Successful Participation in the YES Program – Greece-Jiangxi Youth Exchange

This summer, 18 students and teachers from our school in Greece took part in the Youth Exchange Study (YES) Program hosted by Gannan Normal University in Jiangxi, China. The 12-day cultural camp offered a rich, immersive experience under the theme of Culture, Experience, and Friendship.

Participants explored traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, and medicine, visited historical and cultural sites in Ganzhou, and engaged in hands-on activities like tea picking, pottery, and folk crafts.
At the closing ceremony, our students shared their reflections in Chinese, expressing deep appreciation for the hospitality, cultural richness, and the friendships formed.

This meaningful exchange built bridges between Chinese and Greek youth, fostering mutual understanding and long-lasting connections.

A Journey Through Time with the Greek Youth Opera 2025!!

This was our second summer camp for 2025!

A group of Greek students has returned to Athens after completing a magical journey to Zhejiang Province, China, centered on traditional Chinese opera.

These students participated in the program “Small Town, Big Opera – A Journey into Zhejiang Opera” as members of the Greek delegation of the Chinese Bridge initiative.

The activity was funded by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of China and organized by the School of Cultural Creativity and Management at Zhejiang University of Communication. The aim was to deepen mutual understanding and exchange between the two ancient theatrical cultures of China and Greece, using Chinese opera as a bridge for communication.
Our school had the honor of fully organizing and leading the delegation. Our director, Ms. Chen Xin, attended the opening ceremony and exchanged commemorative gifts with the Chinese hosts.

This summer program blended the historical heritage of traditional opera with modern cultural innovation. Over the course of two weeks, more than ten students and teachers visited WuYou Media, the Butterfly Theatre, the China Animation Museum, and other points of interest, witnessing firsthand how digital technologies contribute to the dissemination of traditional cultural heritage through the “Hangzhou model.”
The group then traveled to various cities in Zhejiang, including Jinhua, Wenzhou, and Shengzhou, gaining in-depth insight into the evolution of Chinese opera – from stage performance to its cultural roots.

Renowned theatre expert Professor Ruo Tong accompanied the group throughout the trip, delivering specialized presentations in Greek and offering the students a true “journey between Greece and China.”

"A journey in search of roots in China"

From July 14 to 23, the overseas Chinese teenagers from our school joined 126 other overseas Chinese youths from different countries in Dongguan for a rewarding “China Root-Seeking Journey” summer camp.

This 10-day camp, themed “Technology and Humanity Interwoven – Exploring the Roots of the Bay Area”, was carefully designed with a dual exploration route combining “Technology + Culture.”

Under the thoughtful arrangements of the organizers, the participants immersed themselves in traditional charm, ignited their passion for sports, experienced the Lingnan cultural flavor, honored historical heritage, and explored the frontiers of technology through rich and colorful activities such as Cantonese opera, Dongguan grass weaving, lion dance, tea ceremony, dragon boat rowing, paper cutting, and more.

At the closing ceremony, our school’s team leader and vice-principal, Ms. Wang Qian, was awarded the title of “Outstanding Leader,” while students Bao Rongxin and Lei Zihao received the title of “Outstanding Participant.” Charidimos Dretakis, representing the group, was interviewed throughout the camp by Dongguan TV.

Participants shared that they not only gained knowledge but also built friendships, expressing their hope to join again next year.

The summer group of our school participated in the event "Youth p-Mutual Visits and Mutual Learning" organized by the Chinese Embassy in Athens.

On July 21, teachers and students from our school’s YES program were invited to the “Youth π · Mutual Visits and Mutual Learning” event hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Greece. The summer study group from Jiangxi Agricultural University also took part.

Mr. Lai Bo, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy, congratulated both groups on the successful exchange and encouraged the youth to make the most of such opportunities, broaden their horizons, learn from each other, and contribute to the friendship and cooperation between China and Greece.

The event featured activities such as photo guessing games, storytelling, singing, and painting, through which the young participants shared their experiences, introduced the beauty and flavors of their hometowns, and expressed their hopes for the future of China–Greece friendship. One of our students hosted the entire event in fluent Chinese, creating a joyful and friendly atmosphere.