Η Piraeus Secondary Education Directorate, as part of the oral history education programme «Kythira: Stories that build bridges», proceeded, on Tuesday 9 January 2024, to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Municipality of Kythira, for the development of actions to raise awareness on issues related to local history and especially the migration that characterized the island. The actions that will be developed will mainly target teachers and students, with the aim of shaping democratic attitudes and respect for memory as a tool for linking generations.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Director of Secondary Education Piraeus Mr. Dionysios Anastasopoulos and Mayor of Kythera Mr. Efstratios Harhalakis was implemented at the offices of the Directorate of Secondary Education of Piraeus. Ο Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Mr. Yannis Chrysoulakis, sent greetings. Also present and welcoming the signing of the Memorandum was Australian Ambassador to Greece, Ms Alison Duncan.
Ο Mr. Dionysios Anastasopoulos indicated that the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding opens up new horizons for the educational programme, «Kythira: Stories that build bridges» while he pointed out the formation of cultural identities, through the oral and local history programs, but also the development of partnerships, aiming at the twinning of Australian schools with schools of Kythera.
Ο Mr. Efstratios Harchalakis mentioned elements of the migration of the Kythirians, as well as the importance of the foundation of the first Museum of Migration Greece, which is significantly supported by the Municipality of Kythera. Also, reference was made to the excellent cooperation with the Mr. Dionysios Anastasopoulos and thanked the Ms. Alison Duncan, for its presence at the signing of the Memorandum and the support offered so far by the Australian Embassy in Greece to Kythera.
Η Ms. Alison Duncan described the important role of the Kytherians living in Australia and the great interest of the Australian Embassy in Greece in Kythera. He mentioned with enthusiasm the educational program «Kythera: Stories that build bridges» and the establishment of the Migration Museum.
Then the Education Consultants of the Directorates of Primary and Secondary Education of Piraeus, who supported the project «Kythera: Stories that build bridges», both in the first phase of implementation and afterwards, Mrs Archontia Mantzaridou, Ms Kyriaki Meliou, Mrs. Naya Boemi and Mr Panagiotis Pephanis, spoke about the importance of the programme as an educational tool for a biographical approach to the migration history of Kythera. The programme «Kythera: Stories that build bridges» aims to contribute to the creation of a coherent set of oral testimonies about migration in Kythera. It also seeks to preserve the narratives of Kythirians who have experienced migration, to add depth and nuance to the existing literature, for students to seek historical significance, to explore primary sources, to recognize continuities and changes, to adopt a historical perspective on the migration of their place through critical thinking and the multiplicity of narratives. Ultimately, the educational program «Kythera: Stories that build bridges» seeks to contribute to the broader education of students in order to form active democratic identities.
The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Secondary Education Directorate of Piraeus and the Municipality of Kythera opens new horizons in the promotion of the identity of Kythera and strengthens the sense of «belonging» of today's Kytherians, in whichever place they live.
The Director of the Piraeus D.E.
Dionysios Anastasopoulos Dr.
Philologist
