This month of August has a farewell flavour, one that mixes the excitement of a well-deserved holiday with the nostalgia of a cycle coming to an end. Not only are we saying goodbye temporarily to rest, but this month also marks the end of a significant stage: it will be our last month as a Helios 1 programme. The classes, which have been our driving force and raison d’être, are coming to an end, and we find ourselves saying goodbye to the students and colleagues who have been part of this wonderful experience.

 

The last class, which took place on 14 August, was a particularly emotional moment. The students, moved by the farewell, showered the teachers with gifts, expressing their gratitude for everything they had learned. With a mixture of enthusiasm and sadness, they bombarded us with questions about when they would be able to resume classes. Unfortunately, we could not give them a concrete answer; we could only share our hope that this reunion will be very soon.

 

On 31 August we will close this stage, officially putting an end to Helios 1. However, far from being a definitive goodbye, we see it as a see you later. With optimism and great enthusiasm, we hope to see each other again soon in a new light, with the Helios + programme, a project that will surely bring us new opportunities and challenges. Until then, we carry in our hearts every moment we have shared and every lesson we have learned. See you soon!

 

Since 2019, YMCA Thessaloniki (as part of the consortium with MDAT S.A. and the School of Modern Greek Language of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) has been a partner of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the implementation of HELIOS project, which as of 2022 is financed by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.