In times of luck of democracy, civic illiteracy & racism, which is multiplied by the pandemic, the planned 31 cultural & art activities, in 4 languages, by 3 partners & many volunteers, addressed to children and elder, targeting both to local residences & migrants/refugees, will motivate all sides to participate in, cooperate between them & local entities & authorities & enjoy creatively, enhancing so their bonds, civility & social cohesion, transforming this area in a real cell of democracy.

In the rural village of KATSIKA (where a camp exist), Ioannina, Epirus region, North-West Greece

In the last 3 years the intervention area hosts, migrants, refugees & asylum seekers. A camp has been set up but it is characterized by unsatisfactory living, & cultural conditions. Τhe above groups face poverty, social and cultural exclusion, segregation & often racism, also due to pandemic, with children and women being more vulnerable & excluded of social activities
On the other hand, due to shortage of local interactive activities targeting both local residents & new comers, the cooperation between the two sides is insufficient & the interaction between them at a low level. It is obvious that the idea will have a recreational & cultivating impact, through strengthening active citizenship, beneficiaries’ empowerment, bridging of differences & enhancing democracy & diversity acceptance

The idea, with 31 different activities in 4 languages, is targeting local residents, migrants, refugees & asylum seekers living in the camp, children, youth, adults, seniors, people with different abilities/disabilities or cultural backgrounds, local Associations, NGOs & other entities.
The activities will be implemented by experts (animators, psychotherapists, etc) under the guidance of the Steering Committee, with interpreters’ help. All activities are designed according to human-centered approaches & will be participatory, so that better interaction will be achieved. In case of restrictions due to pandemic, we’ll utilise zoom platform.
Expert partners, we’ll engage municipalities, media & volunteers from the university & other entities, NGOs & women unions with different perspectives

The road to develop our cultural bridges will be as follows:

Creation of a Steering Committee (S.C) from Partners & cooperators to define the role of every entity
Organizing of a Workshop on building a common intervention aspect for staff, partners’ representatives, volunteers & media
Contacts & hints to local entities, residences & migrants to ask for volunteers & suggestions
Taking permission from the ministry to work in the camp
Implementation of the activities inside & outside camps in 4 languages
Tool kit- anthology guide creation & sharing
Evaluation process
Honoria to volunteers & NGOs
Interventions
Contact & cooperation with the municipality & local representatives, to ensure their support
Methods
Participatory & interactive methods with experts will be utilized

After the project, active citizens from different backgrounds, are expected to be skilful & inspired on being engaged in open civic spaces to build strongholds against polarizations segregation and animosity, without political & cultural divisions &racism. They will be aware of acting &cooperating, in order to empower local civil cohesion & participation with equality & co-creating. So, a diverse & vibrant civil society will emerge, because of their participation in common & participatory social, art & culture activities. Through the strong developed bonds, they will have also increase their personal estimation, cultural background &skills to participate in social life for a better life, because, as Picasso says “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”. We hope to succeed

Our activities will strongly contribute to the bonding of different local groups (local residents &migrants /refugees) with active local entities and authorities &motivating all parts to take action in order to make all participants feel equal & active in societal & cultural activation & promote in this way democracy in local & community level. This will be achieved through:
a) The implementation of 11 sub-projects of cultural/art/ethnographic activities are expected to promote networking of all beneficiaries engaged, resulting in the promotion of entertainment, safety & freedom.
b) Improved co-operation & networking, based on equality & respect of diversity
c) Wider democratic procedures concerning the implementation & communication of the idea, that are expected to promote new ideas

As SCCN with its 45 members, acts in the 3rd sector, has a vision to contribute to a society with equal opportunities for everybody & mainly for excluded people, where, civil literacy, solidarity & activation will be the rule. That’s why we offer voluntary training, consultancy, career guidance & mentoring in the fields of social economy, culture & equal opportunities to unemployed people, residents of rural areas, refugees & migrants. Our motivation is the unacceptable living conditions of refugees and migrants in the area & the inexistence of relations between them and the local residents. Investing in our experience &good relations with local entities, we hope that through art & cultural activities will improve both communities’ living conditions, but also built a resilient society

1. Personnel costs (for host organization & 2 partners) ( instructors, animators, trainers-actors, interpreters, administration, coordinators, secretary, evaluators): 34840
2. Travel and accommodation & petrol : 3290
3. Service providers (bus rental, microphone equipment rental): 5600
4. Workspops & event costs ( material, catering, miscellaneous):1670
5. Publicity (media/website, communication):1000
6. Meeting space and event rental: 2140
7. Public relations: 630
8. Honoria:830

We would appreciate if we take feedback & comments on our idea (activities, implementation procedures, targets) or any suggestions on improvements of all kind