Calendar of Activities

The mobility began with a guided walking tour of Thessaloniki, including visits to the White Tower, Agia Sophia, and the Rotunda. Students from Cyprus, Greece, and Italy interacted informally during the tour, taking photos and sharing impressions of the city.

At 2nd GEL Polichni, participants were officially welcomed and given a tour of the school environment. Later, students from all countries presented their towns or regions through PowerPoints and posters, highlighting their culture, lifestyle, and local pride.

This was followed by traditional dance and game exchanges, where students taught each other steps, rhythms, and movement patterns — building mutual respect and connection through shared play.

A visit to the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai in Vergina offered students the chance to experience the richness of ancient Greek history. Working in mixed teams, they participated in an Artefact Challenge, posting selected objects and adding them to the padlet Photo gallery.

Students later responded to the prompt “Which object spoke to you and why?” by sketching or writing short reactions — allowing even students with limited verbal skills to express meaning through visual or symbolic language.

On Thursday, the programme continued with a visit to the Souroti Monastery, where students experienced a moment of calm and inner reflection. Respect for diversity and the spiritual traditions of others was central to this visit.

Later that day, the group travelled to the Edessa Waterfalls, where they were guided through a reflective activity called “Expression through Nature.” In pairs or small groups, students shared how the natural environment made them feel, using drawings, gestures, or simple words. This activity encouraged empathy, self-awareness, and emotional connection.

That evening, all participants gathered for a joyful dinner at a traditional taverna with live Greek music, closing the day with dancing, laughter, and intercultural bonding.

On the final day, the focus returned to the theme of communication beyond words. In a language exchange activity, students taught one another basic words and expressions in Greek, Cypriot dialect, and Italian, finishing with a multilingual quiz in mixed teams.

The last session was a group reflection, where students were asked:

“Draw or write one thing you learned — without using words.”

“What moment made you feel proud or connected?”

Their responses were collected into a shared mural, capturing both the emotional and educational impact of the week.

The mobility ended with a Certificate Ceremony and a light musical celebration, marking not just the end of the trip, but the culmination of a project that truly demonstrated how the arts can connect us — regardless of language.

The Thessaloniki mobility powerfully embodied the mission of Breaking the Language Barrier. Students with varied abilities and languages succeeded in:

• Communicating through movement, visuals, and emotion

• Developing empathy and cultural awareness in inclusive, mixed-nationality groups

• Participating in arts-based and non-verbal expression that transcended language

• Supporting and learning from one another, particularly through peer mediation and teamwork

• Celebrating difference while building friendships that spoke louder than words

This final mobility affirmed that communication is about connection, and that through creativity, respect, and inclusion, students from all backgrounds can share, learn, and grow — together.