Our earth’s boat is singing
I want to live in a world
That is alive and pretty
And a home for all.
Love and friendship should prevail
Fear and injustice should not.
We would all live in peace,
And work together as a team.
I want to live in a world
That is respectful and calm
And a shelter for children!
Ricky, 6th grade primary school student
When education meets art through basic human values, beautiful creations emerge that can inspire and move. One such meeting took place in the courtyard of the 25th Primary School of Ilion and resulted in an original mural created with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
An important part of UNHCR’s work in Greece is the cooperation with the educational community, with a view to inform, sensitize and mobilize young people on human rights and refugee issues. It was a great pleasure to receive an invitation to join forces with the Parents’ Association of the 25th Primary School of Ilion, who, together with the school’s management and inspired by the children’s ideas, wanted to pass on a message for a world of love and inclusion through an artistic intervention on the exterior façade of the school building.
The mural was created by painter Christos Roumeliotis, filling the school’s walls not only with beautiful colours but mostly with special messages that express the values and goals of the people of the school. “A few words, for the children who travel and always want to create. Guided by love and using paper boats and paper airplanes, they flee grey worlds and are led to sunny countries full of colours and life. Places where selflessness and kindness blossom and where diversity is an occasion for new friendships. A place like this is the 25th Primary School in Ilion,” he said.
On her part, the school’s director, Aikaterini Anastasiou, shared some thoughts on the occasion of the new mural that adorns the school: “Our earth’s boat continues its journey to the sea of the sky, to the oceans of the universe and we, both as passengers and crew, are on board having knowledge, love, friendship, and kindness as our lifeline, ready to face the great waves of pain, misery, anger, and frustration”.
Dimitra and Maria, sixth grade students, also sent a message full of optimism for the future and the hope it brings for a world where everyone is equal: “We imagine a world where there is peace, a world where we are all equal and there is no racism, war or violence. We believe that the world will become better when we have respect, help, and – most of all – love.”
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