On Saturday October 29th 2022, in an especially emotional atmosphere, the first Ukrainian school on the island of Crete was inaugurated with the support of the Karatzis family’s Antonis and Yulia Karatzi. The school will be housed on the premises of the 3rd Gymnasium of Crete where a total of 23 children from Ukraine will have the opportunity to get to know their Ukrainian roots every Saturday, through Ukrainian language lessons, literature, crafts, history-culture and art lessons.
This unique initiative unites the young students growing up on the island with the support and hospitality of the Cretan people, allowing them to briefly leave behind the hardships they experienced in their home country while creating strong bonds of friendship in the process.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by teachers, local government representatives and a large crowd of people, strengthening this special initiative. Visibly moved, Yulia Karatzi who originates from Ukraine, cut the ribbon, acknowledging and actively supporting the common effort so that the children can once again come into contact with their culture and their language via their second home, Crete.
On the occasion of this special initiative, Mrs Yulia Karatzi stated: “It is a strange and difficult time for my country, and I am especially proud that the children of Ukraine, with the help of my second homeland, Crete, will have the opportunity to put their home country back in to their hearts”