ILIAKTIDA’s, Civil Non-Government Association, staff, occupied in Safe Area Lesvos, apart from the numerous educational and recreational activities that performs in Safe Area Lesvos’ facilities for the unaccompanied minors –refugees and applicants of asylum, ensures also to coordinate educational excursions to areas of traditional and historical importance within the city, as well as other settlements in Lesvos, in order to inform the beneficiaries about the island’s, that they are temporarily accommodated, culture and history.
Therefore, in September 2021, in the framework of the project “ΜΕRΙΜΝΑ – Safeguarding children at Greek border points”, funded by European Union #DG HOME and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), ILIAKTIDA’s team organized various educational activities – excursions to places of historical significance. Along with the minors hosted in Safe Area Lesvos, we visited the Ancient Roman Aqueduct, an impressive archaeological site, that is located near the city of Mytilene. During the Roman era, the aqueduct supplied the city of Mytilene with water from the springs situated near the village of Agiassos, i.e. 26 kilometers far away! The program’s educator with the interpreters’ support informed the unaccompanied minors about the monument’s history and construction characteristics, which they thought was very interesting.
Moreover, during September, in Safe Area Facilities were also performed along with the minors the following activities:
- We planted vegetables and wild greens – herbs.
- Sea water activities. The project’s lifeguard taught the minors swimming and kayaking, as well as a daily exercise schedule was implemented for the beneficiaries.
- Scale modeling and assembling courses. Teaching model painting.
- Handcrafting activities. Rock painting. Embellishment from sea shells on
- Music lessons. Our music instructor (also a caregiver) taught the minors traditional Greek music, as well as encouraged them to perform their own traditional music from their countries of origin.
- Sewing machine lessons. The minors learnt –under the supervision of our staff– to use a sewing machine and tailor-mend their own clothes if needed.
We, ILIAKTIDA’s staff, are doing our best on a daily basis to motivate the minors to participate in educational and recreational activities, acquaint with new skills, stimulate their imagination and creativity and assure that they have a happy, interesting and educational experience – time while accommodated in Safe Area Lesvos.
The Safe Area team on Lesvos operates under IOM’s project MERIMNA with the support of the Εuropean Commission – #DGHOME.
This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed therein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
