Dec 17 2016

“Wind of Renewal” in COOP Spotlight

By Nikos Chrysogelos | News, Publicity | No Comments

Wind of Renewal is a social cooperative in Greece founded in 2014 with ten people.

Article | 09 December 2016

http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/cooperatives/news/WCMS_537883/lang–en/index.htm?shared_from=shr-tls

COOP Spotlight is a series that showcases innovative cooperative initiatives from around the world with whom ILO COOP is engaging for exchange of learning and future collaboration. The fourth cooperative featured in the series is the Wind of Renewal, a social cooperative in Greece.

What does the Wind of Renewal stand for?

The Wind of Renewal (WoR) was founded in 2014 with ten people. The cooperative is working to advance a number of social and economic objectives, including integration of refugees into host communities and promotion of sustainable and green social enterprises.

To advance these goals, the WoR has been collaborating with local government, EU institutions, cooperative movement, other civil society organizations (CSOs) as well as universities and researchers on wide range of projects and activities. Some of the recent activities of WoR include awareness raising on energy cooperatives, workshops on migration and social enterprises, research on green local policies, and drafting a code of conduct for social enterprises, among many others.

What is the “Welcommon” initiative about?

In September 2016, the WoR launched “Welcommon”, a pilot project that provides housing to refugees and supports their social integration into host communities. #Welcommon’s refugee housing facility is located in Exarhia, Athens. It is operated within the framework of cooperative and social enterprise management scheme of the ANEMOS ANANEOSIS/WIND OF RENEWAL and the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (EATA).

#Welcommon accommodates up to 200 people with separate rooms designated for families. The project functions under the framework of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) relocation programme for refugees. Beneficiaries are identified by the UNHCR within the framework of its relocation programme, with priority given to vulnerable groups including pregnant women, families with children, and the elderly, among others. Currently the majority of the 160 guests are Syrian children, who are usually accompanied by only one parent.

#Welcommon covers the costs of settlement and all the basic needs of the refugees beside housing facilities. The project organizes training for refugees, and facilitates their active participation and cooperation with the local population. It aims to provide adequate infrastructure and quality services, while applying good practices that ensure the dignity of the refugees.

Welcommon created 29 new direct jobs in 2016 and will create six more in 2017 for Greek citizens. The majority of the previously unemployed employees, have experience on refugee response. In addition, more than 20 volunteers support WoR on daily tasks. The project also supports refugees with facilitating employment opportunities.

How are decisions made within the cooperative?

Each member of WoR has one vote and is welcome to take part in the yearly general assembly, which makes decides on the next year’s activities and gives political directions to the Governing Committee, which consists of three members elected every two years (President, Vice President and Treasurer). The Governing Committee meets at least once a month and decides on strategic and management issues.

Dec 17 2016

Simel Esim (ILO): Cooperatives, resilience to crises

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Χωρίς κατηγορία | No Comments

Translation of an interview of Simel Esim (ILO) on #coops, #resilience to crises including #refugees on a Greek online #coop news outlet

http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/ilo-in-the-media/WCMS_538200/lang–en/index.htm?shared_from=shr-tls

Cooperatives, resilience to crises

The Greek Magazine Efsyn interviewed ILO specialist on Cooperative, Simel Esim, on the role of cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy enterprises in crisis response including with regard to refugees.

Can the social and solidarity economy to help countries like Greece to overcome the already protracted economic recession?

It has been observed across the world that in times of economic crisis the existing cooperative and other social and solidarity economy structures grow in terms of numbers of members, supporters, volunteers, beneficiaries and service users.

This applies equally to different types of cooperatives, for instance financial, retail and housing cooperatives, among others. New social and solidarity economy initiatives are created during such times at local levels. Governments and development agencies also rediscover cooperatives as part of timely and relevant community driven response strategies to these challenges.

But the social and solidarity economy cannot, and in fact should not, be expected to assume the role of the state in the provision of goods and services. It would be unrealistic to imagine the social and solidarity economy as a magic wand that once activated will put an end to crises. The formula is more like that of tens of thousands of initiatives, big and small, public and private, some more successful than others, converging together in partnership toward creating a critical mass that reaches a tipping point.Yes, but are not cooperatives themselves beaten by economic crisis?

The International Labour Organization has conducted research documenting how cooperatives have fared in terms of their resilience to the global economic and jobs crisis. This report reviews the performance of financial cooperatives, looking in particular at the aftermath of the 2007-2008 crisis and the continuing long austerity period. It documents ways financial cooperatives have proven to be more resilient tha their non-cooperative counterparts pointing to the specificities of the cooperative model of enterprise.
How can cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy enterprises support refugees in a sustainable way?

