The importance of being a citizen

As part of the Service Learning Program at ACT, on two consecutive Saturdays, the 28th of September and 5th October, a group of 80 ACT students helped clean up the Gardens of Pasa in Ano Poli, Thessaloniki.

This projects was organized by the YMCA as part of their «Είμαι Πολίτης και Όχι Απλά Κάτοικος» (I'm a citizen, not only a resident) project, in collaboration with the offices of the Municipality of Thessaloniki in charge of the urban environment.

The volunteers made a significant difference in the aesthetic of the gardens of Pasa, by picking up all the rubbish, weeding around the trees and plants, painting the fences of the park and sweeping away the dead leaves and branches. The students worked very hard on each day and by the end there were over 30 large rubbish bins to be disposed of.

It was a meaningful project to clean these gardens as they hold both architectural and historical value and are one of the most beautiful green places in the city that most locals don't know about. These gardens were created in 1904 and it's believed they belong to the Ag. Dimitrios hospital. The gardens have ancient fountains and monuments that are unfortunately not in use but if renovated could be a great attraction for both locals and tourists.