Every adventure brings its difficulties, by living it you can make a difference, you can change the world and thus you become a hero on Earth! Another important branch of the Franciscan mission in Cyprus is Education. The schools of the Holy Land - in addition to offering excellent teaching - give children wings to be able to fly high and build their future. Friar Zacheusz, director of the Holy Land School in Nicosia, acted as our guide and interpreter, so that we could speak and interact with Cypriot teachers and students. Initially he tells us that the first school was located behind the parish of Holy Cross. But over the years it had become too small for the community's needs: so the Franciscans purchased new land and in 1952 the new headquarters was born! Currently the school has around 720 students and 120 teachers and around twenty maintenance workers. The official language is Greek, but children can attend English and Italian lessons from an early age. SOPHIE 6th grade student Yes, it is a very good school and I have many friends. MARIANNA KOUTSIDOU 6th grade student I really like how they teach me different languages like Greek, English and Italian. I love the teachers here. This facilitates their inclusion in the "Erasmus" program, through which students can also expand their studies in other European schools, such as Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Romania and Lithuania. Br. ZACHEUSZ DULNIOK, ofm Director of the Holy Land School – Nicosia We have a school motto which is: “Virtue, creativity and openness”. This is the mission of the school: we try to train our students to be open to everyone, both in religion and culture. Be creative, demand the best from yourself and live according to the Christian virtues for the formation of conscience. In the Holy Land School the teaching of faith and ecumenism are fundamental: religion is taught in accordance with the group to which it belongs: Orthodox, Maronite and Latin Catholic. The director Mr. Evagoras Aristotelous has been working here at Terra Santa College (or Holy Land College) since 2016 and admits that he has found an environment beyond compare. For him, in fact, it is not about teaching "things" but "transmitting human values", especially respect for others and love. EVAGORAS ARISTOTELOUS Director of the Gymnasium and responsible for the study program Here you can breathe another culture, another treatment, as “people”, and not as students. There is an atmosphere of fraternity and familiarity and at this school, we seek to train our students in the virtues of responsibility, creativity and kindness. From nursery school to secondary school, Mrs Fotini coordinates the daily work and tries to ensure the smooth running of the school. In the past he worked in other institutions, but only here did he find a place where families, of any religion or culture, feel welcomed, in a peaceful and respectful atmosphere. POTINI OMIROU Secretary - Terra Santa School - Nicosia Our school has rules and values. We have a specific way of working! From the feedback I receive from friends and family, but also from other people in society, I can affirm that our school stands out for its value and history. And this is very important to us. Teacher Emilly has been working at the nursery for 14 years and was recently appointed principal of the section which has 120 children and 10 female teachers, plus eight other assistants. Prof. EMILLY KONTOU Director of the nursery school We all work very cooperatively and meet to exchange ideas about what we face as educators. Teacher Statis teaches in primary school and collaborates to organize cultural and charitable events. Diligence and creativity, for him, are the two virtues that must guide the integral growth of the person. STATIS EVSTACHIOU Deputy Director of the Primary School To be a good teacher, first of all, you have to be yourself. You have to make children feel that you love them, that you understand them. And if it happens that you have to be a little harder on the children, you have to make them understand that it is for their well-being that you are doing it. Teacher Evangelia has been working at the Terra Santa School for 24 years. She is currently the principal of the primary school. He considers school as his second home. EVANGELIA SOLOMON Primary school director The atmosphere inside this school is unique. We try to not only feel at home, but also have a family relationship with everyone, both students, parents and professors. We are all fortunate to be here in the Holy Land and work for the growth of this school! Thanks to correct and diligent administration, the Terra Santa School of Nicosia is able to cover all expenses independently. There is also a tax reduction system to help families in difficulty. Br. ZACHEUSZ DULNIOK, ofm Director of the Holy Land School – Nicosia We can say with sincerity and thanks to the Lord and Saint Barnabas, the Patron and protector of the school, that we do not have the problems that state schools face. The school's students have developed a new way of looking at the world that makes them stand in solidarity with children suffering due to war. Friar Zacheusz tells us how some students raised funds for the children of the other schools in Bethlehem and Jericho and also for the schools in Gaza. Br. ZACHEUSZ DULNIOK, ofm Director of the Holy Land School – Nicosia You can feel the spirit of Saint Francis, of the Franciscans and the spirit of peace and goodness. We are almost at the end of our journey. In the last chapter of the series the Parish of Limassol. We will then discover other faces and other stories.