05/12/2021
Greece
participants
We set four specific goals for this trip:
a)To ensure that we are going to apply the highest possible level of environmentally friendly practices: We chose to travel by bus to eliminate the carbon dioxide emissions and since we stayed in a small town we explored the most of it mainly by walking. Except for those, we also used eco-friendly materials during our activities (non-plastic cutlery, biodegradable trash bags and gloves, etc.)
b)To raise awareness about environmental issues and the importance of volunteering in combating them: We ensured that our Treasure Hunt activity would include some challenges that could point out the environmental problems that Greece, such as many other countries, faces in the current moment and that our international and Greek students would engage in volunteering activities related to these issues.
c)To ensure the interaction between international and local students: Our incoming students had the opportunity to participate in activities with local students and both interact with them about issues of worldwide importance and participate in intercultural conversations. More over they met the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia.
d)To give to our incoming students the opportunity to explore Greek natural and cultural heritage.
We, as ESN UniPi, organized a three-day trip in Kastoria, Greece (from 3rd to 5th of December). Our International Relations Office supported us and the trip mainly included activities related to Environmental Sustainability and Cultural Heritage pillars of Social Impact Days.
More especially, amongst the activities there was a Treasure Hunt based on sustainable volunteering challenges (such as cleaning some landscape areas of the town)*, a Greek Night*, some visits in cultural and natural heritage places and museums (e.g. Geopark of Grevena - Kozani, which is protected by UNESCO, Natural History and Mushrooms' Museum in Meteora, Meteora Landscape, Natural History Museum in Milia of Grevena, one old mansion in Siatista and some remainings of buildings from Hellenistic and Roman period).
At the Geopark we've been received by the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia.
By organizing this trip we aimed to bring international and local students together in some hidden gems of Greece, in order for them to come closer to our country's nature and culture and participate in volunteering activities, while exploring a new place.
*For organizing these activities we have cooperated with ESN Western Macedonia. Some of their volunteers joined us in the Geopark visit as well.
