DIALOGUES Beginnings
On Wednesday, September 26, 2018, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) hosted the 10th event of its monthly series DIALOGUES, on Beginnings.
Each September brings new beginnings. Following the summer’s carelessness, everything is back on schedule and it’s “back to work” for everyone! What is it that makes us look forward to a new beginning and what feelings do Sunday afternoons evoke, before the “bell rings” again on Monday? Goals and plans for new beginnings vary by person, age and occasion.
People who attempt a new beginning either at a professional or personal level, under the guidance of students preparing to start the next grade in Primary school or preparing for University exams, and a panel of experts, invite us to take our “seat in class,” as they share their thoughts and concerns, as well as the ways to approach this sweet challenge and the hard work that each new beginning entails. Εlementary, junior and high school students will share with us their own thoughts, anxieties and dreams about the future.
Dr. Nancy Mallerou, coach, speaker and author, spoke about the mixed feelings wrapped around new beginnings, how excitement for the “new” and fear of the unknown co-exist as well as how we can ensure that we hold onto our motivation even after the initial enthusiasm subsides.
Fotini Pantzia, a new mother, shared with us the new journey she embarked upon, when she returned from Ethiopia, accompanied by the 5 –year old, and by now officially her son, Abadu.
Representatives of the “Stagones” team shared with us their experience following their bold decision to leave behind the familiar setting of the city and begin anew in the unfamiliar terrain of the countryside. Guided by their love of nature and their growing concerns about the urban lifestyle, “Stagones” built homes made of clay, sand, straw and water, in a village near Evia, setting the foundation for a new reality, with new expectations and dreams for a better tomorrow.
The discussion was moderated by journalist Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou.
