Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

A programmfor preschool-aged refugee children on Greek Islands supported by Early Childhood Program (ECP) at Open Society Foundations is presented. The program “Early Childhood Program on Greek Islands” took place in five Aegean islands (Kos, Leros, Samos, Chios and Lesvos) during the summers of 2018 and 2019 under the coordination of University of Patras. The main purpose of the program was to offer to young refugee children, who reside in Reception and Identification Centers and Hospitality Centers, an educational program based on play, warm interactions, creativity, expression, language and early literacy learning. When public kindergartens were closed due to summer holidays students from Early Childhood Education Department of University of Patras kept them open for preschool aged children living in challenging and not child friendly environments. The various benefits for children and families are discussed but, as well as, the challenges, and the obstacles faced by students, future teachers. Special attention is paid to the lessons learned about the profession and working with diversity.