This program explored the creation of an inter cultural educational environment for children of a preschool age. It was run at the Athens African Day Nursery which received children aged 3 months to 6 years old from more than 20 different countries. It was also run at that Mun. of Athens 5th and 6th Municipal Day Nurseries. The research program, designed on the action research – training model, included the following parallel action plans:
- ‘Our world’ which sought to explore pedagogical approaches which bolster mutual respect and mutual acceptance among children. Part of the results which relate to this issue have been presented in:EADAP (ed.) (2007) Respect for Diversity. Athens: EADAP
– Riga, V. (2006), Research Action in a multi-cultural environment among children of a preschool age, Virtual School. The Sciences of Education On line, v.3, n. 3.- Riga, V. and Anagnostopoulou, L. (2005), In-service training in inter cultural education in Bagakis, G. (ed.) (2005) Training and professional development of the educator. Athens: Metechmio Press.- Christopoulou, E. (2003) Children determining the detailed syllabus for the school year. Paper presented at the 5th Conference of the Unit for Methodology Programs in Education on The educator and the detailed syllabus, held at the University of Patra Conference and Cultural Centre, 9-11 May 2003– Riga, V. (2002) A World of Our Own. Paper presented at the 12th Annual Conference on Quality in Early Childhood Education, jointly organized by the European Early Childhood Education Research Association, the Dept. of Education / University of Crete, and the Leto Papachristoforou Institute, Nicosia, 28-31 August 2002
– Scientific Team of EADAP (2002) Learning = Mesoj=qgl: a 3-year research project in a multicultural environment, notice presented at the 12th Annual Conference on Quality in Early Childhood Education, jointly organized by the European Early Childhood Education Research Association, the Dept. of Education / University of Crete, and the Leto Papachristoforou Institute, Nicosia, 28-31 August 2002.
- Relations between parents and pedagogues, which focused on creating constructive relationships between teaching staff and parents by gradually involving families in pedagogical activities. This was presented in the book, EADAP (ed.) (2004) Pedagogues & Parents together in an inter cultural school. Athens: Typothito Press – Giorgos Dardanos.
- ‘Opening a day nursery in the neighborhood, to make it a place for meeting, contact and exchange between children and adults from various cultural environments. Part of this approach was presented in:
– EADAP (ed.) (2007) Respect for Diversity. Athens: EADAP. - Training in the inter cultural approach, which explored techniques for ongoing in-service training of teaching staff and students in pedagogical departments. A brief presentation of the training process is provided in:
– Riga, V. and Anagnostopoulou, L. (2005), In-service training in inter cultural education in Bagakis, G. (ed.) (2005) Training and professional development of the educator. Athens: Metechmio Press.