The 1st Daily Toumbas High School in Thessaloniki opened its doors and heart to welcome 46 students from Zigmurg’s Anno Gymnasium as part of the European “It’s Better Together” program.

Through human rights, cooperation games, history and cinema workshops, as well as a symbolic olive tree planting, Greek and German students have sent together a strong message of peace, empathy and European unity. Sponsored by the Hellenic German Youth Foundation.

A life experience

The visit was the second part of school mobility, as the five -day educational movement of the Tuba school to Germany had preceded 2025. “It was exciting to visit such a big city and the reception by the students impressive. They were very open with us. Greek students are much more friendly than we are with our teachers, “says Deutsche Welle, 14 -year -old student Victoria Gorgas. The German students were completely satisfied with the organization of Greek activities and exchanged ideas with Greek students. “In technological infrastructure both schools are well -equipped. At the Greek school, we saw smart televisions on the walls just as we have. There were certainly differences in building infrastructure, “says Victoria Gorgas. “I imagined Greece like a typical Greek island. With white houses, beaches and blue sea. Thessaloniki is a very beautiful city, but different from what I was imagining. Exchange programs are very important to get to know people and other cultures but also the real image. Let us learn to interact socially, “says Zigburg Nick Oslisjok.

Learning the diversity

The purpose of the exchange was to raise students’ awareness of human rights. Common collaborative activities cultivated criticism of thinking and social skills, away from racism and prejudice. German and Greek pupils and pupils were engaged in photo-savvy in places of historical interest in the city but also in educational games with an interactive board. “We also learned a lot about the history of the Jews of Thessaloniki. Our German students were asking why we were liting our candle in the church and had a willingness to learn about us and Greece, “says Louisa Giotis. As part of the trip they visited Litochoro Pieria, the old monastery of Agios Dionysios blown up by the Nazis during World War II and restored it based on photos of a German soldier who had photographed the monastery before its destruction.

“We quickly connected with the kids. We talked and learned about some of their different habits. They told us that they were eating all together at school while we do not have this opportunity. So you develop life relationships and you learn different things than you already know, “says 14 -year -old Vasilis Aliatsis, who would like to be added to the program and something more interactive such as a walk or a cyclist on the beach of Thessaloniki. “I think we have gained precious friendships. I was expecting the Germans much more closed, but in the end they were very open too, ”says student Sofia Sefa.

For a better school

“The collaboration was like a hug,” says Professor Xanthippi Savvoulidou, a Greek coordinator. “Children always win when they leave the classroom. And we get out of class, away from our rigorous role to learn some things away from apostasy and classical teaching. They are gaining through actions, ”he adds. The particular historical and cultural features of Thessaloniki and the good weather shortly before the rain of October were valuable allies for the successful osmosis among the students.

Significant support from children’s families and excellent cooperation with Thessaloniki bodies contributed to the beautiful encounter. “Interactive students did work, exchanged opinions and ideas. He learned to accept diversity and communicate, “he says, believing that more incentives for such actions should be given because it is otherwise dependent only on the philanthropy of each. She has the passion of continuing cooperation with the German side and develop it.

“We are always talking about great words such as democracy, peace and understanding. For the 14 -year -old students they are just words at the beginning, until they feel and really experience them. In such an exchange with a very large team they can really associate them with daily practice. They come out of their comfort zone, organize things and feel that they can achieve something with others in a common goal beyond linguistic obstacles, “said German Professor Maraike Velcell.

The visit to the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki and the Synagogue was a school for the whole team. “It doesn’t matter what kind of religious background you have, from what culture you come from. Talk to each other, look at each other on the face, start talking and you will notice that the differences are not so great. If we start to come across a small scale, then what people want is always the same, ”says the German professor. She believes that in addition to the lessons, it is important to prepare students for real life they have to deal with and such exchange programs help children think “out of the box”.

“I found very impressive, the support of Greek parents in the actions of the exchange. Also, Greek teachers are passionate about their profession, they want to put students on the right track, not only by teaching, but also with their education for their daily lives, “he says. He observed similar difficulties with Germany on the trip to Greece in remuneration and school buildings. “But we have the same hopes. We want to operate in good schools and offer students but of course we need a framework from the government and politicians so that we can continue to work well. ” The symbolic olive tree planted in the courtyard of the 1st Tuba Gymnasium will function as a memory not only of the exchange but also as a symbol of peace and humanitarian values.