Selected
Lead Partner: School Committee of Primary Education 1st Municipal Community of the Municipality of Athens/82nd Kindergarten of Athens
Co-Partner: 1) District Søndre Nordstrand, Oslo Municipality, 2) CITYKIDS – Faculty of Education and International studies, Oslo Metropolitan University
Project Geographical Location: Athens, Greece – Oslo, Norway
Maximum project grant amount: € 14.998,99
Duration: November 2023 – July 2024
The SPIRAL initiative aimed at fostering bilateral relations between Greece and Norway through collaboration among municipalities, academia, and early childhood educators. Its primary goal was to improve and expand services for refugee children and families. The SPIRAL project expanded its network, fostering knowledge-sharing and best practices in refugee integration within urban preschools.
The project officially launched with a virtual kick-off meeting on 27 November 2023, involving 14 participants from both countries. It featured two exchange visits:
- Athens (18-24 February 2024): Led by the 82nd Kindergarten of Athens (82KA).
- Oslo (27 April-4 May 2024): Led by Oslo Municipality and OsloMet.
Activities in Athens
- Job-shadowing:
At 82KA, engaging 42 children (25% from refugee/migrant backgrounds), seven staff, and five visitors. - Capacity-building workshops:
(20 February) Walking lecture by a researcher (8 attendees).
(21 February) Workshop on refugee education in urban Athens, organized by 82KA with the University of Athens and the 132nd Primary School (11 attendees).
- Community meetings:
(23 February) Workshop titled “Refugee children: Exploring the relationship with the school and community.”
(24 February) Meeting with a grassroots Pedagogy Group during the Mother Tongue Day Festival.
Activities in Oslo
- Job-shadowing:
(29 April, 30 April, 2 May) Across three kindergartens, involving 181 children (80% from refugee/migrant backgrounds), 43 staff, and three visitors. - Capacity-building workshops:
(29 April) Session by Oslo Municipality with IBBY Lambedusa (12 attendees).
(3 May) Workshops on educational drama and preparing SPIRAL’s online booklet (each attended by 8 people).
- Community meetings:
(29 April) Workshop on “Building trust and dialogue in challenged communities.”
(30 April) Visits to the Refugee Café in Holmlia and the European Wergeland Center.
(28 April) Visit to the International Museum of Children’s Art.
- Dissemination workshops:
(18 March) Oslo workshop, attended by 140 local kindergarten teachers.
(31 May, 3 June, 18 June) Athens workshops with 58 participants.
(19 June) Online seminar for 100 kindergarten teachers in central Athens.
The project concluded with an international online closing event on 20 June 2024, featuring 24 participants from Greece, Norway, and beyond, where SPIRAL milestones and other inclusion-focused initiatives were presented.
In conclusion, exchange visits in Athens and Oslo provided first hand insights into educational practices, with job-shadowing and reflection sessions deepening participants’ understanding of refugee inclusion challenges and solutions. Greek and Norwegian kindergarten teachers gained new perspectives, adapting and enhancing their approaches while extending their influence through local workshops. Norwegian partners valued Greek teachers’ community engagement, while Greek partners noted Norway’s well-equipped facilities and frequent community visits. Capacity-building workshops and community meetings in both countries enriched participants’ understanding of sociopolitical contexts and refugee needs, fostering sustainable collaboration. The SPIRAL booklet, online platforms, and international closing event disseminated project outcomes widely. Despite challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles and budget limitations, the established network paves the way for future collaborative initiatives in refugee education.
