As part of the company’s CSR programme, “Joining hands with the world,” Hellenic Hull has organized an online Christmas celebration for primary school students from remote insular areas of Greece for the third year in a row. This event is being held in collaboration with the University of the Aegean, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, HELMEPA, and primary school teachers. Greece’s primary school students from Thasos, Lemnos, Samothrace, Ikaria, Skyros, Rhodes, Kalymnos, Amorgos, Lipsi, Kefalonia, Meganisi, Sikinos, Thymaina, Schinoussa, Kastellorizo, Nisyros, Chios, Samos, Fournoi, Lesvos, Arkioi, Antiparos, Gavdos, Anafi, Milos and Skopelos, united with traditional carols shared with this unique online community.
Special remarks were addressed by the Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs. Zeta Makri, Mr. Chrysostomos Symeonidis, representative of the Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs. Domna Michaelidou, the Vice President of the Hellenic Shipping Chamber, Mr. George Alexandratos, the Dean of the School of Business at the University of the Aegean, Mrs. Maria Lekakou, the General Director of HELMEPA, Mrs. Olga Stavropoulou, and Hellenic Hull’s CEO, Mr. Ilias Tsakiris.
Along with improving primary school students’ educational experiences, the “Joining hands with the world” programme gives pupils a platform to express their ideas and convey a message to the world. An alternative online community of students from remote insular areas of Greece is established by tying together all of the schools participating in the initiative.
In her remarks, Deputy Minister of Education Mrs. Zeta Makri said, “’The ‘Joining hands with the world’ programme comes with a new proposal, a networking initiative for students from insular areas in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, creating an interactive online platform for blue growth. As the Deputy Minister of Education, I consider the bridge of interaction and collaboration created through the online platform a truly great gift, bringing the three levels of education together, strengthening their bonds, and developing new pathways in the learning process. This is a significant idea that opens up a new field of activity, exploration, and utilizes digital media to bring together universities with students from primary and secondary education through online classes as well as bringing new procedures on the learning map.”
The program will begin in January with scheduled courses on blue economy taught by students from the University of Aegean, the Hellenic Shipping Chamber, and HELMEPA. Through an interactive online platform that facilitates ongoing collaboration between schools, students will study from A to Z about the sea, shipping, conservation of the marine environment, nautical education, and blue growth from the first to the sixth grade of primary school.
“We will engage in fun activities at HELMEPA, primarily utilizing your own ideas and games. You are the 'heroes' in this program, and with you, we will save the world," said HELMEPA’s General Director Ms. Olga Stavropoulou. Mr. George Alexandratos, Vice President of the Hellenic Shipping Chamber, also backed the initiative and committed to take part in the courses, which begin in January 2024. Throughout the event, he presented an engaging workshop to the students addressing the main issues challenging the shipping industry.
"We are by your side because we are a University network in the Aegean Archipelago," stressed Ms. Lekakou, Dean of the University of the Aegean's School of Business. As a result, we are close to the islands and you. We, the academics from the University’s departments in Lemnos, Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Rhodes, and Syros, have made the decision to work towards this new educational approach, which is the future of education for the islands despite its unconventional nature. You are the "vessels" of the future."
“I'm really happy to see so many schools and students taking part in this event. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to your parents and teachers. The purpose of this program is to spread the message that the sea does not separate us. Greeks are united by the water. We are all a huge network, as our message reaches from Kastellorizo to Meganisi, from Gavdos to Thasos, and from Arkioi to Chios. The project is meant to show you, the students, the wealth that the sea reveals. You are the sailors of the future. We wish to restore Greece's maritime character. Our primary aim with this initiative is to instill the love for the sea," stressed Hellenic Hull CEO Ilias Tsakiris in his closing remarks.