The number of refugees has reached record levels around the globe. Many host country governments’ systems in provisioning goods and services have become overwhelmed. So it has become necessary for national and local governments in host countries to partner with local community based solutions. Provision of goods and services through local cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy enterprises can help refugees escape the vicious circle of poverty and find a job, while distributing the available resources more fairly within the local economy and for the local communities.
Are there any specific examples?

There are examples of cooperatives that have been set up specifically for refugees, or refugees joining existing cooperatives in growth oriented sectors of the host country’s economy as workers and members.

We have seen refugee women, for example in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon come together in business groups to market their products in local community markets in Lebanon which helped generate incomes and create bridges between refugee and host communities.

In many countries, existing cooperative have moved to assisting refugees. In Italy alone, social cooperatives provide services to 18,000 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants with services and projects in 220 welcome centres and 170 dedicated housing structures.

The UN World Food Programme has been procuring staple items for emergency food assistance to refugees through producer cooperatives in 20 countries.

In Germany, housing cooperatives have started reserving larger homes for refugee families and consciously renting them to Syrian refugees to help them integrate and benefit from the social support system.

Another example are 200,000 of the nearly one million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, who have settled in the Akkar region in the north of the country, doubling the population of one of Lebanon’s poorest regions. Here, the agricultural sector constitutes a major source of income, employing one-fourth of the workers. UNDP and ILO have supported the establishment and growth of a Green House Nursery cooperative, which treats, grows and sells seeds at an affordable price in the region. The cooperative benefits 200 Lebanese farmers and Syrian refugees.
Recently the Greek lawmakers voted for a new law on social and solidarity economy. Are you aware of the changes the new law brings? Did the ILO make any proposals?

The very tight deadlines for consultation around the drafts was not sufficient to allow the ILO to provide an official response on the law. Clearly it is the Greek people who own this law. Hence the national consultations between the government, social partners and cooperatives and social and solidarity economy entities, networks and platforms are critical. It was therefore great to hear Dr Rania Antonopoulos, the Greek Alternate Minister for Combatting Unemployment, indicate her readiness to engage with the Greek cooperative and social economy partners to further improve the law.

A number of European cooperative and other social and solidarity economy partners provided inputs to the Greek government on the draft law. In fact, cooperatives and other social economy actors from around the world continue to show great solidarity with Greece. The Italian cooperative movement has indicated its readiness to support Greek government in its work on developing legislation on worker buyouts. Spanish and Argentinian worker cooperatives, and French financial cooperatives also have declared their willingness to engage.

It is worth noting that the enabling environment for cooperatives and social economy is not just dependent on passing of a law but include activation of implementation mechanisms including the establishment of financing tools, development of technical assistance programmes and building new institutions and reforming existing ones.
The Greek government, social partners and cooperative and other social economy enterprises have the continued support and commitment of the ILO in this important endeavour.

The following article has originally been published in Efsyn Magazine in Greek , and has been translated into English from the original.

Nov 30 2016

Social enterprises and the social economy going forward

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Library | No Comments

Social enterprises and the social economy going forward

A call for action from the Commission Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES)

This report of the Commission Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES) represents a call for action issued to the European Commission, Member States and social enterprises organisations. It argues for a European Action Plan for the Social Economy and Social Enterprises, which would provide new impetus to promote an enabling environment for social enterprises and the social economy to flourish, building on their core values such as democratic governance, social impact, innovation, profit reinvestment or the central place given to the human in the economy. Thus enabled, social enterprises and the social economy will have an even greater impact in addressing the challenges highlighted above and help to create a more socially equitable society in Europe. In accordance with the mandate given to GECES, the recommendations mainly focus on social enterprises. However in many cases, recommendations are relevant to social economy organisations more broadly. The report proposes a series of key recommendations for policy-makers to support the development of social enterprises and the social economy as a driver of inclusive and impactful economic growth. The report is structured according to four key thematic areas.

Towards increased visibility, recognition and identity

Recommendation 1: The European Commission, the Member States and social enterprise organisations shall gather stronger evidence on social enterprises’ added value and communicate it better. Actions should encompass:

Collecting systematic data and prioritising research on the economic and social importance, including the employment potential, as well as the dynamics of social enterprises (Member States, Commission);
Co-creating an EU-wide communication strategy (Commission together with the Member States and social enterprise organisations);
Sharing of know-how and tools on social added value, including tools on social impact management (Commission, the Member States, social enterprise organisations);
Building better capacity to report on the social value generated (social enterprise organisations).

