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The event was organized by the 3 ESN (Erasmus Student Network) sections of Thessaloniki (ESN AUTH, ESN UoM Thessaloniki, ESN ATEITH) in cooperation with the child protection center “Lighthouse of the World”, supported by eduACT and funded by ESAA (Erasmus + Student and Alumni Association).

The purpose of the event was to support the "Roma" children's robotics teams of Dendropotamos (Far.Go.Bots and Connect) and to create a third robotic group consisted of refugee children from the “hot spot” of Diavata.

Before to the event, representatives of the Erasmus Student Network together with the founder of the “Light House of The world”, Mrs. Athinagoras,who is in charge of “Lighthouse of the World”, visited the headquarters of the Primary Education of Western Thessaloniki. There at first, the founder of eduAct, Mrs. Kostas Vasileiou, informed the volunteers of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and the representative of ESAA Marija Papic,member of the Social Projects Working group in CMS of ESAA who was in charge of monitoring our project, about his willing to promote robotics for unprivileged Roma minors throughout Greece. This effort of eduAct, Light House of the World and the Erasmus Student Network was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Director of Primary Education.

After the meeting in the Primary Education offices , we moved to the refugee camp of Diavata, where Mrs. Vasileiou of eduACT, Mrs. Athenagoras, ESAA representative and ESN volunteers met with military and UN representatives in order to arrange a meeting with the children who will form the third robotics team.

These meetings was what inspired the project “ROMA.BOTS VS Discrimination” which eventually took place at the 5th Intercultural Elementary School of Menemeni. There, the Erasmus Student Network volunteers with ESAA’s financial support donated the necessary robotics equipment for the training of the three groups for the FLL competition, which is organized by the eduACT and covered the teams’ participation fees. The event attended by members of the third newly created robotics team from the “hot spot” of Diavata after all the appropriate procedures for their exit. It is worth mentioning that the Roma robotics team, which has already be distinguished in robotics competition, will coach the newly created refugee team.

During the event, there were presentations about ESN, ESAA by Marija and Erasmus+. The Roma and refugee children had the opportunity to interact with the exchange students and get motivated about mobility. There were games for the younger and workshops for the older children. Afterwards, an international dinner with dishes from all over the world was held in order to increase the interactions between the diverse groups of the event (exchange students, Roma children, Refugee Children as well as Greek students/volunteers). Traditional music played by a Roma band, some of the members are also members of the robotic teams, and Greek folklore dances performed by the Greek traditional dancing team of the Aristotle University were the closer of the event.

The aim was to promote education and ensure the right to any social group. At the same time, we are focusing on the increase both of motivation for the Roma and refugee society to education as well as their acceptance by the Greeks and foreign residents.

The event had not only a social but also very strong emotional impact as the hard work of children and their willing for learning caused great emotions to the attendees.