Greece: Relocation and expansion of the Trianemi Waldorf School in Athens

When parents and teachers came together in 2016 with the aim of founding the first Waldorf primary school in Greece, they wanted to create a place where children could grow up healthily and develop their love for the world. At the time, no one could have imagined how quickly the school community would grow. In September of this year, the school moved into its newly-opened building. The construction of the new school premises was made possible in part by a large loan from the Friends of Waldorf Education. Sandra Mavroidi from the Trianemi Waldorf School tells us about the construction project:

A child at the Trianemi Waldorf School paints a building in sand.

To realise the new building, the Trianemi Association launched an ambitious project, namely securing financing and permits, planning and building, reaching out to new families, and recruiting and training teachers. And all this while the school was operating as usual.

A building plot was found near the school, right next to the Syngrou Forest, one of the last remaining natural forests in Athens – a kind of gift from heaven. Thanks to the support of the Friends of Waldorf Education and GLS Treuhand, both of which soon became trustees of the Trianemi Association, this gift became a tangible reality. The association acquired the land and the construction project for the school buildings gained momentum. Alongside the physical construction process, another kind of building took shape; less visible, but just as important, a new school community was formed – brick by brick, person by person. This was not just about walls and roofs, but about creating a space where learning, collaboration and growth could take root and flourish.

After three years of construction, the entire school moved last summer. The new campus opened its doors and quadrupled its capacity for both students and staff: 140 families from the previous building followed the school and 170 new families joined the community. Together, they began the new school year.

The inauguration of the new facility on 6 September 2025 was a joyful celebration for the entire school community. The ceremony brought together families and teachers, as well as everyone who had worked on the project: architects, engineers and builders. Friends of Trianemi and early supporters – both large and small donors – were present, as were representatives of GLS Treuhand. Nana Goebel, from the board of Friends of Waldorf Education, urged parents in her speech at the opening ceremony to place their trust in the school and its teachers. She emphasised that teachers are committed individuals who are working towards the future.

The new school year began with great confidence. The pupils now enjoy the nearby forest and a larger schoolyard where they can play, explore and tend their own gardens – even though they live in densely populated Athens. Alongside the recruitment and training of new teachers, construction of the secondary school building will continue throughout the year so that classes 7–9 can open in the next school year.

The expansion of Trianemi means more than just a safe space for the school and its people to grow. It gives learners the chance to stay longer in an environment that supports their development throughout the entire second seven-year cycle. It opens up new opportunities for Waldorf education to position itself with clarity and stability.
For teachers, the growth of the school community strengthens the power of their educational voice and experience – both internally and externally. The larger school campus also reinforces the culture of community and enables Trianemi to contribute more actively to a broader educational landscape.

Sandra Mavroidi