With joy and excitement, the 5th-grade students of E. Mandoulides Schools completed a unique educational excursion to Alexandroupoli and Xanthi. They returned with their hearts filled with images, emotions, new friendships, and valuable experiences!
Our journey began with visits to the Ecclesiastical Museum and the Metropolis of Alexandroupoli, where the children experienced the depth of faith and came into close contact with the religious and cultural heritage of the region.
A particularly moving moment was the visit to the 3rd Elementary School of Alexandroupoli. The students had the opportunity to meet peers their age, sing, and dance together. The warmth of hospitality and collaboration, the joy of meeting, and the innocence of childlike communication created a vibrant bridge of connection and friendship.
History and culture unfolded before our eyes at the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, where we learned about the local traditions and daily life through an experiential and fun game.
Our visit to the unique Evros Delta brought us close to one of the most important wetlands in Europe. It filled us with awe for nature and initiated us into its secrets. Meanwhile, our trip to the Silk Museum in Soufli revealed the fascinating world of sericulture and the art of weaving.
A special highlight was the students’ participation in the Municipality’s events commemorating the 105th anniversary of the city’s liberation and its integration into the national territory. In collaboration with Zografeion Lyceum of Istanbul, our children sang with all their hearts, offering joy, emotion, and a small token of gratitude to the land that hosted us so warmly.
At the monastery of the Virgin Mary of Evros, the students enjoyed the serenity of the space, participated reverently in the Divine Liturgy, learned about the importance of monastic life, and visited the monastery’s workshops and grounds.
Throughout the excursion, the meeting with the Zografeion Lyceum of Istanbul stood out. It was an educational and cultural bond that transcended borders. The students felt that Hellenic education isn’t just a matter of the present, but a living continuity that unites places and souls, an invisible thread linking Istanbul with Evros and Thessaloniki, the past with the future.
This trip wasn’t just educational. It was a life experience.
It was the shining eyes of a child discovering something new.
It was the voice of tradition whispering into the present.
It was the certainty that education has the power to unite, to move, and to inspire.
We thank everyone who helped make all this a reality. But above all, we thank the children for the light they carry and the future they are building.
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