Forth mobility - Greece

The 5th General Lyceum of Kavala, Greece, welcomed its partners from March 11th to 14th, 2024 during the forth mobility of the program. 

On Monday, March 11th, a warm welcome and solemn opening ceremony of the mobility took place, which undoubtedly moved the participants. With the arrival of teachers at the school and in a symbolic gesture of brotherhood among the countries of Europe, students unfolded the "Scarf of Europe" and "embraced" the visiting teachers, visualizing the vision of a United Europe. This was followed by a warm welcome from the national teams by the school's director, and then students read texts in French and English by G. Theotokas, published in 1929, which prophetically predicts the establishment of the European Union and highlights the common elements that unite the peoples of Europe. The event was accompanied by wonderful melodies sung by the school's students accompanied by piano, followed by traditional dances in which a multitude of students and teachers of the program participated. The opening ceremony concluded with the presentation of the educational program of Greece by the school's vice-principal and ended with a buffet of delicacies prepared by the students and teachers of the school. This was followed by a visit to the City Hall of Kavala and a reception by the Deputy Mayor, who welcomed the educators and briefly referred to the historical past of the city, including the tobacco trade that left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape of Kavala. Then the teachers were guided to the city's attractions, starting with the unique building of the Great Club, strolling through the Old Town, the Fortress, and the Lighthouse, to finally dine at a well-known restaurant in the city to taste Greek cuisine and exchange views in a mood of euphoria to cultivate strong bonds of friendship.

The second day of the activity began with a visit to the Vocational Training Institute of Kavala, where the tireless management of the school and the equally enthusiastic staff presented the school's activities to the visiting partners and, involving them in the educational process, guided them through innovative workshops of puppet theatre, agriculture, aesthetics, and informatics, in which they participated with particularly positive attitudes. The visit concluded with a demonstration of recycled paper making, as part of the school's Virtual Enterprise, and a warm farewell from the students and teachers of the school, who with their love had embraced the visitors throughout the morning of Tuesday. The action-packed day continued with a visit to the beautiful city of Xanthi, guided tours of its historic monuments, and the Folklore Museum, housed in the Koyoumtzoglou Mansion, where educators had the opportunity to learn about the tradition and the unique character of the city's culture in recent centuries.

On the third day of mobility, the teachers of the program visited the Vocational School of Kavala, where the always willing and well-trained staff informed them about the school's operation, while a pleasant surprise awaited them with the preparation of a rich breakfast with the participation of the school's students. That same morning, educators visited the Vocational Training Center of Philippi, where architect Mrs. Eleni Antonara thoroughly presented the architectural structure of the corresponding archaeological site, and then accompanied them on a tour among the monuments, where Greek civilization meets Roman and transforms into Byzantine. Afterwards, the group of partners visited Lydia's Baptistry and became acquainted with the Christian spirit that reached Kavala with Apostle Paul in 49 AD, while the day ended with a meal by the sea of the Blue City.

On the fourth and final day of mobility, the teachers returned to the 5th General Lyceum of Kavala to witness impressive Chemistry and Biology experiments performed by students of the 1st grade, to plant their own plants in the school's garden as a symbol of solid and uninterrupted friendship, to participate in the construction of a solar clock, and to become children again and take part in treasure hunt games and sports, realising the concept of inclusion in a multifaceted range of activities. The actions culminated with the presentation of works on prominent female figures from the five countries of the program and concluded with the attendance of our school's outstanding theatrical performance: "Mom, I'm leaving..."

During the farewell dinner, held in an emotionally charged atmosphere, the satisfaction of all national teams with the hospitality provided by the 5th General Lyceum of Kavala was evident, while by common consent, the activities that took place during their four-day stay were multifaceted and innovative. The educators confirmed the friendly bonds that now connect the five schools of Europe and renewed their appointment for May in France, where the now European friends will hold the fifth and final mobility of the program.