The graduation ceremony for the students who completed the program “Strengthening Education in the City – English Language Instruction 2025–2026” was held with great success in the packed auditorium of the Marasleio School in the City.
This is a significant educational initiative by PeopleCert, implemented in collaboration with the Association for the Support of Romani Community Institutions (SY.R.K.I.) with the aim of providing students from the Greek diaspora with valuable knowledge and new prospects for the future.
During the 2025–2026 school year, more than 130 students from Greek diaspora schools in Istanbul and Imbros participated in the program, attending a total of more than 600 hours of English language instruction.
Students who successfully completed the program received internationally recognized LanguageCert certifications, which confirm their level of English proficiency and are accepted by more than 3,000 universities, educational institutions, and organizations worldwide.
At the same time, they are recognized in more than 100 countries and serve as a valuable asset for further studies, professional development, and international careers, broadening the horizons of students from the Greek diaspora.
Graduates of the program received their LanguageCert certificates from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
As Byron Nikolaidis (pictured), President and Founder of PeopleCert, emphasized, “The presence of young children in the classrooms and the renewal of hope are the most tangible proof of the work being done today for the Greek Diaspora.”
“The new generation is the future of the Greek community in Istanbul and Imbros. It was with this conviction that the Education Support Program was created, which invests in the students of the Greek community by providing them with knowledge, modern skills, and resources that will enable them to stand with confidence in an international environment, without losing their connection to their roots, language, and identity,” he added.
The Greek language at the center of the next phase
The experience from the program’s first year of implementation also highlighted the importance of the Greek language for the future of the Greek diaspora. “Preserving and strengthening our linguistic heritage is today one of the most important challenges and, at the same time, one of the most important priorities for the future of the Greek diaspora,” noted Mr. Nikolaidis.
In general, the social and demographic developments of recent decades have shaped a new environment for the Greek diaspora, with the result that many children’s daily exposure to the Greek language is now more limited.
This reality highlights the importance of further strengthening Greek language proficiency to preserve the identity, language, and cultural continuity of the Greek diaspora.
This observation was one of the main reasons why PeopleCert decided to expand the program by adding free Greek language courses.
In the next phase, there are plans to develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs so that students in the Greek diaspora can acquire cutting-edge knowledge and skills that meet the demands of the modern world.
Specifically for Imbros, there are also plans to introduce Turkish language courses. As Mr. Nikolaidis emphasized, “We believe that knowledge of both languages enhances young people’s prospects and serves as a bridge for communication, mutual understanding, and cooperation.”
“Education and language can build bridges where others see borders,” added the President of PeopleCert.
During the event, SY.R.K.I. President George Papaliaris, Professor Emeritus G. Doukidis of the Athens University of Economics and Business, as well as the principals of the Greek community schools in Istanbul, Eva Kanari (Zappeion Elementary School), Yannis Demirtzoglou (Zografio School), Dimitrios Zotos (Megali tou Genous School), and Rika Bekiaris-Pantelara (Zappeion Junior High and High School) spoke about the work carried out daily in the classrooms and the teachers’ efforts to keep the Greek community’s education, language, and identity alive.
At the same time, they emphasized that PeopleCert’s initiative represents a substantial investment in the younger generation and an important message of optimism for the future of the Greek diaspora.
Furthermore, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (ESG) strategy, under the leadership of Eleni Nikolaidou, PeopleCert is developing a wide range of initiatives in the City, from the iconic Revival of the Acoustics of Hagia Sophia at the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Balinos to initiatives that invest in education and the younger generation of the Greek diaspora.
The First Graduation Ceremony on Imbros
A special place in the “Program to Support Education in the City” was held by the first graduation ceremony for students on Imbros, on June 10, in the presence of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who visited his birthplace on the occasion of his name day celebrations.
The island’s students who successfully completed the program received their internationally recognized LanguageCert certificates from His All-Holiness himself.
The award ceremony on Imbros was the first of the program’s two graduation ceremonies and highlighted, in the most meaningful way, the role of education as the foundation of continuity, progress, and prospects for the Greek diaspora.
It is worth noting that PeopleCert also supported the concert held on the island as part of the celebrations for the Name Day of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch. The event, featuring Stefania Rizou and Trio Musicanti, was one of the highlights of this year’s celebrations, bringing together residents and visitors to Imbros through the power of music.
Athanasios Martinos Receives the 2026 “Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew” Award
As part of the graduation ceremony at Marasleio, the “Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew” Award 2026 was awarded to His Eminence Athanasios Martinos, Exarch of the Holy Great Church of Christ and Founder of the Athanasios and Marina Martinos Charitable Foundation.
The “Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew” Award, established by PeopleCert with the gracious permission and personal blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch, is awarded to individuals who have served the Greek community of Istanbul selflessly over time and have contributed substantially to the preservation of historical memory, education, and the institutions of the Greek Diaspora.
The awarding of this honor to Athanasios Martinos is a recognition of his contributions to the Greek community. Through his long-standing support of educational, ecclesiastical, and community institutions, he has played a decisive role in preserving, upgrading, and revitalizing the historical institutions of the Greek community.
During his speech, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew referred to the honoree’s many years of service, emphasizing that his contribution was decisive for the revival and strengthening of institutions inextricably linked to the history, education, and the spiritual life of the Greek Diaspora.
He made special mention of the Theological School of Chalki, noting that, nearly 130 years after the construction of its iconic complex, the School will soon be handed over fully renovated thanks to the generous donation of Athanasios and Marina Martinou.
Referring to Mr. Martinos, the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized that “he does not merely offer material goods, but offers himself,” noting that his contribution is a living expression of solidarity, faith, and practical love toward the Greek community.
“The Great Church and the Greek community of the City owe a deep debt of gratitude” to Athanasios Martino for his invaluable contribution, “which serves as a legacy for future generations,” he stated.
For his part, Mr. Nikolaidis described Athanasios Martinos, among other things, as a modern national benefactor—a man who carries on in our time the tradition of the great benefactors of the Greek nation, such as Zappas and Zografos. As he noted, the value of his contribution lies not only in the works that have been restored, but primarily in the fact that he has kept alive institutions that continue to inspire, educate, and serve the Greek people.
Upon receiving the award, Athanasios Martinos expressed his deep gratitude for this honorary distinction, emphasizing that supporting education and the institutions of the Greek diaspora is a responsibility we owe to future generations.