Monday, July 22 was a different day for Year 9 Modern Greek students of Adelaide High School. They swapped the classroom to share stories, forge connections, and share a meal with pensioners of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia’s St Nicholas Church senior group at Thebarton Greek Community Centre.
Students of Modern Greek from Adelaide High School regularly visit local Greek pensioners groups to capture their stories and connect with seniors through language and culture.
Adelaide High Modern Greek Teacher Dimitra Rozaklis said that forming connections with the community provides invaluable lessons, allowing learning to occur outside the confines of the classroom.
“It encourages students to use their communicative skills while learning about the sacrifices,hardship and successes of the community members while showcasing their passion for Hellenism,” Ms Rozaklis said.
“When students use language, dance, and highlight their philotimo by bringing homemade ‘finikia’ to share, it proves to the older generation that the future of Hellenism in South Australia is safe in the hands of our youth.”
With this community project, students play music, perform traditional Greek dances for seniors, interview them to ensure their stories can be passed onto future generations, and engage with them in various social activities.
Student Dion, who is of Greek and Italian ancestry, said that projects like this are very important because otherwise, the culture will be lost.
“The culture lives with the language. Without the language, there is no culture, and it’s important to keep it,” Dion said.
Pensioners welcomed the students’ presence with excitement and said that more schools should get involved in initiatives like this.
“Today was a nice day. We feel proud that young kids want to learn about their roots, and although we live in Australia, Greece is always in our hearts. We don’t forget our homeland,”pensioners Eugenia and Polyxeni said.
Research has shown that intergenerational relationships benefit both older adults and young people. These interactions promote mental and emotional wellness and a sense of purpose and belonging.
“Watching the students interact with our seniors was heartwarming. This is what community is all about,” Anastasia Mavrides, Neoléa Committee Chair, said.
“Neoléa will continue celebrating and supporting initiatives that help bridge gaps between generations and create a sense of belonging through intergenerational learning and cultural connections.”
