Greece - The winter holiday school break is approaching and for over 1,200 migrant and refugee children, the first semester in the Greek schooling system is drawing to an end.

IOM has been providing 35 school buses since October 10th to transfer children from 13 accommodation centres to the nearest schools on a daily basis.

In conjunction with the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, IOM Greece ensures their safe transportation to and from their schools and equips them with school kits including notebooks, pens, pencils and other educational materials.

The programme, which is funded with EU Emergency Support, is part of the "Multi-sectoral assistance to and protection of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece" scheme.

"I had to stop my education last year, but now I’m back to school. I hope to become a pilot one day. I speak English, but I have to study more," said 10-year-old Hamza from Syria. He attends classes in a primary school in Greece and adds: "Going to school is always nice!"

"Sourour, Niloufar and Shahiba are my best friends and we go to primary school together. I am sharing my desk with Sourour!" says 7-year-old Shabanen from Afghanistan, full of enthusiasm just before she catches the school bus.

"We have managed to fulfil the dream of every parent who wants to see their child go to school. We are very proud that, in excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Education and thanks to the EU, we are participating in this programme, which is unprecedented in Europe," said IOM Greece Chief of Mission Daniel Esdras.

"Every child has a right to go to school. Education is not a privilege; it is a basic human right. In 2016, the EU provided over EUR 10.5 million to support the provision of formal and non-formal education to thousands of refugee children stranded in Greece, offering hope and restoring a sense of dignity and normality,” said Panos Carvounis, Head of the European Commission Representation in Greece.

According to the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, when the schools re-open in 2017, 400 more refugee children from another seven accommodation centers will begin to attend school.

For more migrants’ stories from Greece, please see: https://greece.iom.int/en/migrants-stories

For further information please contact IOM Greece. Christine Nikolaidou, Tel. +30 210-9919040 Ext. 248, Email: cnikolaidou@iom.int or Ioannis Baveas, Email: ibaveas@iom.int  or iomathenspi2@iom.int