Premiere for the "Learning, Protection,
Self-Improvement and Contribution” program by the DT&S

Actions to promote Innovation
and the adoption of Modern Technologies and Practices
with the goal of improving digital skills for students.

November 1, 2022 | Recognizing that Education and Knowledge are the main pillars for social progress, Cisco's Digital Transformation and Digital Skills Center (DT&S), the Social Action and Innovation Center (KMOP), in collaboration with the Education Directorate of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, are implementing the "Learning, Protection, Self-Improvement and Contribution" program.

The inaugural presentation of the initiative was held on Monday, October 31, with participating students from the Anatolia College middle and high schools. The particular group are the school’s “Wellbeing Ambassadors”, who through a series of trainings and seminars, will contribute to supporting, improving and promoting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of their school’s community. On Monday, November 7th the initiative hosted at least 50 students of the 2nd Protypon High School of Thessaloniki.

In the context of the initiative, there are weekly visits of elementary, middle and high school students at the DT&S in Thessaloniki every Monday (except holidays) throughout the 2022-2023 school year.

Program objectives include teaching students about Technology, Innovation and their applications in everyday life, training them internet safety, showing them how to recognize, prevent, deal with, and resist school and online bullying. During visits, educational seminars are held on exercising and nutrition, traffic behavior and road safety education, as well as training - by experts – on how to improve the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims.

The initiative is also supported by the participation of the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate of Northern Greece, the Region of Central Macedonia’s Directorate of Digital Governance, by CityLab, GrcTech and by KIDS SAVE LIVES.

The "Learning, Protection, Self-Improvement and Contribution" program applies to students from the 5th grade up to the 11th grade, with a participation capacity between 30 and 50 students. Cisco's Digital Transformation and Digital Skills Center (DT&S), is located at 21,   26th October avenue in Thessaloniki. 

The educational seminars consist of a three-hour visit at the DT&S, covering the following thematic sessions:

  • “Innovation, Modern Technologies and Practices”, featuring DT&S Manager, Mr. Agathoklis Vatzias.
  • “Internet Safety” featuring Ms. Stella Patsis, deputy director of the Police Department’s Innovative Actions and Strategy Division.
  • “Preventing, recognizing, dealing with and combating school and online bullying” with featured speakers Ms. Maria Samolada, communication manager of “Live Without Bullying” and Ms. Katerina Sourda, the manager of the Northern Greece office of the KMOP. Training takes place as part of the “Live Without Bullying” training program.
  • “Healthy diet and exercise”, with featured speaker, Mr. Angelos Charisteas, Deputy Governor of Digital Governance.
  • “STEM/Robotics for all”, with speaker Mr. Dimitris Mplougouras, Head of Research and Development of CityLab.
  • “Traffic behavior and safety”, featuring Mr. Michalis Zanna, Graphic Designer Specialist & Marketing Assistant of GrcTech.
  • “Basic Life Support Skills” with instructors Ms. Ioanna Efthimiou, Mr. Costas Grigoriadis, Ms. Daniela Hatziou and Ms. Alexandra Fotiadou, from “Kids Save Lives / New Technologies to Save a Life”.

*Speakers may vary based on their availability.