





On Thursday, March 13, 2025, the Active Citizenship Enhancement Initiative was successfully implemented in Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna.
The initiative aimed to cultivate modern transversal skills associated with Active Citizenship and directly linked to one or more of the 17 thematic fields of the Active Citizen Actions Curriculum of the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP). Through the undertaking of relevant collective actions and targeted activities based on experiential learning by the school community, the initiative was structured around three key pillars:
✔ Awareness and reflection on issues affecting the community (school, local, broader).
✔ Designing organized interventions to address these issues.
✔ Taking action to resolve or mitigate these issues.
The ultimate goal is to develop critically thinking active citizens, who acquire the necessary skills and the disposition to contribute to public affairs, reflect critically on societal matters, and apply humanitarian and democratic principles. Through this ecosystemic approach, students recognize the significance of the systems they belong to and their role within them, actively engaging in collaborative citizenship actions.
Thematic Area of the Initiative
The initiative falls under the thematic field SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and is specifically aligned with two of the six active citizenship themes:
✔ b) Coexistence in the community
✔ d) Promotion of quality of life for the general population (health, education, rights)
Subject Area: Physical Education (in the third year of high school)
Brief Description of the Initiative
The initiative involved the participation of students from all grades of Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna, under the organization of the third year of high school students and the guidance of the Physical Education teachers. It focused on the organization of intra-school sports activities, supported by volunteer student teams. These teams played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and effective implementation of the activities, promoting equal participation, fostering initiative-taking, and encouraging collaborations between different stakeholders.
This initiative highlights the importance of the system in which students operate, emphasizing their role in collaborative citizenship actions.
Expected Learning Outcomes
After participating in this active citizenship initiative, students will be able to:
✔ Promote health and well-being in the community and school through volunteer teams.
✔ Develop and implement programs for health promotion and disease prevention.
✔ Take care of their personal well-being while also considering the well-being of others.
✔ Contribute to improving education, fostering equal and inclusive participation for all students through activities such as presentations, workshops, and awareness campaigns.
✔ Actively participate in social initiatives and contribute to improving society (local, broader, and global).
Additional Goals of the Initiative
✔ Encouraging and educating young people in adopting lifelong healthy habits.
✔ Cultivating ethical and democratic values.
✔ Fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening social cohesion.
✔ Encouraging teamwork, recognizing diversity, and appreciating the contributions of all.
✔ Promoting initiative-taking and collaborative efforts to tackle challenges.
✔ Building self-confidence and experiencing the joy of play.
Recognition of Participation
Upon graduation, each student receives a certificate of participation alongside their diploma, documenting their involvement in active citizenship initiatives and the corresponding grade level in which they participated.
- Congratulations to all students from all three grades who took part in the initiative!
- Special recognition to Vasilis Papadopoulos and Nikolaos Loumos (third year of high school) for their valuable contribution.
- A heartfelt thank you to the Mayor of Palaio Faliro, Mr. Ioannis Fostiropoulos, and Deputy Mayor, Mr. Michalis Koumentakos, for hosting our school at the Palaio Faliro Municipal Sports Center for this event.
Responsible Physical Education Educators:
George Sarlas – Smaragda Belte