{"id":24252,"date":"2026-03-29T13:24:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T20:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theworldcafe.com\/?p=24252"},"modified":"2026-03-29T13:51:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T20:51:32","slug":"a-short-harvest-from-the-world-cafe-at-the-leonteios-schools-athens-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theworldcafe.com\/a-short-harvest-from-the-world-cafe-at-the-leonteios-schools-athens-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"A Short Harvest from the World Caf\u00e9 at the Leonteios Schools (Athens, Greece)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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World Cafe organizers Alexandros Pantazidis and Maria Scordialos hosted a large-scale Marist Formation Day in Athens, Greece for the full staff of both Leonteios Schools, inspired by the theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the lonely step to the collective journey\u201d<\/strong>
How do we continue in the footsteps of our Founder, responding at the same time to the modern era?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event brought together 216 participants<\/strong> (teachers, administrative and technical staff, as well as Marist Brothers), creating a rare opportunity for a whole educational community to reflect collectively on its identity, its mission, and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heart of the day was a World Caf\u00e9 process<\/strong>, conducted through nine parallel rooms<\/strong> (with 20\u201321 participants and two hosts in each room<\/strong>), designed to deepen participants\u2019 understanding of key principles from the book \u201cIn the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat \u2013 Marist Pedagogical Mission\u201d<\/em> and to transform personal reflection into shared meaning, collective insight, and practical direction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Emerged: 7 Key Axes of Collective Discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

From the dialogue, seven major themes arose as shared priorities for the future of the school community:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Strengthening collaboration and collective spirit<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Continuous professional development and teacher learning<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Improving communication and human relationships<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Building adaptability and resilience in a changing world<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Encouraging innovation while remaining rooted in tradition<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Using technology and AI responsibly, with digital skill development<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Cultivating values: self-awareness, empathy, and humanistic education<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    These themes were not abstract ideals\u2014they reflected a strong desire for the \u201cnext step,\u201d and a collective commitment to turning insights into real actions that can strengthen belonging, professional growth, and the educational mission of the schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Spirit of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many participants described the process as unusually warm, human, and energizing\u2014more like a real caf\u00e9 than a formal training day. The World Caf\u00e9 created a climate of trust and openness, allowing colleagues from different school levels and roles to exchange perspectives as equals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A particularly meaningful dimension was the recognition that the school is not simply an institution but a community<\/em>\u2014and that dialogue itself is part of Marist identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Next Steps as Part of the Harvest<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The organizing committee decided to extend the harvest beyond the event itself, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n