With just days to go before the first school bell of the 2026–2027 academic year rings across Greece, dozens of educators from the Arsakeia Schools gathered on Thursday, 3 September at the Arsakeion School Theatre in Psychiko. They attended an inspiring Design for Change Greece event introducing the Be the Change (BTC) Global Celebration 2026, which will take place in Athens, with some of its events and activities hosted at the Arsakeion School in Psychiko.
The gathering was an opportunity to explore the FIDS methodology – Feel, Imagine, Do, Share – and discover how it can be embedded into the school schedule, empowering children to identify issues they care about, imagine solutions and take action as active citizens.
Educators from across Greece (from Delphi and Thessaloniki, to Naxos island and Athens) shared experiences from various projects, ranging from protecting local biodiversity to highlighting the cultural significance of historic sites and caring for works of art in their communities. Their stories showed how children can take ownership of a project, work collaboratively and create meaningful change – reaching beyond the classroom and inspiring their wider school and local communities.
The event outlined Greece’s participation in previous BTC Global Celebrations, including the Greek delegation’s experience in Dubai, and presented the plans for the four-day BTC Global Celebration 2026 in Athens, bringing together children and educators from around the world.
Design for Change: Voices of inspiration and support
DFC founder Kiran Bir Sethi addressed the attendees in a personal video message:
“Thank you so much for all your faith in believing that every child has this I CAN superpower. You know, in this climate crisis that we are encountering and it gets more and more difficult every day, Design for Change is that superpower, this magic formula that gets children to be prepared so that one day we don’t have to repair the world.
It is in our children that the hope resides, the solutions that they will come up with is what we are looking forward to. And I’m so looking forward to coming to Greece and Athens in November to meet all of you, to see your solutions, to tell that you can inspire everybody to say yes, I CAN. So thank you once again for believing in with your heart that the world can be designed as a more just and equitable and beautiful place.”
Earlier, World Human Forum president and DFC representative for Greece Alexandra Mitsotaki thanked the educators and the Arsakeia Schools for joining this global movement. Dr Nelly Pappa, Head of Supervision of the Arsakeia-Tositseia Schools, highlighted the importance of hosting the Celebration in Athens as an opportunity for the school community to leave a lasting mark and for teachers to make learning something experienced rather than received.
The excitement reached its peak at the end of the gathering, when a video from the cultural evening of the Be the Change Global Celebration in Dubai was screened. The educators rose to their feet, applauding to the rhythm of the music – a joyful reminder of the energy, connection and creativity that children bring to the Be the Change Global Celebration.
Athens is getting ready. The children are ready to Be the Change.
More info on the DGC Greece and the BTC Global Celebration 2026: dfcgreece.org
