The Department of Philology of the University of the Peloponnese, in collaboration with the Pan-Messinian Federation of USA and Canada and with the support of various municipalities of Messenia, successfully organized a Summer School in Kalamata from 2006 to 2019. The program was addressed primarily to young people of Messinian descent (aged 18-24) from the Greek diaspora. After a two-year interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summer School resumed in 2022 as a program offered by the University’s Centre for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (KEDIVIM).

The Summer School is a model educational program in Greek language instruction for members of the diaspora. It combines language courses with educational excursions and daily immersion in the life, culture, cuisine, music, and traditions of Kalamata and the Peloponnese. The curriculum comprises 110 hours of instruction in Greek Language, Greek History, and Greek Culture, taught by specialized faculty members and PhD candidates from the Department of Philology. Greek language classes are offered at two levels: beginners and advanced. Instruction is delivered using modern audiovisual tools and teaching methods tailored to the needs of young diaspora learners.

The program includes educational excursions to archaeological sites, museums, cultural institutions, and notable landmarks. The goal of the Summer School is to teach participants the Greek language, history, and culture while fostering connections between young members of the diaspora and contemporary Greek society. Field trips and on-site lessons have been conducted at numerous locations, including: Pylos, Ancient Messene, Mystras, Mycenae, Epidaurus (including a theatre performance), Ancient Olympia, the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, the Military Museum of Kalamata, the Archaeological Museum of Kalamata, the Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata, Nafplio, Costa Navarino, Taygetos, Messinian Mani, the historical city of Kalamata, Kyparissia, and Byzantine churches and monasteries of the region.

These young participants’ aspiration is to become ambassadors of Greek culture in their countries of residence and to strengthen their Hellenic identity. To date, many dozens of young diaspora Greeks and educators from the USA, Canada, Uruguay, Australia, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine have participated in the program and received a Certificate of Training.

The Summer School for Diaspora Youth contributes to the Department’s outreach to Greek communities abroad and to the broader society of Kalamata. Participants engage with the local lifestyle and cultural practices, including culinary experiences, customs, music, dance, natural beauty, and local heritage. They also interact with students of the University of the Peloponnese and enrich their understanding of their Greek identity and heritage, which they can then carry with them and preserve in their home countries.