Recommendation 2: The European Commission, the Member States, regional and local authorities, and social enterprise organisations should nurture a more assertive and coordinated social enterprise community. Actions should encompass:

Forging legitimate, diverse and inclusive representative networks that enable synergies, mutual learning and coordination (social enterprise organisations);
Supporting the representation of the social enterprise community at the EU level (Commission together with social enterprise organisations and the Member States);
Promoting a culture of policy co-creation with social enterprises and their representative organisations (Member States).

Recommendation 3: The European Commission and Member States, as well as their local and regional authorities, should mainstream the social enterprise dimension in relevant policies, programmes and practices. They should consult with and engage social enterprises as much as possible in the creation of new policies and actions. Social enterprise organisations should actively promote and use these opportunities. Actions should encompass:

Including social enterprises as eligible entities in all relevant European funding programmes and adding social enterprise dimensions in the implementation and follow up of EU-wide policy initiatives (European Commission);
Promoting the participation of social enterprises in relevant European mobility schemes (European Commission);
Promoting mutual learning and capacity building between regional/local authorities so as to develop integrated strategies supporting social enterprises (European Commission and Member States);
Applying social criteria to public procurement processes (European Commission);
Including social enterprise related topics in curricula from primary to university level and promoting career opportunities in social enterprises by public employment services and career guidance services (Member States and local and regional authorities);
Promoting mutual knowledge sharing and business relations between traditional business and social enterprises (European Commission, Member States, social enterprises).

Improving access to funding

Recommendation 4: The European Commission and Member States should provide increased resources to training programmes, incubators and intermediaries that provide tailored capacity building support to social enterprises, required to build their managerial skills and to encourage their financial sustainability. Actions should encompass:

Strengthening European-wide support for networks/platforms that connect individuals (including consultants and pro-bono experts) with social enterprises needing capacity building, and awards schemes for social enterprises (Commission);
Setting up a pan-European investment and capacity building funding programme to help social enterprises reach investment readiness by financing capacity building support from selected service providers (Commission);
Financing specialised social enterprise incubators/accelerators and intermediaries that offer training and capacity building to social enterprises (Member States);
Using ESIF to fund capacity building activities at MS level (Member States).

Recommendation 5: The European Commission, the Member States and organisations from the social enterprise funding community should implement concrete measures to unlock and attract more funding that is better suited to social enterprises. Actions should encompass:

Promotion, training, guidance and awareness building among the broader funding community (private and public) about how to finance social enterprises (organisations from the social enterprise funding community to collect best practices and Commission to disseminate);
Building capacity within the “impact community” that understands and actively finances social enterprises, to enable social economy-based financial intermediaries to meet the needs of social enterprises;
Enhancing the suitability criteria of investment in social enterprise, thereby increasing the flow of funds into social enterprise (Commission and Member States);
Removing or alleviating regulatory hurdles faced by private funders of social enterprise and social enterprises themselves (Commission);
Mapping existing, diverse tax incentives associated with the funding of social enterprise, to disseminate best practice (Commission and Member States).

Recommendation 6: The European Commission and the Member States should continue to direct public funding to social enterprise and to use public funding to mobilise private capital, through investment in and de-risking of social enterprise funders, as well as by putting proper governance structures in place. Actions should encompass:

Enabling public financial instruments (e.g. EaSI, EFSI, InnovFin under Horizon 2020, COSME and other instruments under development) to enhance funding volumes and raise the quality of social enterprise funding (Commission) and to invest in social enterprise and specialised intermediaries (Member States);
Programming the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) to improve service provision and investment in high-quality social infrastructure. ESIF should have a transformative role and should be used to complement – not replace – Member States’ national budgets (Commission and Member States);
Recommend to Member States to promote social investment namely through public funding in a coordinated, holistic manner in the areas of social, health and education services;
Developing complementarities between public and private funding of social enterprise through the use of hybrid instruments (Commission and Member States);
Representing key stakeholders from the social enterprise ecosystem in the governance of schemes supported by public funding, such as EFSI, and mainstreaming the use of impact measurement (Commission).

