News
1st Sustainability Skills & Career Fair: Navigating Green and Social Career Opportunities
In response to the urgent need for sustainable development and the global shift towards a greener economy and a more equitable world, Ecogenia and the American College of Greece, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Greece, are co-organizing the first Sustainability Skills & Career Fair.
The goal is to inspire young minds to explore sustainability career paths and connect them with employers across sectors. The event welcomes both those with clear career goals and those still exploring, offering opportunities to grow with sustainability as their guide. The Fair will feature exhibitors from civil society and the private sector, all focused on sustainable practices. Attendees can participate in job interviews, networking, Career Clinics (e.g., mock interviews, CV audits, career coaching), and an interactive "Sustainability Agora" for open discussions.
Free entrance, with pre-registration | October 19, 2024, 12:00 - 17:00 at The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias str., Ag. Paraskevi
For more information, visit the event website
Immerse yourself in "Eden in Olympia": A Call to Action for Life on the Planet
An inspiring project initiated by the World Human Forum, featuring world-renowned opera singer Joyce DiDonato in her original musical work "Eden", which seeks to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship and the need for collective action to preserve our planet.
Filmed in April at the historic grounds of Ancient Olympia, just days before the Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, this initiative not only celebrates music and culture but also delivers a powerful message about environmental responsibility.
The acclaimed orchestra Il Pomo d'Oro, with musicians from around the world, accompanies DiDonato. The finale of the iconic "Eden in Olympia" includes a performance of the Olympic Anthem in a groundbreaking trilingual rendition (Greek, French, and English) by DiDonato and three children's choirs. The performance symbolizes the spirit of unity and cooperation at the heart of Olympic values.
"Eden in Olympia" is a co-production of the World Human Forum, Megaron Athens Concert Hall, UNITEL, and ZDF, in association with ARTE and ERT. Our Foundation is proud to have contributed to this production through a grant. The project had its world premiere in July and will be available for wider viewing this Sunday, Sept 8, 2024, at 23:30 on ERT2, as well as online on ARTE.TV until Oct 18, 2024.
Our new collaboration with SciCo for the STEM Program in Tanzania
We’re excited to announce our collaboration with SciCo (Science Communication), an NGO that we’ve long admired for its innovative approach to engaging the public with science.
SciCo’s multifaceted portfolio of activities not only has it reached more than 400,000 people in Greece, but it also extends beyond boarders. With a focus on STEM education and a particular interest in transferring this knowledge to underserved communities, SciCo has created the STEM in Tanzania Program, which we’re proud to be supporting with a grant this year.
The Program aims to empower children in Tanzania by amplifying their learning experience and agency, even inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields which can potentially lead to greater economic opportunities and development in the country. At the same time, it is designed to assist local teachers to deliver long-term, high-quality STEM/STEAM education. To date, the train-the-trainer approach has been applied to more than 50 local community teachers in 6 villages. With the help of curriculum co-created by SciCo and Saving Africa's Nature and the STEM kits donated to each school, these teachers continue to provide STEM education to more than 10,000 students in their schools.
Results Announcement for the 7th Cycle of the Program
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 34 projects that will be funded in the context of the 7th Cycle of the Points of Support Program, concerning the themes of Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities, Child Health Protection, Environmental Protection, Prevention and Health Promotion of Adults, Combating Poverty and Food Crisis, Social Innovation in Small Coastal Local Communities and Sustainable Cities and Communities!
The 10 collaborating Foundations that support the Program wish much success to the 41 NGOs that will implement these 34 selected projects!
Our Foundation, at the thematic area of Sustainable Cities and Communities, is happy to support:
> Communitism | Project: HeriScope
> Diversity United | Project: Eco-RestoRATE
> Cultural Association of Agrampela "Saint Demetrios" and Another Way - Poretsou Monastery | Project: Restoration and reopening of water groove and traditional stone water mill
To read the full list of the funded NGOs/projects, please check this link.
Genia 17 & ACS Athens - Presentation of a collective artwork about Quality Education
At 38 Diligianni Theodorou Street, near the Athens Railway Station, a new mural of the Genia 17 project is ready. A collective artwork of the street artist SAME84 and secondary school students from ACS Athens, its concept lies in the SDG4 - Quality Education.
Prior to the mural, the students and the artist came together to talk about the essence of this SDG and brainstorm on the design. What does inclusive and equitable quality education mean to them and how could their thoughts be put on a drawing?
Following their fruitful discussions, the students prepared their own creations which they then shared with the artist. SAME84 combined elements and drew inspiration from them to create the final design, making sure that the resulting artwork captured the project's goal and reflected the input from the students involved.
Genia 17 is an initiative of ELC Productions and this is the second SDG that we’re funding. We truly hope that the mural will speak to people’s hearts, transmitting the message of Quality Education as the cornerstone of human development!
