Educational Program for Accessibility and Introduction to Diversity

The school is a place of open dialogue, coexistence, cooperation and acceptance, which contributes to the formation of a whole person. Familiarity with disability and the interaction of vulnerable social groups with a wider group of students contribute to changing attitudes and attitudes towards diversity and disability.

MYTILINEOS, always on the side of the local community of Viotia Prefecture and in cooperation with the Association for the Social Responsibility of Children and Youth (SKEP), has introduced an innovative educational program “I am learning to see a person” in 10 schools in the district. .

In particular, they took place 11 educational programs in 10 schools in the prefecture of primary and secondary education, and in particular in Municipality of Distomo, Arachova and Antikyra, informing and familiarizing 524 students with the concept of disability and diversity.

SKEP speakers, leaders and partners with disabilities, through Open Awakening and Awareness Dialogue with students and teachers, helped change behaviors and mindsets around disability, but mostly through an experiential and interactive approach communicated the need to function in the future as conscientious citizens and how a dynamic engine of change in society that breaks bad practices, stereotypes and prejudices.

The trainings focused on understanding and accepting diversity, as well as introducing concepts such as: disability, people with disabilities, accessibility, access, inclusive communication, the concept of the importance of an inclusive attitude and mentality, and practical directions for everyday interaction with people with disabilities .

After a survey conducted with the help of a special questionnaire among teachers and students of participating schools, teachers stated that students decriminalized the word disability and they realized that a person with a disability can join social and professional life with the right conditions of accessibility and support. In addition, students emphasized that they better understand concepts such as equality and diversity through the values ​​of empathy.

“It helped us understand everyday life from the point of view of a person with a disability, with all the difficulties that come with it.”

“The program directly contributes to raising students’ awareness of people with disabilities. It is absolutely necessary to form a complete picture of our fellow, free from the prejudices of society, as the potential citizens that we are, in order to make their life more sustainable!”

“I thought that people with disabilities were not capable of much, but after watching the program I realized that they are capable of more than I imagined!”

In a society that is constantly evolving and changing, student engagement with diversity contributes to the creation of an inclusive school for all children. In order to strengthen and educate the local community, MYTILINEOS, through the program, has created appropriate prospects for awareness and awareness of the general population with the ultimate goal of securing and realizing the fundamental rights of people with disabilities.

This particular initiative is of particular importance to MYTILINEOS and is being implemented in the context of the strategic partnership it is developing with important social actors to achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals (Goals 10 and 17).

visit it Sustainability Action Map (https//sdactionsmap.Mytileneos.gr/), To learn more.