Emmanouela Kapokaki

Emmanouela Kapokaki, in her capacity as artistic director, realized with her collaborators and the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, in co-organization with the Region of Attica and the Primary and Secondary Directorates, the evaluation day of the online educational program and national competition “Kouklopaizoume 3” [i.e. ‘Playing with Puppets’]. The event was held online through the Zoom platform on June 8, 2022, offering the option of live streaming through Facebook, while teachers from all over Greece digitally attended it.

The event was dedicated to the experiences of the teachers participating in the program, who referred to the benefits of “Kouklopaizoume” and shared their own and their students’ thoughts and feelings during the program. The teachers further discussed their experience around the preparatory meetings regarding the implementation of the program in the classroom, as well as the preparation stages of the performances, from the initial, which involved the making of a puppet, to the final stage of the performance’s video documentation, a process that introduced them to a state of ‘creative restlessness’. Of particular interest was Nia Foes’ presentation, entitled “The Puppet as a Therapy Tool,” which highlighted the therapeutic traits of the puppet as a means of expression for children. During the event, the jury announced the winners of the awards, as well as the prizes won by each of them. Moreover, the new online platform of the program (https://kouklopaizoume.gr/) was presented, where one can find all the information regarding the program and the competition, as well as all the clips with participants’ performances. This year, audience voting was introduced for the first time on the new platform, where viewers voted for their favorite performance, which later received the audience award announced along with the other winners.

Through the words and the statements by teachers and representatives of cultural institutions, the contribution of “Kouklopaizoume” program towards a better-quality education became apparent. The goal remains to create a new generation of creative citizens, equipped with skills and emotional intelligence, which will formulate a more imaginative and green society. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, reduced inequalities, gender equality, and climate action remain pillars of the “Kouklopaizoume” program.