Improving the legal environment

Recommendation 7: The Commission should propose a soft legal measure which could help Member States design an adequate framework to support the flourishing and expansion of social enterprises. Actions should encompass:

Preparing a legal recommendation, in the sense of the Treaties, that lays down minimum principles to encourage and support Member States in establishing a dedicated national framework to develop social enterprises (Commission);
Monitoring social enterprise policies in the Commission’s exercise on the European Semester, in order to follow the implementation of the above legal recommendation (Commission).

Recommendation 8: The Commission and the Member States should stimulate cross-border operations for mutuals and cooperatives to enable them to use the full potential of the Internal Market in order to expand their activities. Actions should encompass:

Financially supporting cross-border operations via programmes such as INTERREG (Commission);
Collecting best practices regarding incentives to stimulate their growth in the Internal Market and widely diffusing them (Commission and Member States).

Recommendation 9: Public buyers should make the best use of the new public procurement rules and insert social considerations, including reserved contracts for the social and professional integration of disabled and disadvantaged persons (art. 20) as well as health, social and cultural services (art.77), in their tendering procedures. Actions should include:

Updating the Commission’s “Buying Social” guide published in 2011 and monitoring best practices (Commission);
Developing dedicated capacity building programmes and communication campaigns (Commission and Member States);
Conducting/developing specific training for European civil servants, to take social aspects into consideration when drafting tendering specifications (Commission);
Creating networks to stimulate the commitment of various stakeholders in this process (Member States, contracting authorities, social enterprise organisations).

Recommendation 10: The Commission and the Member States should increase awareness of state aid rules and their impact on social enterprises providing an SGEI. Actions should encompass:

Preparing or, where appropriate, updating guidelines, especially the guide to the application of EU rules regarding services of general economic interest from 2013 (Commission and Member States);
Launching further training on how to apply state aid rules (Commission and Member States).

Driving international development and growth

Recommendation 11: The European Commission/EEAS should contribute, through the next cycle of its international development programmes, to a significant and ongoing increase in open source intelligence about the social economy and social enterprises, and support ecosystems globally. Actions should encompass:

Launching a major ongoing research initiative together with other interested donors and partners such as the OECD and its Development Assistance Committee members, the UNRISD, the World Bank, EU national development agencies and other public and private donors;
Allocating a specific budget for impact evaluation for new support programmes for the social economy and social enterprises to bridge the lack of robust and clear evidence about the impact of this enterprise support on SDGs. This action should also be taken by Member States.

Recommendation 12: The European Commission should take a leading role in fostering global cooperation to support the social economy and social enterprises by acting as a market convener and harnessing knowledge exchange. Actions should encompass:

Undertaking in 2017 a process of internal learning, coordination and cooperation between the various departments of the Commission and EEAS, whose work touches on the 10 development of infrastructure and support for the social economy and social enterprises;
Starting in 2017, initiating a series of regular exchange and action-oriented meetings with other global donors and investors (private and public) active on a transnational basis in supporting the social economy and social enterprises (irrespective of local designation);
Making the case, together with the German Government, which holds the G20 Presidency from Autumn 2016, for promoting specific policies to support inclusive businesses/activities and social enterprises (as discussed in the G20 Inclusive Business Framework) to better reflect the differences in the set of values, principles and raison d’être between these organisations.

Recommendation 13: The European Union and the EEAS should mainstream tailored support in all its existing and future policies and initiatives and international negotiations promoting social and economic development (cooperation and development, foreign policy, trade policy, neighbourhood policy etc.) and embed social enterprises and the social economy more broadly in strategic thinking in order to build supportive ecosystems as reflected by the pillars of the SBI. Actions should encompass:

Earmarking, in the next programming cycle, dedicated direct and indirect funding for social economy organisations, including social enterprises, in third countries, along with governments and support and social finance organisations; and starting concrete collaborations with other global partners to leverage EU funding and boost the impact of the respective programmes;
Raising awareness, in particular with third country governments, of the role the social economy and social enterprises play in achieving the SDGs, as well as on the potential of North-South, South-North or South-South exchange of learning, innovation and collaboration, providing cases of successful replication of innovative social economy and social enterprise solutions and models as well as their impact;
Embedding the social economy and social enterprises in Europe’s revised Consensus on Development and in Europe’s voice in international negotiations, trade agreements and at the United Nations;
Organising marketplace events to connect social enterprises with the international financial ecosystem and facilitate major investments in developing countries, as well as engage other social economy organisations in defining financial instruments to meet their needs

http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/19941/

Nov 20 2016

Working with refugees in Berlin and Athens – Good Practices

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Actions, Χωρίς κατηγορία | No Comments

