Education Greece Project #58945

Personalised education for displaced young people

by Better Days Greece

Personalised education for displaced young people

Project Report | Jun 27, 2025
Summer at Gekko: Learning and Leadership

By Hadley Jackson | Communications and Fundraising Manager

GLC Launch Event

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Gekko! Summer has arrived in Athens, and that means Gekko Summer School is just around the corner. Our team is busy preparing for six weeks of daily lessons, learning, and fun with the hundreds of displaced young people who access our services.

We recently wrapped up the spring term with over 250 active students - more than 70% of whom were retained from the previous term. Representing 35 nationalities and speaking 25 languages, our students form a vibrant, resilient community. As one student shared, “I'm very happy to be studying because I couldn't study in my own country.”

Introducing the Gekko Leadership Council!

We’re excited to launch the Gekko Leadership Council (GLC), a new student-led initiative focused on expanding access to higher education for displaced youth in Greece. The GLC was created to address the lack of opportunities for students ready to advance in their education, helping young leaders build leadership skills and advocate for change.

Twelve students have joined the inaugural cohort, mentored by three brilliant Facilitators who are university students from displaced backgrounds, themselves. Their energy and insight are already inspiring. Watch the attached video from their launch event, “My Voice, My Superpower,” a night of music and poetry during Refugee Week Greece.

These opportunities are only possible because of your support. In a time when small organizations like ours face immense challenges and humanitarian values are under threat, your commitment to Better Days means more than we can express. Thank you for standing with us and our students; in them, let us find hope for a brighter future.

Star Student Awards, Spring 2025

Gekko's new home

End of Term Celebration, Spring 2025

Putting the final touches on the new Gekko mural

Archaeological Museum Visit

Links:

GLC Launch event: My Voice, My Superpower

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Mar 7, 2025
Gekko's latest innovations for displaced learners

By Hadley Jackson | Communications and Fundraising Coordinator

Language & Digital Literacy

Dear Friends,

We’ve had an exciting few months at Gekko in Athens, and we’re glad to share our latest updates with you. Despite the challenging political landscape the humanitarian sector currently faces, we continue to find endless inspiration in Gekko students. Each day, we see their belief in themselves and their futures grow stronger. Thank you for dedicating your resources to helping displaced young people access the quality education they deserve.

Over 350 displaced young people applied to Gekko for spring term, with over 50% of fall students re-applying. While we can’t accommodate every applicant due to space and staffing limits, the continued high demand reinforces the essential role Gekko plays in Athens. The Gekko student body currently comprises 150 students from 24 different countries. Gekko’s high retention and application rates evidence the feelings of belonging and meaningful academic progress students discover here.

Introducing Our Newest Course: Language & Digital Literacy

Many displaced learners have not had the chance to develop digital literacy, which is essential for finding employment and developing independence. While many non-formal programs, including Gekko, offer IT courses, most of them require proficiency in Greek or English. Students who are still developing language skills are therefore excluded from participating and remain without essential digital literacy; this limits job opportunities, increases vulnerability to online predators, and excludes young people from participating fully in modern life.

In response, Gekko launched an exciting new course available to Greek and English language learners: Language & Digital Literacy! By combining language and digital education in a structured, contextualized way, Gekko addresses a critical gap for displaced learners in Greece, enabling them to develop digital literacy and essential language skills concurrently. This new course compliments Gekko’s existing curriculum of Computer Skills, Greek, English, English Certification Preparation, and Homework Support.

Your support empowers the Gekko team to develop innovative programs in direct response to our students' needs, opening doors to opportunity and building a brighter future. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey with us.

With gratitude,

Hadley

Digital tools in the classroom

Thank you from our Gekko family!

Links:

Photos by our close friend and collaborator, Photolgaphy

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Nov 8, 2024
Record Enrollment for Fall Term at Gekko

By Hadley Jackson | Communications and Fundraising Coordinator

Beginners Greek

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Athens! As the autumn months bring cooler weather and shorter days, Gekko is busier than ever. Thanks to your support, we are able to respond to the urgent needs of a growing number of young people arriving in Greece seeking safety and stability.

This year, over 37,000 people have arrived in Greece seeking asylum—a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Of the 501,560 applications for international protection submitted in 2024, a quarter are from children, including nearly 4,000 unaccompanied minors.

At Gekko, we see these numbers reflected in our classrooms. This fall, we received over 300 applications—an increase of 44% from Summer School. Nearly 40% more students registered for Fall Term compared to Summer. A remarkable 50% of our Summer School students returned for Fall Term, reflecting the strength of the relationships and quality of learning they have found at Gekko.

Currently, 61% of our active students attend classes over 70% of the time, making them eligible for Gekko’s monthly attendance rewards—a testament to their dedication and the importance of the welcoming, context-aware Gekko environment.

With a student body of 175 students, our small team has been working tirelessly to meet the increasing demand, facing each new challenge with resilience and commitment. Every milestone we reach, every daily achievement, is a testament to your belief in our mission and your commitment to helping displaced learners have access to education.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Your generosity makes a meaningful difference in the lives of Gekko students.

With warmest wishes,

Hadley

Podcasting Workshop

Fun in the Student Lounge

Intermediate Greek

Links:

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