This year, the SCHOOL Project was once again held at our School. The initiative began in 2018 through a collaboration between Athens College and the non-governmental organization The HOME Project and has been implemented every school year since, with a brief interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past four years, the NGO METAdrasi has also participated in the program. The SCHOOL Project brings together student volunteers from Junior High School Grade 3 and all grades of the General High School and the IB DP, as well as volunteer teachers from our School.

Students from Athens College worked creatively alongside refugee students from the NGOs HOME Project and METAdrasi. More than an educational activity, the project offered a valuable experience of collaboration and teamwork. Participants attended classes taught by volunteer teachers, conducted research on a variety of topics, and presented their findings with the support of the Library’s specialized staff. They also took part in interactive presentations on environmental protection, including recycling and the responsible use of plastic bottles, planted herbs on campus, engaged in team sports, solved puzzles, painted, danced, played games, and enjoyed a guided tour of the“100 Years of Athens College” anniversary exhibition at the College Theater.

Throughout the program, all participants became one team. They exchanged knowledge and experiences and shared ideas and thoughts. Through collaboration and dialogue, an atmosphere of trust and acceptance was fostered, where every voice was heard and valued. The volunteer teachers played a vital role in creating this supportive environment. Through their dedication, sensitivity, and pedagogical expertise, they contributed significantly to the program's success.

At the end of each day, students, teachers, chaperones, and staff members reached the same conclusion: there are no real barriers to human communication. Even when people do not share a common language, religion, or life experience, meaningful communication is still possible. With goodwill and respect, differences can be bridged, and diversity can become a source of enrichment. The program’s central goal is to broaden students' intellectual and social horizons while helping them develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be a global citizen.

Mary Rafaela Synolaki, a Ηigh School student at Athens College, presented her experience with the SCHOOL Project at the IIASA Interaction Festival, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis’s international youth conference held in Vienna on June 29, 2026. Among young scientists, researchers, and students from many countries, she presented the project, shared her experiences as an active participant, and discussed the importance of education, empathy, and personal relationships in the social integration of unaccompanied minors. The program builds bridges between Athens College students and refugee students through shared educational, athletic, and cultural activities, as well as volunteer and mentoring opportunities. Its goal is not only to support unaccompanied minors but also to create a genuine community where understanding, mutual respect, and meaningful human connections replace stereotypes and prejudice.

Her presentation was featured on the official IIASA website as an example of how young people can contribute meaningfully to addressing complex social challenges. Through her participation, she came to understand that inclusion is not achieved simply by providing food and shelter. Rather, true inclusion is fostered through human connection, friendship, education, and the belief that every individual has potential and deserves to be treated as an equal member of society. Drawing on her personal experience as a volunteer in the SCHOOL Project and her broader social observations, Mary Rafaela Synolaki offered a thoughtful perspective on the well-being and inclusion of unaccompanied refugee students in Greek schools. She emphasized the critical role of education, inclusion, and empathy in addressing complex challenges. Her contribution brought a fresh and authentic perspective to the session, highlighting how younger generations engage with issues of inclusion and belonging.