Working with refugees in Berlin and Athens – Good Practices

Seminar, 21-25 November 2016

Arbeit mit Geflüchteten in Berlin und Athen Beispiele ›guter Praxis‹

Wochenseminar, 21.–25. November 2016

Arbeit mit Geflüchteten in Berlin und Athen Fachleute aus Athen, die dort in der Flüchtlingsarbeit tätig sind, tauschen eine Woche lang Informationen und Erfahrungen mit Freiwilligen, Hauptamtlichen, Geflüchteten und politischen Entscheidungsträgern aus, die sich in Berlin für geflüchtete Menschen engagieren. Aus den Begegnungen können weiterführende Kooperationen entstehen. Und so hoffen wir, dass die Besuchswoche zum Aufbau einer Städtepartnerschaft »von unten« zwischen Athen und Berlin beiträgt.

Initiative Respekt für Griechenland und BildungsWerk Berlin den Hoenrch Boell Stiftung

Kontakt Bildungswerk:

Simon Cames | cames@bildungswerk-boell.de

Telefon 030 308 77 94 80

Kontakt Initiative »Respekt für Griechenland«:

Hilde Schramm | hilde.schramm@t-online.de

Telefon 030 833 44 72

Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Klaus Feldgen | feldgen@t-online.de

Mobil 0170 904 37 31

Anmeldung zu den Workshops

Wegen der Teilnehmerbegrenzung ist eine Anmeldung mit Angaben zur Tätigkeit in der Flüchtlingsarbeit erforderlich

reinhard.feld@respekt-für-griechenland.de

Programm im Detail

Wochenseminar_Arbeit-mit-Geflüchteten_BerlinAthen (1)

Montag | 21. November 2016

ANNÄHERUNGEN UNTER FREMDEN

❱ 14–15.30 Uhr | Begrüßung und Kennenlernen Bildungswerk Berlin der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Sebastianstraße 21 | 10179 Berlin-Kreuzberg

❱ 17–21 Uhr | Begegnung und Zusammenarbeit von einheimischen und neu zugezogenen Künstlern

Einladung in den SALONwelcome Austausch über Kunst- und Kulturprojekte aus Athen und Berlin, an denen Geflüchtete beteiligt sind Zusammen mit:

Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik, Refugee Academy, Versschmuggel u.a. ZUsammenKUNFT – »Penthaus für schöne Formate« 16. Etage | Stresemannstraße 95–97 | 10963 Berlin-Mitte Kontakt: Bärbel Rothhaar | mail@baerbel-rothhaar.de – Nur für geladene Gäste

Dienstag | 22. November 2016

SCHULISCHE INTEGRATION VON FLÜCHTLINGEN

❱ Vormittags | Aufsuchende Erkundung von Willkommensklassen (in zwei Untergruppen) der Lenau-Grundschule (Kreuzberg), und des Robert-Blum-Gymnasiums (Schöneberg)

Robert Blum Gymnasium

❱ 14–16.30 Uhr

Workshop zur schulischen Integration von geflüchteten Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Lehrkräften, Freiwilligen und anderen Fachleuten

»aquarium« (Südblock) Skalitzerstraße 6 | 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg

Dienstag |22. November 2016 | 19–21 Uhr

Benefizkonzert zugunsten von Model Hostel WElCommon

Klavierabend – Werke von Beethoven, Schubert, Georgiades, Mussorgsky mit den Pianisten Marios Papadopoulos (Oxford) und Lennart Speer (München)

Wortbeitrag von Nikos Chrysogelos, Initiator und Leiter von Model Hostel WELCommon, einem wegweisenden Wohnprojekt im Zentrum von Athen

Festsaal des Rathauses Charlottenburg Otto-Suhr-Allee 100 10587 Berlin-Charlottenburg

Eintritt frei, Spenden erbeten

Kontakt und Reservierung: Herbert Nebel nebelherbert@t-online.de

Konzert

Mittwoch | 23. November 2016

FLÜCHTLINGSUNTERKÜNFTE

❱ 10–11.30 Uhr | Aufsuchende Erkundung (in zwei Gruppen) der Flüchtlingsunterkunft Zeughofstraße des Diakonischen Werks sowie der Gemeinschaftsunterkunft (für Frauen) des Nachbarschaftsheims Schöneberg e.V.

