The StaEllinika initiative, which offers Greek language learning pathways to young people around the globe, was the focus of an online event held today with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Announced in April by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the initiative is home to a suite of engaging courses developed through Simon Fraser University (SFU).
The courses seek to engage preschoolers, elementary students, and young adults in the Greek diaspora with story-driven and game-based language courses. Building on years of research and development, they were created through the two-year Rebooting the Greek Language project by the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies and the SNF New Media Lab at SFU. The StaEllinika initiative is a collaborative effort with the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The initiative reflects the innovative efforts of an international SFU team, collaboration with the Greek state in the spirit of public-private partnership, and support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), but also, critically, the legacy of Dr. André Gerolymatos. As past Director of the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies, his tireless efforts were instrumental in making the Centre, and by extension Simon Fraser University, one of the foremost contributors to the field.
StaEllinika’s resources have already reached thousands of students, and the new platform continues to grow and evolve including through a pilot program with students in the U.S.
