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,