BGS and Athens College

The Athens College in Psychico has adopted the BGS Kifissos project in their environmental educational programme for the students of the secondary school (gymnasium) for the two academic years (2009-2010 and 2010-2011).

There are some 40 students participating in this project which comprises various environmental actions, activities, lectures, etc.

The “group for environmental education” at Athens College was established in 1992 and since 1994 educates the students on environmental awareness by working on various environmental issues and projects. Many of these projects represented the secondary  school in various  Pan-Hellenic competitions and they have, over the years, won many prizes and distinctions.

Since 2005 the environmental group has participated with various projects in the International Exchange Programme “Chrysoprasino Fyllo” which is organised under the aegis of the Greek and Cypriot Ministries of Education.
The projects for environmental education are the first contact the students have with scientific and environmental research with the main objective not only to acquire knowledge on environmental issues but also to introduce them from a young age to the principles of sustainable development.
The knowledge is acquired through experiential learning.

For the academic years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 the students from the three secondary school years who have chosen to participate in the “environmental group” will work on a project with the title “The City and its Rivers”.

So far the students taking part in this project had a lot of support and direction from the “BGS Kifissos Project” team. They have also visited part of the Kifissos River so that they get a first hand impression of the various environmental issues and problems. Later they will visit the rest of the river. The objective is to study and understand the Kifissos River from the archaeological, historical, environmental, residential and economic point of view. With this knowledge the students should be able understand the importance that the river should play in the context of the Athenian metropolitan area.

Once the students have completed the project it will take part in the “Chrysoprasino Fyllo” and in the “National Network of Environmental Programmes” with the theme title “The River”.

This programme also includes a visit to London by the students during the spring of the present academic period.   They can then make a comparative study of the regenerated areas along the River Thames with the proposed regeneration for the areas along the Kifissos River.

Recently Vassilis Zotos along with two members from the BGS Kifissos project team (Klairi Xenofontos and Dimitris Sofos) gave a first presentation of their proposals and had a lengthy talk on the subject with the students.

KIFISSOS…the Athens River … It is a project waiting to happen