The teacher who continues to offer his work in prisons, Petros Damianos, talks about his student, Nikos Romanos.
Among others, his professor in Avlona prison, Petros Damianos, who was a host in the Land of Stereotypes, spoke about his acquaintance and relationship with Nikos Romanos.
“I met Nikos when he came to the prison. I only knew what happened on December 6,2008. It was February 2013,” he recalls and says:
“He was angry. You know, you invited your friends over to treat them. Your friend came and died in your arms. The killing is across the street. This creates huge problems in the psyche of a 15-year-old. I met this man. Do you know what he said to me the first moment we met? That, “Mr. Peter, we surrendered so as not to endanger the life of the hostage. I don’t know what would have happened if we didn’t have a hostage”. Do you know what that means? Humanity. A child who lived as I described to you,before the value of life interferes. This says a lot about the course of his life and his maturity, as he is mature now”, says Mr. Dama.
“He is a very intelligent man, the investigators and the people who talked to him must have understood that. Nikos cannot have done what the indictment says he did, I am sure he will be freed. we are talking about fingerprinting on a mobile point, in a bag that could have gone through many houses and housed thousands of things. If those arrested from the apartment were connected, we would know about it. The police would tell us. Nikos knew he was being watched. They knew whether they all knew him or not.”
“Nikos romanos showed humanity, he affected the value of life”
He also says “I don’t want to judge the judges. When you judge a judge you value the judge who is still fighting for his values and those are there. However they are human too, they may have made a mistake. All I want is for Nikos to be released from prison. Get out of there. As of ’19, Nikos has not authorized anything. I know what it means to be in prison when you haven’t done anything”, says Mr. Dama.
He states his opinion “we will wait for the second decision to see if there is vindictiveness. Let’s leave society as a human margin of error. if it happens again, then we’ll start saying other things. For now, the most important thing is that Nikos gets out of prison. Let Nikos live, he is not alive yet, breathe. The last time we ate together he was talking about his dreams, he wants to open a publishing house. They haven’t given him a chance to do it yet”,says Mr.Dame.
Listen to the full episode of The Land of Stereotes with Petros Damianos, below:
In the land of stereotypes
every week, Christos Demetis and psychologist Evi Karageorgou document the taboos and stereotypes of Greek society and they try to “enlighten” them by talking to people who are “connected” to them.A discussion about stereotypes that have touched each of us more or less, about the taboos that affect us, but also about the social pathologies that have entered the news recently.
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What specific challenges do educators face when working wiht students in the prison system?
Time.news Interview: Petros Damianos on His Journey with Nikos Romanos
Editor: Good morning, Petros. Thank you for joining us today. It’s a privilege to have you here to discuss your experiences as an educator in the prison system, especially your relationship with Nikos Romanos.
Petros damianos: Good morning! I appreciate the opportunity to share my story and what I learned from my time with Nikos.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. You first met Nikos in February 2013. Can you paint a picture for us of what he was like when he first arrived in prison?
Petros: certainly. When Nikos entered the facility, he was very much a product of his experiences. He was filled with anger and confusion. He had been through something incredibly traumatic at just 15 years old—the death of his friend right in front of him. That’s a burden that can scar someone for life.
Editor: It sounds devastating. How did you, as a teacher, navigate that emotional landscape with him?
Petros: It wasn’t easy. I approached him as I would any othre student, but I quickly realized that Nikos needed more than just academic support. He needed someone to listen to his pain and help him process that trauma. Our conversations often veered into deeper topics about life, loss, and the consequences of violence.
Editor: You mentioned that you only knew about the incident from December 2008 when you first met him. How did you go about understanding the context of his anger?
Petros: Yes, I researched the events surrounding the situation as well as the broader sociopolitical issues that contributed to it. Understanding the environment he came from helped me relate to his feelings and frustrations.It wasn’t simply about the incident; it was about a system of oppression that he felt trapped within.
Editor: It must have been enlightening for both you and him. During your time together, did Nikos ever speak about his feelings regarding the situation that lead to his incarceration?
Petros: Absolutely. One of the first things he told me was about the need to protect the hostage during that chaotic event. He expressed a profound sense of duty, which was striking for someone so young. It showed me that beneath his anger was a person grappling with guilt and the weight of his decisions.
Editor: How did these discussions influence your teaching approach with Nikos and, by extension, your other students?
Petros: They shifted my focus to emotional literacy and resilience. I began to integrate more life skills into my curriculum—like conflict resolution and critical thinking—rather than just strict adherence to academics.I realized that education in prison is not only about knowledge but also about healing and rebuilding lives.
Editor: That’s an inspiring approach. In your view, what are the biggest challenges facing educators in such environments?
Petros: The biggest challenge is often the lack of resources and support. There’s a misconception that prison education is only about punishment, but it should also be about rehabilitation. We need more programs that address the mental health of the students, provide them with coping skills, and offer vocational training.
Editor: You’ve worked closely with Nikos. What are your hopes for him now, and for the future of other students in similar situations?
Petros: My hope for Nikos is that he continues to find his voice and healing through education. For others, I hope we can change the narrative around prison education. It should be seen as an opportunity for conversion rather than a mere obligation. Every person has the potential to learn and grow, regardless of their past.
Editor: Thank you, Petros, for sharing your insights and experiences with us. Your dedication to your students is truly commendable. Let’s hope that these stories inspire change in the education and rehabilitation systems.
Petros: Thank you for having me. I believe in the power of education to change lives, and I hope more people will see that as well.