A Stewartry teaching couple are heading off to Greece to teach child refugees... in a vintage East German police truck.
Graeme and Laura Thomson are quitting their jobs to embark on their life-changing mission.
The duo, from Balmaclellan, are currently converting the 7.5-tonne vehicle into a mobile home.
The 1973 communist-era Mercedes LA 911B – dubbed Florrie the Lorry – will also serve as a mobile classroom.
Graeme said: “Florrie had grills on the windows and was fitted with floodlights at the back.
“It was a border-patrol vehicle to stop people crossing the Berlin Wall and prevent riots.
“But now it’s being re-purposed to break down barriers – not maintain them. Florrie will help open up connections between the furthermost edges of Europe.
“I think it’s quite an ennobling thing to do.”
Laura will bid farewell to her P1 class at Castle Douglas Primary at the end of term.
She promoted play-based learning and outdoor experiences to encourage good mental health and a joy for school life.
Graeme has already resigned from his post at Kells Primary to prepare for the Greek odyssey.
He won acclaim for involving children in their learning and holding classes outdoors.
Now the couple will take their skills to refugee camps in Greece.
The country is often the first European port of call for people fleeing war and oppression.
Recent years have seen thousands of refugees, mostly from Syria, arrive in Greece in tiny boats from Turkey.
Graeme said: “We have made some really good connections with different charities in camps in Greece.
“We hope to bring back ideas so that there’s a weaving of human connections between children here and in Europe.
“That is the kind of ethos we believe in.”
Graeme added: “It broke my heart to stop working at Kells.
“We have a love of this area but we get a lot of joy out of travelling and expanding our world
view.
“This just seems a great opportunity to take a chance to be at the edge of things.
“That can be a very stimulating experience.”
Graeme and Laura are working to set up their own charity, Love Out Of Kindness (LOOK).
