In the framework of the celebration of the "European Writers' Day", the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Ms Athina Michaelidou, accompanied by the Director General of the Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission, Ms. Themida Christofidou visited the Acropolis High School to attend a related activity of the school with the distinguished Cypriot poet Kyriakos Charalambides as a special guest.
The "European Writers' Day" is a new initiative of the European Commission and was launched today by the 27 Member States of the European Union.
The "European Writers' Day" is a new initiative of the European Commission and was launched today by the 27 Member States of the European Union. This pan-European celebration is expected to take place on an annual basis with the aim of bringing the younger generation closer to books and the richness and diversity of European literature. The initiative was supported by several secondary schools and was accompanied by related activities.
In her address, Ms Michaelidou praised the new initiative of the European Commission, stressing that it is an opportunity for the new generation to "discover the magic of Europe's literary heritage". She urged students to seize the opportunities given to them to read literature because, she said, literature "opens doors to new ideas and perspectives and windows on life and other worlds". Among the things that literacy offers, Michailidou said that "literature can make the world a better place." Referring to Mr. Charalambidis, she said that he is a chosen one of the art he serves with a dominant position among the poets of his generation and all of Hellenism and with a poetic work that transcends national boundaries and is addressed to "people everywhere".
Mrs Christofidou also addressed the audience, who initially expressed her great emotion, saying that it was a "great gift" to be invited to attend the Acropolis Gymnasium, since she was displaced from Famagusta and studied there under the difficult conditions created by the invasion. She then referred to the "European Writers' Day" initiative of the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, Training and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, mentioning other Commission initiatives such as ERASMUS+, Creative Europe and the EU Literature Prize, which support and strengthen education in Europe. Finally, she thanked the Minister and the school management for their support for the initiative and expressed her admiration for Mr Charalambides and her admiration for his poems, being a Varosian.
Mr. Charalambides then spoke to the students in depth about his life and work, saying that "poetry is the lit candle in the darkness and if it changes us, then it can change the world". He spoke about the value of literature and urged the children to read and educate themselves for life, since apart from all that literature has to offer, it sharpens one's judgment and can discern danger at this critical historical time. In closing, the poet recited an extract from his poetic work.
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