From May 1 to 3, 2026, seventeen participants traveled to Evros with Athens College teacher Iordanis Papadopoulos on an experiential journey of learning and inner exploration. The visit took place within the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programs excursion, titled “Thrace: Culture and Landscapes.” Accompanying the group was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic-American Educational Foundation, Mr. Alexis Phylactopoulos ’65.

The journey began in Alexandroupolis, where a visit to the Ethnological Museum of Thrace served as a gateway to collective memory. In Traianoupoli and Feres, the group encountered the rich layers of Roman, Ottoman, and Byzantine history. The Evros Delta and the Petrified Forest of Lefkimmi highlighted the enduring strength of nature. In Soufli and Didymoteicho, culture and history were transformed into vivid, tangible experiences. A particularly poignant moment was the visit to Kirki, an area deeply affected by wildfires. There, participants met with local residents, listened to personal stories of loss and recovery, and experienced the meaning of solidarity firsthand. The journey concluded as a shared experience of remembrance and responsibility—an initiation that reminds us that a place is truly understood through its people.