Personalised education for displaced young people

Dear Friends, 

After an eventful Summer School at Gekko, we hit the ground running for the launch of fall term in mid-September. We are currently working with nearly 190 active students attending daily lessons in English, Greek, and IT. As the excitement of a new term settles into a close-knit community, we are grateful, as ever, to share updates about our work with our family of supporters. 

Conditions remain challenging for young people seeking a stable, dignified life in Greece. As state education programs struggle with inefficiency and limited reach, non-profit organizations steps in to fill the gaps - offering quality learning opportunities despite scarce resources.

While non-formal education centers play a vital role, formal certification remains crucial for displaced learners. The countless hours and immeasurable energy students commit to non-formal learning result in valuable skills, but, too often, these skills go unrecognized by potential employers and educational institutions. Students are left with little opportunity to build on their achievements.

We are thrilled to share that Gekko has become an official Accreditation Center for the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL/ICDL) in order to help fill this gap. Offered at Gekko in partnership with PeopleCert, the ECDL is an internationally recognized benchmark for digital literacy - accepted by public institutions, private companies, and academic organizations in over 100 countries, including Greece’s public sector hiring process. 

Through structured ECDL preparation, mock exams, and fee-free certification right here at Gekko, participants will gain fundamental skills for the workplace. The program’s modular format and supportive instruction allow students to progress at their own pace, boosting both competence and confidence. Together, these opportunities open doors to employment, education, and fuller participation in digital society.

This new initiative joins Gekko’s successful IELTS (English language) program to offer formal certification in two of our three academic departments. Thanks to your continued support, we are building pathways for displaced and vulnerable learners to achieve formal recognition for their skills and create brighter futures in their new communities.

With gratitude, 

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.

Links:

• GLC Launch event: My Voice, My Superpower