Athens, 23 July 2009

The first session of the Secretariat General for Greeks Abroad summer camp programme hosting children of Greeks abroad has come to an end. Some 720 campers from 8 to 12 years of age come from 51 countries around the world and are hosted in two sessions at the Foreign Ministry’s summer camps in Malesina and Epanomi, attending programmes that include history and mythology classes, as well as many other activities.

The farewell event in Malesina yesterday was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister for Greeks Abroad Theodore Kassimis, who stated the following:

“It is moving to be here with so many Greek children from every corner of the world, and even more so because this year in particular we have children with us from the “Republica Grecia” elementary school, in Chile, and from “La Grecia” elementary school, in Uruguay. These are children who love Greece, are taught Greek daily, and we brought them here with the Greek children so that they might experience at first hand the Greece that they have come to love. Throughout this camping session, all of the children here have been learning Greek, dancing Greek dances, singing Greek songs, enjoying themselves in Greek. They visited Delphi and the Acropolis, getting closer to the history of their homeland. We are proud that, as they leave this summer camp, these children now have more Greece in their souls, and returning home, they will share their experiences with parents and friends, thus becoming a bridge between Greece and the countries where they live.”

Mr. Kassimis also announced the creation of new cabins and recreation areas at the summer camps, so that they will be able to host even more children in the coming year.