Ten Million Hands' new integrated Information Hub and Business Network for Responsible Consumption and Production
Come and meet Ten Million Hands' brand-new platform, an integrated Information Hub and a Business Network for Responsible Consumption and Production! 🌱
Ten Million Hands just launched its upgraded website incorporating entirely new features. Being fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12), it intends to inform the public and the business world on the importance of Responsible Consumption and Production. Connecting through its two core modules – the Information Hub and the Business Network –, Ten Million Hands is raising awareness, educating and providing tangible solutions to make sustainability an everyday choice.
The Information Hub is indexing all information through its 22 sustainability indicators according to which conscious consumption and production can be put into practice (such as zero food waste, second hand or upcycling) while, at the same time, is providing knowledge through articles, tips and a series of podcasts on simple conscious practices for our livelihoods.
The Business Network for Sustainability, the first of its kind in Greece with a continuously growing list of consumer-centric businesses, is actively addressing environmental and social challenges through the lens of Responsible Consumption and Production. This network includes stores in every Athenian municipality, where the Ten Million Hands Meal and Benefits cards will be redeemable, making sustainability a reality for all of us.
Policy Connect: Policy Recommendations focus group for Foundations
In the framework of the Impact Hub Athens' initiative "Policy Connect: co-creating a roadmap to catalyze the social economy ecosystem", a workshop took place this Tuesday with the invaluable participation of 15 representatives from foundations and impact investing ventures. We worked collectively on the creation of joint proposals around the key subject of how we can promote the sustainable development of the local ecosystem, by enhancing social and environmental innovation.
That workshop was part of a series of Policy Recommendations Focus Groups around Greece that include stakeholders of various fields (research community, governmental/municipal reps, CSOs, foundations, funding institutions, embassies, private companies). The results of all workshops will be compiled and published as policy recommendations, to be then delivered to relevant institutional bodies, partners, and stakeholders in innovation both in Greece and in the EU for review and adoption.
We’d like to thank Impact Hub Athens for inviting us to be co-hosts of the event and a big thanks to the following Foundations: Stavros Niarchos, Onassis, A.C. Laskaridis, The Hellenic Initiative, Qualco, The Hellenic Initiative Canada, Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos, Aikaterini Laskaridis, Hellenic Impact Investing Network, Bodossaki, Investing for Purpose, Costas M.Lemos, TIMA, G. & A. Mamidakis.
Open Call Announcement for the 7th Cycle of the Points of Support Program
Ten Foundations in Greece are re-joining forces to support small Civil Society organizations, with the aim of implementing original small-scale projects of maximum social impact, as well as developing skills that will contribute to their sustainability.
This is the first year that our Foundation takes part in the Points of Support Program and the thematic area we’ve chosen is the one of Sustainable Cities and Communities. The participating Foundations in the 7th Cycle of Points of Support are: John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, Bodossaki Foundation, Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, A. G. Leventis Foundation, Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Costas M. Lemos Foundation, Social and Cultural Affairs Welfare Foundation (KIKPE), The Hellenic Initiative Canada, Athina I. Martinou Foundation, Helidoni Foundation. The Bodossaki Foundation will also act as the Program Coordinator.
You can read more about the Open Call here. The inaugural event of the Program will take place on Monday 11 March, at 14:00, at the Cultural Centre of the Benaki Museum (138 Pireos & Andronikou).
Press release for the first network of bicycle-friendly cultural venues in Athens
Wanna cycle into history and art? The first network of bicycle-friendly cultural venues in Athens is underway for the many bike aficionados out there!
The “Cycle into History and Art” program comes to enhance urban cycling, filling an important gap in the city as each venue will now host specially designed, secure bicycle parking spaces, offering a solution to the ones who would like to use their bike to visit the site. Through the creation of a network of such spaces, cultural routes will then be established, which Athenians and visitors alike can follow.
Prominent destinations of cultural interest have already entered the network such as the National Gallery, the Benaki Museum (Pireos 138), the Kypseli Municipal Market, the Athens Municipal Arts Center, the Melina Cultural Center, the Museum of Folk Art and Tradition Angeliki Hatzimichali, the Plato’s Academy Digital Museum and the Municipal Gallery of Athens. And the list will grow, so stay tuned!
The initiative belongs to Cities for Cycling and is implemented with the sponsorship of our Foundation.
Applications are open for the Ecotourism & Natural Disaster Management program "Olympus 2024"
We would like to share with you an interesting new experience for social contribution and personal development!
Ecogenia – the nonprofit organization that mobilizes young people through community service projects to promote sustainable development and climate action in Greece – is currently in the process of finding the next team for their upcoming project on Mount Olympus.
With the motto "You offer – You’re trained – You get paid", Ecogenia invites you to a hybrid 14-week program on ecotourism and natural disaster management in Litochoro and the wider Olympus area.
Applications will be open from January 15 to February 25, 2024. You can find the full description of the program and job position here.