On Friday’s show, December 20, 2024, after the introduction and a review of newspaper headlines, we discussed education issues with Deputy Minister of Education Zetta Makri. Topics included teacher shortages, particularly in specialized subjects, the infrastructure challenges many schools face (an issue under municipal jurisdiction that impacts the educational process), the lack of teaching hours dedicated to arts and cultural activities, the major issue of teacher evaluation, and the housing difficulties new teachers encounter in tourist areas.
In the second hour, the show shifted to a festive mood, starting with The Elf Village, an event prepared by the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Andrew in Düsseldorf for the weekend of December 21-22. Featuring surprises for children and adults alike, Father Amphilochios Bourgaslis, parish priest and spokesperson for the EnDrasi initiative, shared details. The initiative aims to create a multi-dimensional space for expression within the parish, inspired by Greek history, tradition, and modern reality.
Next, Margarita Ikariou, Head of Communications and Marketing for the Samos Wine Cooperative, discussed the Christmas celebration at the Wine Museum scheduled for Sunday, December 22. This event, now a beloved tradition in Samos, will begin at 12 PM. Supported by the Municipality of East Samos, the Samos Elderly Care Home, and the Karlovasi Women’s Association, the celebration will include a hands-on experience for aspiring young chefs, guided by the chefs of the Samos Public Vocational Training School.
In the final segment, the well-known actress, musician, director, and writer Fenia Papadodima spoke about her theatrical production The Decline of the Dervish, based on the masterpiece by Alexandros Papadiamantis. The play features additional texts by Papadodima, with music performed by Giorgos Palamiotis on bass and Panagiotis Kostopoulos on drums. The musicians interpret both the text and the music through their unique personal sound, drawing on their experiences as “outsiders” in major Western metropolises. Papadodima uses her voice as a musical instrument—at times like a wind instrument, at others like percussion—journeying through words and melodies to the heart of the text.