GCM announces subsidised summer camp for young adults to Thessaloniki and Northern Greece

The camp will give the opportunity for young adults to experience their heritage, culture and food. In this photo a typical scene of people at outdoor tavernas in the Athonos area of Thessaloniki in 2019. Photo: Depositphotos

Melbourne.- An inaugural summer camp programme has been announced for young adults from Australia to be held in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece this July. The inaugural programme has been funded by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) and Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (GMFA) through the General Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad.

The cultural programme which has been a long-held ambition of the GCM, will be held from 9 to 20 July will accommodate up to 100 participants in its first year.

The GCM said the 12-day camp will provide a unique opportunity for participants, who are 18 years or older, to immerse themselves in Greece’s language, culture and cuisine and to connect with their heritage. The itinerary will include visits to museums, the cultural and archaeological sites of Northern Greece, including Vergina and Nymfeo. Participants will also be able to attend concerts such the Evanthia Remboutiska and a tribute to Grigoris Bithikotsis.

Ionannis Chrysoulakis, the General Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad, left, with Bill Papastergiadis, the president of the GCM. Photo: Supplied/GCM

As part of the efforts to set up the program the President of the GCM, Bill Papastergiadis met in April with Ionannis Chrysoulakis, the General Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad and Arthur Spyrou, Australia’s Ambassador to Greece. The meetings emphasised the importance of an immersion programme in Greece for Australian students.

Mr Papastergiadis said: “They will act as a mechanism to develop future leaders in our community. It will also add to an interest in language and drive interest in our organisation and develop greater relations between the GCM and Greek student bodies. It will be available to young people from all Australia.”

Mr Chrysoulakis said: “The GMFA, in cooperation with the GCM is proud to support a unique opportunity for these young adults from Australia to attend the cultural summer camps in July. Our main objective in this collaboration is to reinforce the cultural bond they have with Greece and through the programme to explore the remarkable history and culture of their homeland.”

The cost of the camp will be subsidised by the GMFA and the GCM.

The Australian Ambassador to Greece Arthur Spyrou, left, with the Bill Papastergiadis, the president of the Greek Community of Melbourne. Photo: Supplied/GCM

“It is one of the most exciting initiatives that the GCM has ever been involved with. When I had an initial discussion with the Foreign Affairs Ministers about the summer camp, we thought it was an amazing initiative. The GCM decided to part-fund the programme and offer this once-in-a -lifetime chance for these young adults to visit Greece and improve their Greek-language skills,” said Mr Papastergiadis.

Ambassador Spyrou said the programme would play an important part in the people-to-people links between Australia and Greece.

“They are a big part of what makes the Greek-Australian community a key pillar of the strong, warm, enduring friendship between our countries,” Mr Spyrou said.

What: Summer (July) Cultural Camp in Northern Greece

When: 9 to 20 July (20 days inclusive)

Where: Based in Thessaloniki with visits to Vergina, Nimphaio, Dion Olympus and Kastoria.

What: Included in fee: all accommodation, meals, internal transfers, museum and site entries.

Who: 18 years or older – You must be 18 years of age by 8 July

Applications: Online form available on here