❱ 17–21:30 Uhr | Workshop zu Flüchtlingsunterkünften, Bürgerengagement und Nachbarschaft

Mit dem Berliner Flüchtlingsrat, Willkommensinitiativen und anderen Fachleuten. Im Blick: Beispielhafte Flüchtlingsunterkünfte in Berlin und Athen (u.a. Model Hostel WELCommon). Erfahrungsaustausch zur Integration in den Stadtteil und zur Rolle von Freiwilligen.

Der Architekt Volkmar Nickol stellt das »Pankower Modell« vor.

Bildungswerk Berlin der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Sebastianstraße 21 | 10179 Berlin-Kreuzberg Donnerstag

24. November 2016

QUALIFIZIERUNG VON FLÜCHTLINGEN

❱ 9–13 Uhr | Workshop zur Integration in Beruf und Arbeit Ihre Arbeit mit Geflüchteten stellen vor: Beratungs- und Betreuungszentrum (BBZ) in Moabit, Oberstufenzentrum (OSZ) für Kraftfahrzeugtechnik in Charlottenburg,

Carl-Legien-Schule (Berufsschule) in Neukölln, JOG (Jugend ohne Grenzen), private Bildungsträger, Selfempowerment-Projekte

❱ 15–18 Uhr | Workshop zu Vorbereitung und Einstieg ins Studium, Anerkennung von Abschlüssen Angebote und Förderkonzepte für Flüchtlinge

Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung WZB Reichspietschufer 50 | 10784 Berlin-Tiergarten

Freitag | 25. November 2016

FLÜCHTLINGSSITUATION UND FLÜCHTLINGSPOLITIK

❱ Vormittags | Empfang durch den Präsidenten des Berliner Abgeordnetenhauses

Ralf Wieland und Gespräch zur Flüchtlingspolitik der Stadt Berlin mit Landespolitikern Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin Niederkirchnerstraße 5 | 10117 Berlin-Mitte

Freitag | 25. November 2016 | 19–21 Uhr

Kein Land in Sicht zur Situation von Geflüchteten in Griechenland

Informations- und Diskussionsveranstaltung in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Bündnis Griechenlandsolidarität Berlin

Referenten: Moawia Ahmend, Präsident von Greek Forum of Migrants

Eleni Petraki, Greek Asylum Service, Sprecherin

Karl Kopp, Europa-Referent von Pro Asyl Passionskirche (Kulturkirche)

| Marheinekeplatz 1 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg

Kontakt: Reiner Schiller-Dickhut | schiller-dickhut@web.de

Georg Brzoska | georg.brzoska@gmx.de

Initiative Respekt für Griechenland und BildungWerk Berlin des Heinrich Boell Stiftung

Das Workshop-Programm wird realisiert aus Mitteln der Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin

Kontakt Bildungswerk: Simon Cames | cames@bildungswerk-boell.de Telefon 030 308 77 94 80

Kontakt Initiative »Respekt für Griechenland«: Hilde Schramm | hilde.schramm@t-online.de Telefon 030 833 44 72

Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Klaus Feldgen | feldgen@t-online.de Mobil 0170 904 37 31

Anmeldung zu den Workshops

Wegen der Teilnehmerbegrenzung ist eine Anmeldung mit Angaben zur Tätigkeit in der Flüchtlingsarbeit erforderlich

reinhard.feld@respekt-für-griechenland.de

Programm im Detail www.initiative-respekt-fuer-griechenland.de

Nov 12 2016

Social Entrepreneurship Forum 2016, Athens 25-27 November

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Actions | No Comments

Following the Social Entrepreneurship Forum (SEF) 2014 and 2015, the SEF 2016 will take place on 25 – 27 November in Athens.

The SEF is an open platform for the promotion of social entrepreneurship based on shared values, principles and features. The main purpose of the SEF is to stimulate the dialogue among social economy enterprises, stakeholders and support organizations, to boost efficient networking and cooperation, to develop appropriate dedicated financial-economic tools, as well as to contribute in the self-organisation of the community. The Social Entrepreneurship Forum 2015 reached a Code of Conduct for Social Enterprises.

