, and took notes, while some continued their visit to the Parthenon. The visit to integration centre was made in the context of the course “Public Services” and included a presentation of the basic services offered by the centre.
City of Robots
In June 2020, two more trips were organised. The students initially visited the event “City of Robots” in the context of the course “Technological innovation and the work market,” where they had the chance to observe various advanced mechanisms and technological achievements.
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion
In the context of the course “Greek History” the students visited the temple of Poseidon at Sounion, thus starting a discussion on Greek civilisation and Greek history.
National Garden
In September 2020, the Soft Skills group visited the National Garden in order to strengthen ties within the group after the end of the first lockdown. There they had the chance to enjoy the lesson without restrictions in the centre of the city in a joyous and beautiful setting.
Greek Culture and History
In October 2020, two outdoor activities took place: one at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the other in the centre of Athens. The first visit was made within the context of the lessons on Greek culture. The second included a walk along Athenian sites with a historical significance (Pnika, the Ancient Agora and Filopappos Hill) in the context of the lesson “Greek History.”
Museum of Islamic art – Temple of Poseidon at Sounion
In 2021, due to the prevailing conditions, two excursions took place. Firstly, in September 2021, the students visited with particular enthusiasm the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, in the context of the lesson “Greek History” in order to learn more about Greek history and Greek civilisation, while in December 2021 they visited the Museum of Islamic Art in the context of “Greek History” and “Greek customs and beliefs” with the aim of making the connection between islamic art and European/Greek history.
During all these outings, the students had the chance to explore the sites and take their own photographs and videos, thus enjoying the experience and acquiring knowledge based on thematic units of the HELIOS project.
The project as of January 1st 2022 is funded through the co-financed part of the Public Investment Programme of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
