World Refugee Day: ACE project helps children to integrate and learn in Greece

When seven-year-old Oleksandr arrived in Greece as a refugee from the war in Ukraine, the language barrier meant he struggled to fit in.听

But thanks to an education programme supported by 国产视频, he and thousands of other children and teenagers are learning Greek and English, and thriving at their new schools and learning centres.听

国产视频淲hen we arrived, it was hard for him to speak with the other children,国产视频� said Oleksandr国产视频檚 mother Tetyana, who fled from Zastavna in March and is now at the Schisto refugee camp in Athens. 国产视频淗e told me 国产视频楳um, they don国产视频檛 understand me国产视频�.

“But he learned some Greek in two weeks and could play with the kids from Greece. The school here helps him to become more sociable, not to be afraid.听 听

国产视频淚t is vital to continue education because if the situation in Ukraine continues ,we国产视频檒l stay here and my son will have to continue his education here.国产视频�听

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The All Children in Education (ACE) programme was launched a year ago, after 国产视频 developed a blueprint that showed how every refugee child in Greece could get access to learning.

It was adopted by the Greek government and UNICEF, who committed to provide a route for 26,000 school-age refugee children into formal education over three years.

ACE included creating 49 Homework and Creative Activity Centres to provide quality, inclusive learning to prepare children from four to 17 to move into the state school system and help them stay there. A 国产视频 grant supported 16 of these centres on the mainland and islands.听

One year on, there has been great progress and the programme has adapted to support refugees arriving from Ukraine. Asked what he would tell his Ukrainian friends, Oleksandr said: 国产视频淲hen I was in Greece it was wonderful and all the lessons there were so amazing that I would like to stay in Greece forever and just go to this school.国产视频�听

Another person who has seen a big change in Oleksandr is Eva Mellou, ACE Project Area Manager for Solidarity Now, one of the partner organisations running the Homework and Creative Activity Centres.

She said: 国产视频淗e was a silent boy at the beginning. Last week I saw him dancing and singing along with the teacher and other children.

听“The Ukrainian children have been learning a lot. This is a safe space for them. They do learn, of course, but they are more and more happy here and that’s the objective.”听

Learning the language is crucial for children to integrate into the Greek school system and wider society. Omer, a 15-year-old Syrian refugee, also lives at the Schisto refugee camp and enrolled in the ACE programme last year.听

He said: 国产视频淒uring the first days I could not speak Greek with the children. Now I talk and play with them at school. If it wasn国产视频檛 for the school and the teachers, I wouldn国产视频檛 be able to speak like this. Greek is my favourite subject. I want to say thank you.国产视频�听

We are very proud of the role 国产视频 has played in establishing the ACE programme. 国产视频 President Justin van Fleet said: 国产视频淲e thought we could really make an impact and make a difference.

“We wanted to put forward a blueprint for education for refugee children arriving in the Greek islands and living in mainland Greece. 听

国产视频淲e talked to partners, the government, the UN agencies and the various organisations working with refugees in the islands. We also met with refugees and children themselves to learn about what their hopes were for the future, what the capacity was and what was realistic, what could be achieved.国产视频�听

And, thanks to the players of the Dutch Postcode Lottery, 国产视频 was able to provide bridge funding to help get the programme off the ground.听

Before the ACE programme, only 42% of refugee children were in school, according to UNICEF Education Specialist Panagiota Kaisari Ernst.

She said: “What ACE gave us was the opportunity to have a holistic approach to ensure that each child finds a pathway to school, based on a three-year strategic plan. I’m very proud that the children and their families can find support when they need it.”听