View of a “Solidarity” graffiti created by the 26th Primary School of Ilion in the city of Athens, in partnership with the parents’ association of the school and support by UNHCR. © UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis
A new mural focused on the theme of solidarity welcomed the students, the teachers and the parents of the 26th Primary School of Ilion at the beginning of the current school year. The solidarity mural, depicting two hands embracing refugee families uprooted around the world, was created with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and beautifully completes the colourful façade of the school.
All members of the school community in the 26th Primary School of Ilion, including the teachers, the management, and the parents’ association make continuous efforts to keep students informed and raise awareness on a series of social issues as well as to welcome refugee students. Their invitation to UNHCR’s office in Greece to collaborate on this project was thus accepted with great joy. The mural, titled “Solidarity” was inspired and created by artist Nicole Tsokou.
In a small event that took place several days ago in the school yard, on the occasion of the completion of the mural, the school’s Director, Theofanis Vottis, highlighted that this artistic intervention prompted the students to reflect upon the refugee issue. UNHCR’s Representative in Greece, Maria Clara Martin, called to mind that “solidarity is not only a slogan on the wall, a word, but rather the only way for all of us to move forward together”.
For his part, the President of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Anastassios Nteves, referred to the strong message that this mural manages to imprint on everyone’s conscience as “the hands embracing the drama, the despair, the need for survival, the uprooting of old and young, are in essence our own hands”.
During the event, students presented performances that focused on peace and the need to build bridges instead of barriers. Present at the event were, among others, the President of the School Committee for Primary Education, Dimitrios Galounis, on behalf of the Municipality of Ilion, and the Educational Support Coordinator of the 3rd Regional Centre for Educational Planning (PEKES), Fani Tsiampasi.
During the event the students of the 26th Primary School of Ilion presented performances that focused on peace and the need to build bridges instead of barriers. © UNHCR
During the event the students of the 26th Primary School of Ilion presented performances that focused on peace and the need to build bridges instead of barriers.© UNHCR
During the event the students of the 26th Primary School of Ilion presented performances that focused on peace and the need to build bridges instead of barriers. © UNHCR
During the event the students of the 26th Primary School of Ilion presented performances that focused on peace and the need to build bridges instead of barriers. © UNHCR
The President of the School Committee for Primary Education of the Ilion Municipality, Dimitrios Galounis, hands over a book about the history of Ilion city to the Representative of UNHCR in Greece, Maria Clara Martin. © UNHCR
From left to right: The Educational Support Coordinator of the 3rd Regional Centre for Educational Planning (PEKES), Fani Tsiampasi, the Director of the 26th Primary School of Ilion, Theofanis Vottis, the Representative of UNHCR in Greece, Maria Clara Martin and the President of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Anastassios Nteves. © UNHCR
View of a “Solidarity” graffiti created by the 26th Primary School of Ilion in the city of Athens, in partnership with the parents’ association of the school and support by UNHCR. © UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis
View of a “Solidarity” graffiti created by the 26th Primary School of Ilion in the city of Athens, in partnership with the parents’ association of the school and support by UNHCR. © UNHCR
Konstantina, a student attending 6th grade, wrote in her message: “Seeing the new mural at our school, I felt love and compassion for people fleeing their country for whatever reason, seeking a better future for their family”. Christos, attending 4th grade, added: “My hope is that this mural will inspire people to join their hands and not be distinguished by colour, religion, language or any habits they might have.”
Our hope is to be able to build all together the world that children are dreaming of!
UNHCR’s office in Greece has been operating since 1952 and has developed longstanding and strong cooperation with the educational community of the country. It carries out targeted educational projects and activities to mobilize the new generation on issues related to human rights and refugees; it provides educational material that can be used by teachers and organizes an annual student contest about refugees.
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