"Βαδίζοντας στα Μονοπάτια του Εθελοντισμού: αναλαμβάνουμε Δράση για την Αλληλεγγύη, για την Αειφορία, για μια Κοινωνία Χωρίς Αποκλεισμούς, για έναν Δικαιότερο Κόσμο"

The project’s transnational cooperation highlighted the shared European culture of solidarity and active citizenship. The diverse partners—schools, NGOs, a university—contributed their experience ...

The project’s transnational cooperation highlighted the shared European culture of solidarity and active citizenship. The diverse partners—schools, NGOs, a university—contributed their experience and cultural variety to the creation of innovative activities that promoted volunteering as a tool for peace, sustainability, and social cohesion. The exchange of know-how, the adaptation of practices to local needs, and the use of non-formal learning methods provided the teaching staff with opportunities for professional development, while simultaneously strengthening the school’s European orientation. The project promoted experiential learning, familiarization with volunteering, participation in NGOs, the adoption of green practices, the development of soft skills, empathy, and the creation of digital and participatory tools. In doing so, it shaped a school environment that cultivates social responsibility and proves that change begins with education.

Within the framework of the project: The 19th Primary School of Katerini organized student visits to the Social Pharmacy and the Social Grocery Store, where pupils were trained in sorting and distributing essential goods. The school held two blood donation drives, collecting a total of 32 units of blood, and co-organized with the trainees with disabilities from Merimna Paidiou Katerinis a performance of Aristophanes' Peace—a lesson in inclusion. It also carried out food and medicine collection campaigns for families in need. The Tobacco Station of Katerini implemented experiential workshops on the management of humanitarian crises. The University of Pitești presented digital volunteering tools and trained teachers, supporting the view that digital transformation has the potential to reduce disparities among EU member states and to respond effectively to needs arising during times of crisis. Schools from Romania and Croatia implemented inclusion-focused activities for Roma, migrants, and students with disabilities. Mobilities, workshops, presentations, and transnational exchanges also took place, enhancing collaboration and dissemination of the outcomes of the project.

The tangible outcomes of the project include the meaningful engagement of students in the field of volunteering, the strengthening of social awareness, and the cultivation of empathy. Students took part in a variety of activities such as food and medicine collection, First Aid courses, “Cycling Escapes,” riverbank clean-ups, material reuse projects, and support for local social structures (the Elderly Care Home of Katerini, the "Floga" Association, and Merimna Paidiou Katerinis through the co-organization of a theatrical performance with trainees with disabilities). A school garden was also created. Educational material was developed, such as the Epistemological Guide for Successful Volunteering, which is already in use by schools and organizations. Successful workshops on humanitarian crisis management and social inclusion were carried out. The digital skills of both teachers and students were enhanced through training in digital volunteering. Collaboration with schools from Romania and Croatia led to the exchange of best practices, strengthening the European dimension of the project. All activities had a positive social impact and fostered a culture of participation and contribution within school communities.