From June 25 to 28, 2024, the SLEAD Summer School took place in Athens, Greece, gathering almost 50 educators from across Europe, the US and South America. Hosted at the Deutsche Schule Athen, the summer school provided an immersive platform for educators to engage in collaborative project development centered around democratic competencies and international cross-border Service-Learning projects. The event followed a “school hackathon” model, where participants worked in diverse, international teams to design impactful service-learning projects aimed at fostering democratic competencies. Over four days, educators attended workshops, shared best practices, and applied agile and design thinking methods to develop solutions to real-world problems.
Program Highlights:
- Day 1: Icebreaking & Collaboration
The summer school began with team-building activities, forming international groups to collaborate on service-learning projects. Participants explored the intersection of Service-Learning and democracy competencies, preparing the groundwork for their project work.
- Day 2: Planning & Tools
Educators participated in structured workshops focused on project planning, digital tools, and cross-border collaboration techniques. BarCamp sessions allowed participants to exchange ideas and experiences, deepening their understanding of service-learning.
- Day 3: Project Development
The focus shifted to hands-on project work, supported by targeted coaching and workshops on communication and teamwork. Teams refined their projects in preparation for final presentations.
- Day 4: Final Presentations & Reflection
The final day saw teams presenting their projects, showcasing their work to the group, and receiving feedback. The day concluded with a reflective session on future applications of the projects.
Cultural Excursions:
Alongside the educational program, participants enjoyed cultural excursions:
- Tuesday night: A scenic visit to Cape Sounion to see the Temple of Poseidon and watch the sunset over the Aegean Sea.
- Thursday afternoon: A guided tour of the Acropolis Museum and Acropolis Hill, offering participants the chance to immerse themselves in ancient Greek history and culture.
By the end of the event, participants had developed comprehensive blueprints for their service-learning projects, ready for implementation in schools across Europe. This unique blend of collaborative learning and cultural enrichment fostered strong international connections and laid the foundation for future cross-border educational projects.
