Her love for livestock, the experience of coexistence with them as well as her studies in Greece and abroad made Katerina Papapostolou make the big decision to introduce hospitality in schools our country. Is educational specializing in Special treatment, dog trainer, writer and founder of the ZOES team .. Anyone who knows her sees her constantly with her loyal friends who are none other than dogs her.
Speaking to newsbeast.gr the "different from the other teacher" as described by those who meet her on their way, focused on her three assistants "Dioni, Axel and Desire" who follow her in her lessons but also in her goals for the future.
As she said in her course so far she has met more people "obstacles" than people who helped her, while at the same time she revealed that her third book will be published at the end of 2021 and that it will be a "surprise" for those who know her writing.
- How did you make the decision to teach hospitality?
I think it was not exactly a decision but an attitude of life that I have had since I was little. Imagine my first dog being brought home by my dad, who rescued him from an illegal birth in a backyard. Illegal breeding, the biggest scourge of hospitality, lasts for many years, unfortunately. I grew up in the love of animals and especially dogs that were my companion during very difficult years, even in the loneliness that I often felt like an only child. When I was a teenager I started helping animals I found on the street and visiting places that hosted former homeless people and abused animals but also when I became an adult, I decided that this is all I wanted to do, so that I could say one day in my old age, that I also left my mark in this world. I teach I would say love that includes hospitality and charity. You can not love animals if you are not a philanthropist. While unfortunately it is possible to love people and to be indifferent or even worse to hate animals. I give a great fight together with very great competitors, so that we can all reach a day when we will talk about the harmonious coexistence of animals and people. You do not have to love animals, but you do have to respect them and accept them as your roommates. planet. In any other case, he acts fascist and racist, let us not laugh.
- You had to do some special studies before you decided to establish ZO.E.S. (Zoophilic School Updates);
I am a person who will never hear me say "Experience counts in everything you do and not so much knowledge". I think it is a belief that has destroyed a lot in this country. People without any scientific knowledge with "weapon" only the experience to act in places that exist children and this is really dangerous. Ever since I can remember, I remember being educated. To get to where I am today, I count endless hours of really reading and studying. I initially studied at his Pedagogical Department Aristotle University, made two later postgraduate, I completed studies of special education, dog training and zootherapy in France. Countless seminars on the education of children and dogs and writing books on hospitality. And I often feel that I have so much more to do!
- Who helped you make your dream come true?
I will say that on my way I met more obstacles than people who helped me. I also met many "saviors" who at the first opportunity wanted to "sink" me. Years to overcome obstacles and difficulties, not to pay attention to the stones that were thrown on my back, I learned now! Nevertheless, I feel so lucky to have met so many great people on my way who helped me not to make one but many of my dreams come true. My parents in the first place, who, although they "left" early, their advice and love guide my whole life since they were also the ones who put me first in the animal world from the first steps of my life. As writing books was a childhood dream of mine, perhaps even the biggest, I will always owe my gratitude to the publisher of my books, Vassilis Goulielmo, who was the first to support my great vision as ZoES. at a very difficult time for me, as I had decided after 15 whole years of walking alone, to transfer all my knowledge to all the schools in the country. He hosted my vision in philanthropic activities that he organized, in his magazines, in workshops, he often financially supported my struggle but the most important thing was there in each of my new "daring" and innovative steps preventing me from mistakes and guiding me on the right paths. supporting my every decision as best I could. My volunteers who tirelessly fight with me, the family my friends who rarely see me, but also a few select ones that I meet in various phases of this great journey of mine. We get lost with others but there will always be something to bind us. But I owe the biggest thanks to my three dogs, my valuable partners and companions, without whom it would have been really impossible to get to where I am today! All but all until today concerning Zo.E.S. and books I have succeeded together!
- Do you see changes in the way children behave through your visits to schools?
The changes will come in the long run. Let's not dream! But small but not insignificant changes certainly exist even immediately after each of our visits to a school in the country. I am convinced that we will bring change, because we know where we are going, how we will reach our goal and how to overcome the obstacles. The most important thing I keep telling them volunteers My point is that we need to invent ways to open up new avenues for children. For change to come, you must become the change yourself, after first believing in it. However, the children from the feedback we have after the colleagues become more conscientious and responsible in the guardianship of pets They often decide to adopt an animal from the street or from a shelter rather than buy and learn to respect animals and the environment. Even their daily life becomes easier with their dogs, as they even learn how to train them! But the most important change I have to say is that I see it in them as well schoolchildren to me, is this so moving, often secretly even from their parents, feeding the homeless!