For 2016 the emphasis will be put on:

Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship in Greece – the next day
Building the ecosystem for social enterprises
Social impact
Creation of support organisations
Financial-economic tools
Networking of initiatives and social enterprises which are assuming an active role in tackling the refugee crisis

Social Entrepreneurship Forum 2016

Agricultural University of Athens & Impact Hub Athens

25-27 November 2016

Draft schedule

Friday 25/11/16 (Agricultural University of Athens)
16:30 – 17:00	Registration
17:00 – 17:30	Welcoming and Opening: Yiorgos Alexopoulos, Senior Researcher Euricse – GECES Yiorgos Papadoulis, Rector of Agricultural University of Athens (tbc)
17:30-20:00	Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship in Greece – future steps
17.30 – 17.45	Introductory speech by Vassilis Bellis, General Director of Development Agency of Karditsa (ANKA)
Discussion Panel 17:45 – 19:00	Developments and Perspectives of Social Economy – Policy, Legislation, Finance Moderators: Yiorgos Alexopoulos, Senior Researcher Euricse-GECES Popi Sourmaidou, Social Cooperative Enterprises Network of Central Macedonia
	Ourania Antonopoulou, Alternate Minister of Labour (tbc)
	Representative of European Commission (tbc)
	Riccardo Aguglia (EIF)
	Representative of Region of Attica (tbc)
	Simel Esim, Head, Cooperatives Unit, International Labour Organization (ILO)
	Representative of REVES
Discussion Panel 19:00 – 20:30	The perspective of Social Economy under the prism of social economy actors Moderators: Vassilis Bellis, General Director of Development Agency of Karditsa (ANKA) Olga Theodorikakou, KLIMAKA and Klimax Plus
	Eleni Papatheodosiou, President of Social Cooperative Enterprises Network of Central Macedonia
	Kostas Nikolaou, Representative of PROSKALO
	Sotiris Koipidis, President of Panhellenic Federation of KOISPE
	Representative of Cooperative Bank of Karditsa
	Dimitris Kokkinakis, Impact Hub Athens

Saturday 26/11/16 (Agricultural University of Athens and Impact Hub)
9:30 – 10:00	Registration (Agricultural University of Athens)
	Building the ecosystem of Social Enterprises
10:00 – 10:30	Documentary on the Social Economy Ecosystem; the example of Karditsa
10.30-10.40	Introductory speech by Nikos Chrysogelos, President of Wind of Renewal
10:40 – 13:00	Parallel Workshops
	1. Internal operation – Code of Conduct – Social Impact Moderators: Thanassis Belidis, Social Cooperative Enterprises Network of Central Macedonia Stefanos Mitrikas, Social Cooperative Galinos Konstantina Zoehrer, GECES Member/ Researcher 180 Moires
	2. Networking and Representation (Economic partnerships, networking and tools) Moderators: Nikos Chrysogelos, President of Wind of Renewal, Kostas Nikolaou, Representative of PROSKALO, Vassilis Bellis, General Director of Development Agency of Karditsa (ANKA)
13:00 – 14:00	Light Lunch
14:00 – 16:00	Parallel Workshops
	3. Supporting Organizations for the development of Social Entrepreneurship Moderators: Vassilis Bellis, General Director of Development Agency of Karditsa (ANKA) Popi Sourmaidou, Social Cooperative Enterprises Network of Central Macedonia)
	4. Market creation and financial tools for social enterprises (proposals for the improvement / creation of financial tools) Moderators: Yiorgos Alexopoulos, Senior Researcher Euricse – GECES, Konstantina Zoehrer, GECES Member/ Researcher 180 Moires
16:30 – 17:00	Break
17:00 – 18:30	Presentation of the results and discussion on the future steps of the Social Entrepreneurship Forum
19:30 –	FUCK UP NIGHT! Learning from our failure @ Impact Hub

Sunday 27/11/16 (Impact Hub Athens)

9:30-10:00

Registration

10:00 – 11.30

11.30-14.00

Social entrepreneurship and inclusion of refugees

Brief presentations

· Nikos Chrysogelos, Wind of Renewal

· Jan Olsson, European Network of Cities and Regions for Social Economy (REVES)

· Simel Esim, Inernational Labour Organisation (ILO)

· Representative of the European confederation of industrial and service cooperatives (CECOP ) (tbc)

· Representative of UNHCR (tbc)

World Cafe

Networking of initiatives and social enterprises from Greece and abroad which deal with various aspects of the refugee issue, with the participation of:

– WELCOMMON: housing and social inclusion project for refugees

– Solidarity Salt, Vivian Karavia and Elissabeth Koulouri

– Athens Development and Destination Management Agency

– Social Cooperative Enterprises Network of Central Macedonia, Eleni Papatheodosiou

– ILO Refuggee response work in Turkey

– PRAKSIS (tbc)

– METADRASI (tbc)

– ANTIGONE / OIKOPOLIS (tbc)

– The Elpída Home for Refugees (tbc)

