“The kids themselves end up teaching us the most valuable lessons”.
Manos, Educator at The HOME Project
“It’s overwhelming, but also deeply rewarding”, admits Manos, who has spent the past three years working as an educator for the youngest children supported by The HOME Project. His words carry the weight and wonder of someone who has stepped into a role that goes far beyond classroom teaching—one that involves deep emotional labor and mutual learning.
“We are not only educators, we are responsible for the lives of these children: from waking them up, bathing them, feeding them, and taking them to school, to enabling and empowering them to grow up to be independent, kind, and well-rounded individuals”, he explains. Each day at the shelter brings new challenges, but also new opportunities. “This is not something anyone can learn from books. No matter how much someone has studied or the level of experience they have got, it’s the kids themselves who end up teaching us the most valuable lessons”.
In many ways, the children have become his greatest teachers. Despite holding a PhD and years of academic learning, Manos emphasizes that the experience of working at The HOME Project has enriched his skill set in a way that no textbook ever could. “I help teach the children to embrace life, to play, to interact with others, to not feel ashamed to express themselves”, he says. The emotional safety he helps build each day allows the children to slowly recover their sense of childhood, which has often been interrupted too early.
“Establishing trust is not straightforward, but once they begin to feel safe with us and realize that we’re committed to doing what’s best for them, they start to become more affectionate. You can notice them smiling more, they might initiate a hug, they’ll say thank you and mean it”. Manos speaks of a growing comfort the children develop over time, navigating a space where they can simply be children. “It’s fascinating to observe a kid gradually start to behave like themselves, from simple things like vocalizing their dislike for vegetables or complaining about their school uniform”. These might seem like everyday frustrations, but for children who have experienced displacement and instability, being able to express such feelings freely is a sign of healing.
For Manos, being an educator also means providing guidance and support through confusion, fear, and the uncertainty of what the future may hold. “A lot of the children arrive without knowing where they are or what will happen next. At the beginning, of course they are scared and suspicious of everything and everyone around them”, he explains. His role requires patience and empathy, but most importantly, understanding that these children are processing profound change and trauma.
And yet, despite the challenges, the rewards are powerful. “It’s very satisfying when a child comes back home holding an invitation to a party from a new friend that they made at school—it’s such an important step forward”, Manos shares. These small milestones are signs of their meaningful integration into the Greek community. “They are making friends, they are socializing, they are learning the language. Our role, not only as the people looking after them, but as a society is to ensure that they have all the support they need, as well as the opportunities to realize and reach their full potential. This way, we can help them grow into active, compassionate, and responsible citizens”.