Engaging Young Minds: Our Day at the 66th Primary School of Thessaloniki

Daily Program

The week of diffusion began with an exciting visit to the 66th Primary School of Thessaloniki. This event marked a key step in our project’s collaboration with local policymakers, especially the B Community of Thessaloniki Municipality, strongly supported by Mrs. Natasha Karra. Our goal was to connect with the school community and introduce creative educational activities focused on stray animals, particularly cats, which are the most commonly observed stray animals in Thessaloniki.

A Warm Welcome and First Impressions

We arrived at the school at 9:00 AM to familiarize ourselves with the environment and meet the school’s director and teaching staff. Their warm reception and willingness to support our needs set a positive tone for the day. The director and teachers showed genuine interest in our project, which encouraged us to proceed with confidence.

Interactive Performances About Cats

At 10:00 AM, we kicked off the activities with two short performances, each lasting 20 minutes. These performances were designed with a didactic footprint to educate students about cats, highlighting their presence as stray animals in Thessaloniki. Richard and Zuzana led these engaging sessions, using storytelling and interactive elements to capture the children’s attention. The performances aimed to raise awareness about the challenges stray cats face and the importance of kindness and care towards them.

Creative Workshop and Musicokinetic Exercises

Following the performances, our Chef Giovanni hosted a fun workshop where children where expected to create tasty animal faces using food. This hands-on activity combined creativity with learning, making the experience memorable for the students.

At the same time, Mirjam conducted musicokinetic exercises with the younger students. She organized rhythmic games where children imitated animal sounds and coordinated their voices in teams, similar to a chorus. This playful approach helped develop their coordination and teamwork skills while reinforcing the theme of animals.

Positive Feedback and Encouragement

The students responded enthusiastically to the activities, showing curiosity and enjoyment throughout the day. The director and his colleagues expressed strong support for our efforts, encouraging us to continue developing these educational initiatives. Their positive feedback motivates us to expand the project and reach more schools in the future.

Preparing for the Upcoming Symposium

In the evening, our team focused on preparing presentations for the upcoming Symposium scheduled for December 19, 2025. This virtual event will run from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM and aims to bring together policymakers, trainers, teachers, and academics. We plan to present the construction and results of our ongoing research on stray animals in Thessaloniki, alongside the artistic school activities designed to raise awareness among primary education students.

This symposium will be an important platform to share insights, discuss challenges, and promote educational strategies that sensitize young minds to animal welfare issues.

Richard Barbe is signing autographs...!