In October, I had the opportunity to participate in an Erasmus+ project focused on eco construction on the beautiful greek island of Skiathos. We took the ferry from the city of Volos in the direction of Skiathos. As the ferry carried us toward the island, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the sparkling sea. The landscape unfolded like a painting, rugged cliffs and distant islands bathed in warm light. From the moment we arrived on the island surrounded by the deep blue of the Aegean Sea, I knew it would be an enriching experience.
During the first few days, we settled into our campsite, some of us were sleeping in tents and others in caravans. We spend spent plenty of time getting to know one another and it’s been wonderful. Participants came from different countries and backgrounds, but we all shared a common interest in sustainability and natural building. Those first days created a strong sense of community that stayed with us throughout the project.
On the fourth day, we began constructing a small building measuring about 3 by 7 meters, located on one of the terraces of the steep terrain. Our goal was to prepare and assemble the wooden walls and floor elements, which would later be placed on isolated stone foundations. After dividing into teams, we started the hands-on work. Together, we tackled the challenge of building the eco-construction house, each of us taking on different tasks but always supporting one another. Whether we were measuring, cutting, or assembling, there was a constant sense of teamwork and shared purpose. The house was designed by our architect instructors to serve as a multifunctional space for collective activities, or to be divided into three smaller rooms that could accommodate up to nine guests. We worked exclusively with natural materials — stone, wood, bamboo, straw, clay, and sand — which made every step a creative learning.
Each day at 17:30, the work ended with a group review and discussion, where we shared our progress and reflected on what we had learned. The next morning always began with a morning circle where we discussed the plans for the day and we had the opportunity to change team. Evenings were for relaxation — long walks, visits to the beach, watching sunsets, and conversations under the stars. Sometimes we had evening presentations or creative activities, which made the experience more fun.
Midway through the course, Ilectra organized a group walk through the city with a local guide and we learned new things about the island and its history. Later that week we explored a magical forest and some of us spent a night sleeping on the beach. Also one of the evenings we had a pizza party, filled with laughter and the joy.
I feel deeply thankful to Ilektra for her kindness and hospitality, to Rui and Laurene for their energy, passion and playful way of teaching, to Daphne for the delicious food she prepared for us, to Rakonto team for capturing beautiful moments from our experience, to Green School Village who sent us there and made this experience part of my life and to all the wonderful souls who participated in this training. And of course, to the Erasmus+ program for supporting such life-enriching experiences.
