Description of activities

Our students and teachers warmly received the initiative. 35 schools participated. Students were inspired not only to hand-copy and offer poems but also to write their own keeping, using the styles of haiku & surrealism. The students gifted poems to family members, classmates, teachers, members of their school community, neighboring schools, students of collaborating schools and to Integration Departments for refugee children.

Poems were gifted to people with health issues, the families of the victims of the recent railway accident at Tempi, institutes & centers for people with disabilities (one group visited the school accompanied by their therapists), town care centers, and nursing homes, the Town Hospital, the Disabled People Association ELPIDA &the Oncology Children Hospital ELPIDA. A ‘’lesson in compassion’’, it facilitated intergenerational bonds & the expression of empathy towards the needy and the lonely. Students also gifted poems to the ASPnet National Coordinator, the President of the French Language & Literature Department (UOA), the former General Secretary of IMO, the Special Secretariat for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors.

Other students depicted the contribution of UNESCO in transforming the lives of children by creating three poems entitled: “Educational Linkages”, “A hidden hero: UNESCO”, & “Empower the Future” & dedicating them to ASPnet UNESCO International Unit for the 70th Anniversary. A primary school student asked his teacher to write a poem for him, a girl sent her poem by post as a surprise gift to her boyfriend studying abroad. Students of another school will create an e-book with their chosen poems. Some students used the proposed stationary; some others used self-made decorated paper & envelopes, displaying their creativity & artistic skills! Some students read their chosen poems in front of the class before dedicating them, boosting class dynamics.

The activity conducted in foreign language classes too, was integrated in the daily teaching practice for communicative purposes. All the activities enhanced positive feelings, compassion & empathy & became an innovative & transformative educational practice promoting peace & collaboration. Poetry as an educational tool contributes to the socio-emotional development of people, enabling them to face the challenges of the digital era leading to a humanistic approach of technology & sciences for a sustainable future, where students can be empowered as “agents of change”.

Schools involved

  • 1st Primary School of Irakleio, Attika
  • 1st Vocational High School of Serres
  • 1st Vocational High School of Aghia Paraskevi, Attika
  • 1st Kindergarten of Polygyros
  • 2nd Junior High School of Almyros, Magnesia
  • 2nd Junior High School of Geraka
  • 2nd Senior High School of Geraka
  • 2nd Junior High School of Chalkida
  • 2nd Primary School of Agios Nikolaos, Crete
  • 2nd Kindergarten of Agios Minas, Chios
  • 2nd Experimental Primary School of Rhodes
  • 2nd Senior High School of Gerakas
  • 3rd Primary School of Chios
  • 4th Primary school of Stavroupoli
  • 5th Junior High school of Agia Paraskevi, Attika
  • 4th Senior High School of Chania, Crete
  • 7th Primary School of Agios Dimitrios, Attika
  • 8th Primary School of Kifissia
  • 9th Primary school of Mytilini, Lesvos
  • 11th Primary School of Kalamata
  • 13th Primary school of Serres
  • 27th Kindergarten of Athens
  • Aristoteleio College, Senior High School, Thessaloniki
  • International School of Athens, Senior High School
  • Ionios Senior High School
  • Senior High School of Karystos
  • Senior High School of Moudros, Lemnos
  • De La Salle College Primary School, Thessaloniki
  • De La Salle College, Junior High School, Thessaloniki
  • Primary School of Vrondous, Pieria
  • Intercultural Junior High School of Evosmos, Thessaloniki
  • Experimental Senior High School of the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki
  • Xatzivei, Primary school, Attika
  • Hellenic College, Senior High School, Thessaloniki
  • De La Salle College, Senior High School, Thessaloniki
  • 1st Arsakeio Junior High School of Psychiko
  • Junior High School of Doukas School
  • Kindergarten of Klimatia, Ioannina
  • Model Senior High School of Anavryta, Kifissia
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