Akelius: the e-learning platform that supports refugee children in Greek schools.

Huda and Jihad are primary school students from Syria, who attend the 9th Primary School in Ioannina. They came to Greece five years ago with their families, but while they have been attending classes at the Greek school for some time, they only recently started to understand and speak Greek well enough to get along. They had a lot of difficulty understanding and speaking the language and as a result they could not follow the lessons to a satisfactory degree: "What I found hard was the Greek language and mathematics," says Jihad.

"I couldn't understand the lessons and that made it difficult to have friends," Huda also confesses.

An important help in their effort to improve their knowledge of Greek was the language course Akelius, a digital platform that provides an effective method of learning foreign languages that focuses on listening comprehension. The language courses are available in English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish.

The Akelius Language Course has already been used by more than 10,500 refugee children in Greece.

"Thanks to Akelus, our students, wherever they come from, get the opportunity to gain access to digital tools such as tablets", clarifies the headmaster of the school, Mr. Alexandros Papas.

"Now I can understand Greek better and I have many friends," says Jihad.

To date, approximately 1,600 teachers in public schools and non-formal education centers have been trained to use the Akelius Language Course. The children now feel more confident and optimistic about their future and life in Greece.

"I wish that in Greece I will be very happy," says Jihad.

"I hope for all people to be well," Huda adds, smiling.

The digital course is developed by Akelius, using a co-creation approach informed by frequent feedback and collaboration between implementing teachers and UNICEF education specialists.