- Is Greece a country that can support this project?
Greece is a country that if it were not for its people acting so competitively in so many fields, it could not only support this project, but also develop it in places we can not even imagine. We are a people that deals with passion and momentum in many! But all these sad "animal-friendly quarrels", as if the animal lovers have to separate something so serious, certainly hold us back and do not let us move forward. I am very proud that I never got involved with them, that while I was often wronged by them, I did not pay attention and walked forward and even more proud that I have decided to "adapt" the country and its people to a new era of love for all, where empathy will be the one to dominate. If you do not take the place of the other, you can not understand him, accept him and work with him for a better tomorrow.
- How exactly is animal welfare information done? And who are your assistants?
Our educational programs include audiovisual material, theatrical game, painting, singing, dancing and talking with children. At the same time I coordinate experiential workshops of fiction and creative writing that aim at learning communication between children and dogs. But also workshops related to my books, "The Gift", "The Great Return" and the notebook of educational activities "The Gift of Dionysus", all from the publications Welldone, which are also educational tools, while their income supports the our fight in all the schools of the country but also the homeless animals that we take care of. I have valuable partners in all this, as every information is filtered by experts and then we co-decide if it will come in and how it will come in. And certainly my valuable helpers are my three dogs Dioni, Axel, Pothos, approved by Ministry of Education for all general and special education schools, while Dioni is also certified by the French Institute of Animal Therapy in Lyon.
You describe yourself as a "different" teacher. Why; What does it mean for you to have this role in a child's life?
Many call me "different" because of the color of my hair and the clothes I wear! For me the last thing that defines my difference is appearance my! Even the color of my hair is the result of a very serious school bullying on a kindergarten student by her classmates just because she did not have red to dye my hair! She made me cry through the mockery of the rest of the purple, and so I decided to make her fairytale dream come true! I characterize myself as more romantic, sensitive, visionary and peaceful revolutionary that I will not back down, if I do not see the change I have planned to see, but different! Standing next to children by showing them the ways of love and banishing them from this harmful stress of graduation and of being the best of all, automatically makes you their valuable ally and partner. And this in itself I believe gives the power to children to enter the process of changing the world! Either with you, or with others, or alone! The gray walls of Greek schools they must all finally change color and be filled with colors, music and laughter. And all of us teachers who are walking towards this path, to unite and teach in new contexts that we ourselves will have defined and co-decided with our students. Because the educational process is something that clearly concerns the student himself and not the dreams and expectations of his parents or relatives who most of the time find him completely opposite!
- Were people found on your way who disapproved of your project?
Many and very often! But as I said above, I do not care, I walk forward unperturbed and peacefully revolutionary with all my volunteers, in the name of all those animals that are tortured daily by human hands. As even indifference kills! I am a person that those who know me well know, that I am very receptive to any new proposal and advice. As long as someone explains to me why he says it, how he means it and what is the purpose of saying it! And if I have answers to all this, why not follow what he has told me. Instead, people, instead of entering into a process of healthy dialogue, disapprove of your work, constantly reducing it unjustly and creating bad energy and tensions without really having the slightest reason!
- What are your future plans?
I'm in a constant motion to make future plans! At the moment you are at the beginning of another great journey for my new book in many cities and islands of Greece, which will end around the middle of July! At the same time, I am preparing new actions regarding Zo.E.S. but also new experiential workshops for young and old! By the end of 2021, my 3rd book will definitely be published, which will be a surprise for those who know my writing to date!
- A story during your teaching that you will remember forever?
As I was lucky enough to work with my dog at some point in my teaching career for two consecutive years in the classroom, I will not forget that story of a student who was very aggressive and marginalized by the rest of his classmates. I had tried every way to pique his interest, but no one had caught it. Until one day they brought the dog into the classroom. They quickly became best friends and my student literally changed all his behavior. He stopped being violent and started reading, because he was waiting for the day to dawn and to come to school to tell his lessons to the dog! And one day he approached me, hugged me and cried and said to me: “You gave me my biggest gift to date. I love this dog, because, while I made so many mistakes lessons or in my behavior at the break, he did not judge me for a moment "! So this is the magic of dogs!