“Together for Children” | NKUA. Launch of an Innovative Educational Program“STEM Education & Soft Skills”

With great enthusiasm, the innovative educational program “STEM Education and Soft Skills” began on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Marasleio Teaching School. This initiative is a result of the collaboration between the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the “Together for Children” organization.

The program aims to introduce elementary and middle school students to the exciting world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) by combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. At the same time, participants will be taught soft skills such as collaboration, emotional management, decision-making, and other skills essential for their personal and social development. Children from 25 public schools in the Attica region are participating in the program.

The program is supported by GEK TERNA and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, while Dole provides fruit to participating students, and Ecolife has donated water bottles.

Program Structure
The 70-week educational program adopts a holistic approach, where scientific fields are not taught separately but as part of an integrated learning experience that combines knowledge from all four disciplines. Participants are divided into two groups: one for elementary school girls and one for middle school boys and girls.

Classes are held in the modern labs of the NKUA’s Department of Primary Education at the Marasleio Teaching School, led by experienced and specialized educators. These lessons focus on solving real-world problems through playful and experiential methods. This portion of the program focuses on empowering students in areas of technology, science, and digital skills.

Additionally, in the second part of the program, students have the opportunity to practice soft skills that will aid in their social and emotional growth, boosting their self-confidence and social integration. Through this approach, students discover the joy of learning, develop critical thinking, and acquire life skills that will help them thrive academically and socio-emotionally.

Access to Knowledge for All
The program is offered free of charge to 20 girls in the 5th and 6th grades of elementary school, as well as 20 boys and girls from middle school, with the aim of promoting participation in high-level, innovative educational programs. Through the program, equal access to education is ensured, providing opportunities for all children to grow personally and socially.

On the occasion of the program’s launch, Mrs. Lenia Kontogouri, General Director of “Together for Children,” stated: “We are extremely proud to launch this innovative program in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Through STEM education and the cultivation of soft skills, we give children the tools to develop valuable assets for their future, both personally and academically. Our goal is to strengthen their self-confidence and social integration by offering equal access to knowledge and creating new opportunities for everyone. We hope this program becomes a significant step toward empowering the next generation.”

Dr. Thomas Babalas, Professor of Pedagogy and Lifelong Learning at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Scientific Director of the program, emphasized: “We are very pleased with this new collaboration, and we are confident it will be particularly constructive and beneficial for the children, parents, and all of us who play an important role in their lives. For future generations to thrive in the new educational, work, technological, and social ecosystem, they must develop soft skills and be trained in STEM practices. With this innovative program, we aim for the comprehensive development of children — cognitively, socially, emotionally, and psychomotor — so they can contribute to a bright future for humanity.”

Constantine Skordoulis, Professor of Epistemology and Didactical Methodology of Physics and currently Head of the Postgraduate Studies Program at the Department of Primary Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens stated: “With this program, we offer children the opportunity to engage with modern achievements in digital technology, acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to overcome the obstacle of digital inequality. STEM education forms an innovative learning environment, which, combined with education in soft skills, aims to create the new active citizen of the 21st century. The Department of Primary Education supports the program with its expertise, experience, and social awareness, and we thank the staff of ‘Together for Children’ for the excellent collaboration.”