Project PRESS: εθνογραφικές προσεγγίσεις της εκπαίδευσης προσφύγων στην Ελλάδα

Abstract

The presentation discusses the framework, the methodology and some important findings of the interdisciplinary – sociolinguistic and anthropological– research on refugee education in Greece conducted in the framework of project P.R.E.S.S. which is funded by the Hellenic Open University. Project PRESS (an acronym of the Provision of Refugee Education and Support Scheme) is a research-based project that aims at producing direct actions geared towards the refugees’ educational support and their long-term educational empowerment. Specifically, the project aims at producing ethnographic insights on the educational, linguistic and communication needs, priorities and expectations of refugee children, youth and adults currently residing in Greece (axis 1 of the Project) that will feed back into a series of educational actions and integration interventions (axes 2 and 3 of the Project). Axis 2 aims at the linguistic and cultural adjustment and integration of refugee children, youth and adults through non-formal and informal learning interventions and axis 3 focuses on awareness-raising, provision of support services and targeted interventions for the long-term educational empowerment of refugees in Greek society. The research is grounded in ethnographic material produced through eight-month fieldwork in refugee camps and residencies as well as in-site/off-site non-formal classes, language courses and informal educational activities in three different geographical areas in Greece, namely Lesvos, Attica and Thessaloniki. The presentation is divided into two sections: The first section concentrates on the discussion of the research framework and the methodology used by the ten-member research team as well as the particular ways through which actionable knowledge feeds back into the design and implementation of educational actions. Drawing on ethnographic material produced through fieldwork, the second section offers insights into educational practices and emerging linguistic shifts, while taking into account the views and expectations of the refugee children, youth and adults themselves.