Even though the spring ’20 semester ended early due to COVID-19, students still had productive and meaningful volunteer experiences during their time in Athens. CYA has conducted interviews with volunteers from the spring ’20 class, and we will be publishing some of them on the CYA Blog.  Jayna Jones taught English to refugee teens with Faros, where she gained a new understanding of Athens and its many residents.

Even though the spring ’20 semester ended early due to COVID-19, students still had productive and meaningful volunteer experiences during their time in Athens. CYA has conducted interviews with volunteers from the spring ’20 class, and we will be publishing some of them on the CYA Blog. Passionate about working with refugees in Athens, Jill Robins taught English to unaccompanied minors with METAdrasi.

CYA student Kate Foster has been making the most of her time in Greece.

A self-proclaimed mythology fan, Kate was attracted to Greece’s rich history long before she arrived here. For her, living in Athens has provided her the chance to explore various aspects of the country’s history. She has had the chance to visit famous ancient sites from the Acropolis to the temple at Delphi to the palace of Knossos. Just two weeks ago, Kate even ran the 5k race of the Athens Authentic Marathon. But these experiences are only one part of her study abroad experience.  

Caroline Barnes, CYA alumna from summer ‘16 and spring ‘18, recently sat down with CYA for an interview about her multiple CYA experiences, her love for Greece, and the amazing work she’s been doing for refugees in Athens.

Cover Photo: Spring ’18 Student, Kelsey Serraneau.

Starting their studies in Athens, two Spring Semester students, Kelsey and Lizzy, knew they wanted to engage with their surroundings through volunteering. CYA’s director for student affairs, Nadia Melinioti, connected Lizzy and Kelsey with Welcommon, a model community center for hosting and promoting social inclusion for refugees. The project is funded by EU through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) under the “Relocation Scheme Program” delivered in the City of Athens.Throughout Spring Semester, Lizzy and Kelsey each ran her own English language class for refugees living in Athens.