An unforgettable journey: Melbourne students welcomed in Greece

Students from the Greek Community of Melbourne schools person returned from Greece with memories to past a lifetime, pursuing their information successful a large taste and acquisition hospitality programme hosted by the Region of Attica.

The young participants of the Cultural and Educational Camp (CEC) immersed themselves successful the country’s affluent history, traditions, and earthy beauty. From learning traditional Greek dances astatine the Dora Stratou Theatre, to visiting world-renowned landmarks including Mycenae, Nafplio, the past Theatre of Epidaurus, Delphi, Galaxidi, Sounio, and of people the Acropolis, the students were surrounded by Greece’s surviving heritage.

Students visited the Panathenaic Stadium, location of the archetypal modern Olympic Games.

The programme besides offered them exclusive experiences such arsenic a behind-the-scenes tour of the Presidential Guard’s Evzones campy and the Hellenic Parliament.

The students were officially welcomed astatine the office of the Region of Attica, arsenic portion of Governor Nikos Hardalias’ broader strategy to strengthen taste and acquisition ties betwixt Attica and the Diaspora’s youth.

Students of the Greek Community of Melbourne presenting a commemorative acquisition astatine the Region of Attica headquarters.

Deputy Governor Christina Kefalogianni highlighted the value of such initiatives: “It is vital to sphere this transportation so that Greeks overseas consciousness arrogant of their roots. Through this program, children of the Diaspora tin observe our past and identity, and understand the special weight carried by Greek heritage. Only done acquisition tin we signifier conscious citizens, susceptible of carrying the connection of Greek continuity for some Greece and the wider European family.”

Melbourne students extracurricular the Presidential Guard campy during their exclusive tour.

A programme with vision

Launched past year by Governor Hardalias, the programme invites students from Greek assemblage schools and Greek-speaking university departments overseas to acquisition Greece first-hand. This year marked the 2nd clip Melbourne students took part, while earlier this year the Region of Attica hosted students from the Department of Greek Studies astatine Shanghai University.

Visiting the iconic Temple of Poseidon astatine Cape Sounio was among the highlights of the taste program.

The President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Commissioner astatine the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Bill Papastergiadis, praised the initiative:

“This is 1 of the champion programs immoderate young subordinate of the Diaspora could experience. The participants are truly fortunate to bask such an accidental thanks to the vision and support of the Region of Attica.”

Students and teachers from Melbourne astatine the historical Zappeion Hall successful Athens.

During their week-long stay, the students shared their excitement astir Greece’s historical monuments, taste treasures, steadfast climate, and unique cuisine. According to the Region’s statement, galore adjacent expressed their wish to instrumentality for further studies, oregon to settee permanently.

The semipermanent goal, arsenic outlined by Governor Hardalias, is for the programme to go an established institution, expanding to see much Diaspora schools and Greek-speaking university departments worldwide.

Present astatine the students’ visit to the Regional office were Secretary-General of Attica, Elena Rapti, and Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office, Dimitris Tarazonas.