The 7th Children's Festival of the University of Patras expanded its horizons to include young refugees. Thirty refugee children visited the University of Patras and enjoyed moments of carefree play and learning together with hundreds of other children from kindergartens and nurseries around Patras. The visit took place on Friday 3rd of June 2016 during the 7th Children's Festival of the Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education.
Academics, prospective teachers, parents, Arabic teacher aids and children became leaners in a hospitable and inclusive learning environment. The Syrian children had the opportunity to participate in activities related to intercultural learning, renewable energy and the environment.
In particular, seven students of the Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education together with their teacher, Eugenia Arvanitis, organized educational and creative workshops for preschool age children involving intercultural narratives and storytelling. Based on an animation produced by UNICEF children re-imagined the story of Malak and the Boat". They went through the frightening journey of crossing the Aegean Sea following a little girl, Malak, and her countrymen. At the end of the crossing Malak, the only survivor, asks children to have a rest on the Greek soil and dream of a better life. All 30 children dreamed their reunification with their family members across Europe. They were happy to communicate in different languages (Arabic, Greek and English) and voice their desire for a peaceful and prosperous future. After the border-crossing story children sang Greek and Arabic songs, played with colorful balloons and clowns and draw their feelings on a piece of paper ... It was for them a different day ... away from the camp. Their bright faces and lively voices was a fulfilling reward for Greek prospective teachers who adapted their teaching methods to children's experiences and developed with them a powerful contract of inclusiveness and learning.
