The English teachers at the school organized a talk with Tassos Smetopoulos, the founder of STEPS, a non-profit organization that helps homeless people in Athens, Greece. The 6th grade students learned about the work STEPS does, such as providing food, clothing, medical assistance and companionship to those living on the streets. They discussed the main causes of homelessness in Greece - the economic crisis and influx of migrants. The students participated enthusiastically in the talk, asking questions and gaining an understanding of the issues. The school aims to educate students about empathy, aid, and caring for others.

1. XERRADA EN ANGLÈS: Rebem TASSOS SMETOPOULOS
AN ENGLISH SPEECH: WelcomeTASSOS SMETOPOULOS
Desdel departmentd’anglès,elsmestresEmíliaPrietoi Frankie Casale (ambel suportde
l’equipdirectiui latutoraIsabel Fuster) organitzàremunaxerradamoltinteressantambel Sr.
TassosSmetopoulos,fundadorde STEPS,unaorganitzaciósense ànimde lucre que desde
l’anypassati gràciesalsseusvoluntaris, operaaAtenasajudanta personesque hanacabat
vivintal carrer.
Durant 1h 30m, el passatdillunsdia6 de novembre elsalumnesde 6è de Primàriapogueren
conèixerde primeramàlafeinaque STEPSdu a terme a la capital grega. Mitjançant preguntes
guiades perpart del Sr. Tassosarribarena conèixerelsdosgransmotiuspelsquals unnombre
importantde gentno té un lloc on refugiar-se: lagrancrisi que fa gairebé una dècadacolpejà
amb duresaGrècia,i l’arribadaconstant de migrantsque,perdiversosmotius,hande fugir
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començaruna nova vida.
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l’actualitat: perunabanda,i diàriament,grupsde voluntarisrecorren Atenesperlocalitzar els
homelessi comunicar-seambellspersaberde quinaformaelspodenajudar( companyia,
conversa,primersauxilis,…). Perunaaltrabanda,tots elsdimecresi diumenges,enunespai
obertdel centre de la capital, justdavoral’Ajuntament, ofereixenmenjar,begudes,conversa,
música,jocs, assessoramentlegal, ajudapsicològicai/oprimersauxilisatotsels que ho
necessiten.
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poderpaliarel seu sofriment…Enpoquesparaules:intentarajudar-losasortirde l’exclusió
social a la qual s’hanvistabocats.
Els alumnesde 6è hi participarenambentusiasme. Intercanviarenopinionsambel nostre
convidat; responguerenalessevespreguntes; ferenlessevespròpies.Iel mésimportant,
aconseguíremungrau d’unió altamentemotiuque esvaferevidental’horade la despedida.
Ens sentimorgullososde poderoferir xerradestanenriquidoresdesd’unpuntde vista
humanitari i de sensibilització al nostre alumnat.Comaadultsque prest seran,és
imprencindible que s’eduquinenelsvalors d’empatia,ajudai amoralsaltres.
Moltíssimesgràciesal Sr.Tassos Smetopoulos i a Aidadel Mar Frontera,que foulapersona
que ensposà encontacte. I a tots elsalumnesde 6è pel seuinterési el seugrancor.
Permésinformació: www.steps.org.gr També encastellà

2. From the English department, teachers Emília Prieto and Frankie Casale (with the
support of the management team and tutor Isabel Fuster) organized a very
interesting talk with Mr. Tassos Smetopoulos, founder of STEPS, a non-profit,
grassroots level organization that since last year operates in Athens helping people
who have been living in the streets.
On Monday the 6th of November, the 6th grade students learned first hand the
work STEPS performs in the Greek capital. By means of guided questions led by
Mr. Tassos, we found out the two main reasons a large number of people do not
have a place to take refuge: the great economic crisis that hit Greece especially
hard almost a decade ago, and the constant arrival of migrants who, for various
reasons, must flee from their countries of origin (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc.) with
the dream of finding a paradise in which to start a new life.
We took the opportunity to understand some of the projects that STEPS is
currently developing. Firstly, groups of volunteers travel across Athens to locate
the homeless and communicate to them that there is help out there (company,
conversation, first aid, etc). In addition, every Wednesday and Sunday, in an open
space downtown, next to city hall, they offer food, drinks, conversation, music,
games, legal advice, psychological help and/or first aid to all those who need it. It is
a way to listen to the street connected people, to return the lost dignity, to offer
them basic goods, to embrace them and to help to alleviate their suffering. In
short, it is meant to be a safe space where people can enjoy being themselves
without hesitation.
The 6th students participated with enthusiasm. Not only did the children
exchange opinions with our guest, they responded to the questions while forming
their own. And most importantly, we achieved a very emotional degree of unity that
became evident at the end of the discussion. We are proud to be able to offer such
charitable talks from a humanitarian point of view and raise awareness about this
problem to our students. As adults who are willing, it is indispensable that they be
educated in the values of empathy, help, and love for others. Many thanks to Mr.
Tassos Smetopoulos and Aida del Mar Frontera, who was the person who
connected us. And to all the sixth grade students because of their interest and and
open hearts.