TERRA: Celebration for Coexistence – Common Ground
TERRA
A Celebration of Coexistence – Common Ground
TERRA is a cultural and anti-racist festival by Cultterra, taking place on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Elefsina, from 5:00 p.m. until late in the evening. It is organized with the support of the Children Support Centre of Elefsina, Filiki Folia, aiming to bring together children and families of different nationalities who live or work in the Thriasio Plain region of Attica.
The event focuses on cultural exchange, plurality of traditions, and community unity, honoring the roots of each culture and strengthening our shared present.
“We are children of the same earth.”
This is a phrase that could have been spoken by Father Giorgos Pyrounakis, a social activist and founder of the Children Support Centre of Elefsina, Filiki Folia, back in 1964. Under the junta regime, he was persecuted and interrogated for his work. Through his declarations of love and justice, he uplifted children from marginalized communities—migrant and refugee children facing serious economic, social, and familial hardships. He was a grassroots voice, bringing the excluded to the forefront. His anti-fascist actions remain a source of inspiration in today’s time of crisis.
From an early age, through school, work, neighborhoods, markets, and barbershops, we have grown up interacting daily with people of diverse backgrounds. Yet, while coexistence is a daily reality, cultural representation remains lacking.
Why, for example, don’t we see cultural events or posters in multiple languages, even though we live side by side? Why isn’t cultural exchange more encouraged in a place so rich in diverse heritages?
In 2025, amid the rise of far-right extremism and political polarization—both locally and globally—the situation worsens with events like the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. The need to continuously fight for legal protection, human rights, and the elimination of discrimination—based on race, class, or origin—is more urgent than ever.
In particular, the Thriasio Plain—an area marked by intense industrial and commercial activity due to warehouses and logistics centers—hosts a workforce primarily composed of migrants. The demand for cheap labor has created a complex social reality: the area is populated not only by internal migrants seeking better living conditions within Greece, but also by strong communities of foreign nationals.
In response to the need to highlight our commonalities, we chose to name the event TERRA, meaning “Earth”. Our vision, as children of the same earth, is to build bridges. To show that culture has no color—it has depth. And that depth is what can unite us, help us grow, and lead us to a shared future, where diversity is not a barrier but a richness.
The word COEXISTENCE best expresses the core aim of the TERRA festival:
To create an open space where everyone belongs and has a voice, without exclusions, with respect for diversity and solidarity.
TERRA Logo Design
The logo of the TERRA celebration was created by student Orestis.
He shares the following:
“So, I painted the silhouette of a person, which includes various skin tones someone might have, and behind the ear, I added lavender — the flower that symbolizes equality and solidarity.
My feelings about this artwork are many, but the main emotion is sadness.
Sadness for how badly some people treat others because of their skin color or nationality — and I know very well how it feels to go through that, because I’ve experienced racism myself from a very young age.
And sadness for how some people don't teach their children that, in the end, we are all human beings, regardless of ethnicity or skin color — because being 'human' is defined by your actions, not by your appearance.”
EVENT DETAILS:
The event begins at 5:00 p.m., with the setting up of the first tables and an open invitation for the public to join in the collective experience of preparing the most inclusive shared table — where community cooking begins.
Around the space, there will be information points from various organizations and groups, and music will be curated collectively: playlists will be shaped by sounds and songs from all over the world. At the same time, a children’s creative corner will operate in the playground, as we expect the participation of many families.
As the celebration unfolds, the aromas of shared kitchens will blend cultures into a path of common experience: tables offering flavors from different homelands, with an open invitation to participants to move among them and gather their plate, cup, and utensils.
Throughout the festival, there will be artistic interventions—from poetry readings to choreographies—in open dialogue with the space and the people. The goal is for everyone to feel this is their celebration — without rigid schedules, stages, or official roles; a free invitation to sing, dance, and coexist.
As in any true festivity, there will also be a raffle — a game of chance that supports and highlights both the local and broader market.
At the heart of the event, a large shared table will be set up — a symbol of equality, coexistence, sharing, and respect for difference; a vision of a shared path.
On this table, only water — the element that reminds us that deep down, we are all the same, as the human body is made up of 70% water.
A humble yet powerful symbol of unity and common essence.
*Entrance is based on free contribution, and all proceeds will be allocated to support the fund of the Children Support Centre of Elefsina, Filiki Folia. *
ABOUT Cultterra:
Cultterra is a youth-led collective based in Elefsina, working to promote community engagement through culture and art. We began as part of the 2023 Elefsina European Capital of Culture, and since then, have organized over 200 initiatives.
Through a youth-led initiative and continuous mapping of local needs, we design collective and inclusive activities, including cultural and sports programs, aimed at fostering collaboration, engagement, and creativity.
We envision a region that co-creates with all its residents and visitors, starting from small neighborhoods and communities, while embracing the world.
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ABOUT THE Children Support Centre of Elefsina, Filiki Folia:**
The Children Support Centre of Elefsina, Filiki Folia is an Open Center for the Protection of Children and Families. It was founded in 1964 by Archpriest Giorgos Pyrounakis, a theology professor. It is a non-profit organization, heavily reliant on volunteers. The center offers psychosocial support to children and families facing integration challenges, from Greece and from countries such as Albania, Russia, India, Turkey, and more.
The Centre plays an active role in responding to key societal challenges in Greece—unemployment, poverty, political refugees, and economic migrants—by organizing comprehensive educational programs and psychosocial support for children and families. These programs are successfully implemented by specialized professionals and around 80 volunteers, with volunteerism at the heart of its philosophy and operations.