K220 Erasmus Project: The New Values of Democracy in today's Europe's

The Boomtown Rats don't like Mondays and Athenians people don’t like rain. From the very start of the day, the receptionist was complaining about the bad weather. A waiter at a café protested about the rain. “It never rains to everyone’s liking” is a saying in Spain. Water was the main character of the morning. The day at the school began with a creative writing activity. Participants in the Erasmus+ project “The New Values of Democracy in Today’s Europe” created poems filled with deep emotions that celebrated the values of equality and respect. The teachers attended a fascinating English class by Ms. Maria Gerokomi, where students explored various aspects of the Erasmus project. Later, the teachers gathered for a management meeting to discuss issues to improve communication and administrative tasks, such as managing the project’s website and Google Drive service. The final workshop of the day focused on presentations from each country about their water usage practices. It was a v...

Syntagma Square is the heart of modern Athens. All major routes, activities, and demonstrations begin here in the city and the country. The esplanade in front of the Parliament Building is the stage for the most significant protests advocating for improvements to the country’s democracy. If you want to make your voice heard, Syntagma Square is the place to do it. As part of the Greek mobility program for the K220 project “The New Values of Democracy in Today’s Europe,” we witnessed the guard's changing. The Evzones performed their characteristic choreography beside the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. From there, a friendly tour guide led us through the National Garden of Athens, once the park of the Greek kings in the first third of the 19th century. With its diverse vegetation, flowers, and trees, the garden offered a captivating and serene walk. We also visited the esplanade of the Zappeion Megaron, a neoclassical building constructed to host the fencing competition during the f...

Theater is a perfect educational tool for shaping our students because it engagingly fosters communication skills while also developing many essential abilities such as coordination, teamwork, and emotional intelligence. For this reason, the group of teachers from Greece has wisely chosen to use the rich theatrical heritage of Classical Greece. In this context, Sophocles offers invaluable material to convey lessons closely aligned with the goals of our Erasmus+ project, “The New Values of Democracy in Today’s Europe.” The only workshop of the day featured the performance of a fragment from Antigone, the Theban tragedy in which the daughter of King Oedipus and Jocasta confronts the current king of Thebes, Creon. While Creon defends his political decisions, Antigone fights for her family and her duty to the gods, declaring, “I was not born to hate but to love.” The students put into practice the thorough rehearsal conducted at school last Monday. The chorus of the Greek tragedy served as...

The second day in Athens started with a visit to the Ground Zero of democracy. As part of the Erasmus+ K220 project “The New Values of Democracy in Today’s Europe,” students and teachers from Romania, Poland, Croatia, Madeira, Spain, and Greece gathered in Akropolis Metro Station to explore the timeless principles of democracy and their relevance in our modern society. The day's activities prepared by the Greek team provided an enriching blend of history, critical thinking, and cultural discovery. The day began with a short walk through the historic site of Pnyx, the real cradle of democracy. Standing where ancient Athenians once debated and voted on decisions that shaped their society, the students felt the weight of history and the enduring importance of democratic values. Following this inspiring visit, the students were divided into international groups to debate a pressing contemporary issue: the acceptance of immigration within their own communities. Guided by the spirit of ...

Excitement, eagerness to reunite, to meet a host family, to dive into the daily life of another country, another culture, all through a common language, the English, the koiné that connects the global economy. We are in a country that revolutionized Mediterranean life by creating the first phonetic alphabet. Greek was the first shared language ( koiné ) that united the peoples of the sea bathing Southern Europe (also for commercial reasons). Its cultural legacy, however, is indisputable and outstanding. This is how all the partners of the Erasmus+ K220 project "The New Values of Democracy in Today’s Europe" landed in Athens, the capital of Greece. Teachers and students from Romania, Poland, Croatia, Portugal, and Spain packed their suitcases with love, not hate, just like Antigone’s words in Sophocles’ play. The opening ceremony was held at the Cultural Center of the City of Petroupolis Cat Garden. The headmaster of the host school, Mr. George Dimitriadis, delivered a welco...

On Friday, October 11, 2024, the sun rose cheerfully over Knin, just like the participants in the K220 Erasmus Project: "The New Values of Democracy in Today's Europe." Five days allowed for many experiences and emotions. Otherwise, while packing up the feelings and belongings a few tears. Nevertheless, the group’s fifth day in Croatia promised to be interesting. The group was split: students in one class and teachers in another. Professors Mirela Jelovina and Nikilina Grizelj led a recycling workshop. Each national team had to create a gift for the school and the teachers, using recycled materials under the guidance of the students. The result was spectacular, fun, and hugely creative—small and medium-sized bags with striking colors, elegant designs, and fantastic closures. On the other hand, teachers created a frame of recycled materials with photographs and selfies of the group from different moments during their stay in Knin. It was a fun project. The accurate hands o...

Thursday began in the center of Knin with a group meeting for the fourth day of the K220 Erasmus Project: "The New Values of Democracy in Today's Europe." The meeting took place at the city hall, where the group was welcomed by the city's mayor, Marijo Ćaćić, who holds the position voluntarily. The meeting was held in the council chamber, where matters concerning the "res publica" of Knin are debated and negotiated. Also present was Toni Ivanhović, the young mayor of Knin. The 12-year-old boy, who loves football (he plays for NK Dinara, a modest club with over 110 years of history), gave a quick presentation about the activities and attractions the city of Knin offers for children. For his part, Mayor Marijo Ćaćić explained his work to the attendees. The professor of economics at the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology at the University of Zagreb shared anecdotes from his work and the circumstances surrounding his decision to help his city altruisti...