Μoderators: Nikos Chrysogelos, Wind of Renewal

Sofia Lamprou, Impact Hub Athens

14.00-14.30

Conclusions – Recommendations – Next Steps of Social Entrepreneurship Forum

15.00-16.00

Optional site visit: WELCOMMON housing and social inclusion project for refugees

Oct 18 2016

WELCOMMON, a model center for housing and social inclusion

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Actions | No Comments

WELCOMMON is a model center for housing and promoting the social inclusion of refugees and vulnerable groups, combining hospitality with multifaceted activities of social integration. It is located at 4 Kapodistriou St., in the Athens neighborhood of Exarhia, and is a cooperative scheme between the social enterprise Wind of Renewal (“Anemos Ananeosis”) and the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (EATA), in the framework of the relocation program of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The WELCOMMON building was overhauled in August and September 2016 and welcomed its first guests in October 2016. It will host about 150 refugees until the end of 2016, while the number will rise to 250 as of 2017.

WELCOMMON’s final shape is the product of an initiative by Wind of Renewal/ Anemos Ananeosis, with contributions by the Greek Forum of Immigrants, the Greek Forum of Refugees, ANASA cultural center and the communities of immigrants and refugees. It combines social innovation with experience gained from different models and good paradigms –particularly in the areas of local government, social entrepreneurship and civil society, as well as with the direct experience possessed by the other three organizations, which originate in and constitute part of the refugee and immigrant communities.

WELCOMMON’s goal is the provision of shelter to and the social inclusion of refugees, in close collaboration with the local community. It is a facility designed not just for the refugees, but meant to function with the refugees, and with benefits accruing to the local community.

The building housing WELCOMMON (a former clinic) is in the center of Athens, is accessible by urban transport and meets all the appropriate specifications for the safe accommodation of guests (fire extinguishing systems, safe balconies and staircase, accessibility for handicapped individuals, 24-hour entrance security e.a.).

Guests are selected by the UN High Commission for Refugees, in the framework of its relocation program and with priority given to vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, families with children, the elderly etc.

WELCOMMON is presently in a position to offer:

Accomodation for 150-200 refugees for a maximum of 6 months, in 66 rooms and additional facilities for gatherings, tutorials, artistic activities etc.
Cover for basic needs: Food, in line with the guests’ nutritional requirements and habits (e.g., age, state of health, religion), clothing.
Social-Psychosocial support is provided by 3 social workers and 1 psychologist.
Primary health care by a nurse, with respect for the cultural and religious sensitivities of the refugees. We are in the process of setting up a network of Arabic-speaking volunteer doctors of various specializations.
Legal services for guests applying for asylum and persons needing international protection, in the framework of the asylum-processing procedures.
Social integration, through cooperation with organizations and services based in Greece and the relocation countries.
Non-formal education / creative activities for adults and children: language, music and painting classes etc.

In the near future WELCOMMON aims:

To offer opportunities for employment, by tapping the skills and aptitudes of the guests, through their participation in the running of the organization and in collaboration with other organizations and agencies.
To create a data base with the curricula vitae of refugees –both inside and outside- the facility so as to facilitate their employment in businesses seeking specific qualifications and skills.
To set up social enterprises with the participation of Greeks and refugees/ immigrants, in the following areas:

– Repair and reuse of clothing and footwear -which will create jobs for both refugees and the local population- and sale of clothing at reasonable prices.

-Renting of various products, such as baby items (cots, cradles and carriers), items for handicapped people, special equipment for the chronically ill (oxygen apparatuses, special beds, wheelchairs etc.) at reasonable rates.

-Multiethnic restaurant or/and grocery store.

WELCOMMON presently employs 28 professionals in the following areas:

Administration / Management / Secretarial support

Reception

Interpretation / cultural mediation

Security

Social and psychosocial support

Legal aid

Primary health care

Building maintenance

Human resources

WELCOMMON’s operation is supported by volunteers from various countries (Greece, Germany, Spain, France, Ukraine, Egypt e.a.) that belong to two categories:

– Trainees or apprentices (practical training in vocations related to task in hand or academic research) – Solidarity volunteers with various skills (language teaching, child management, do-it-yourself, music, dance, painting).

You can support us:

Pireaus Bank: GR8301720180005018077868253, Eurobank: GR7202602440000180200876471

Anemos Ananeosis / Wind of Renewal, 4 Kapodistriou St., 10682 Athens, tel.: 2103810646

www.anemosananeosis.gr, windofrenewal@gmail.com

www.welcommon.gr, welcommon.project@gmail.com

Sep 29 2016

How you could contribute to WELCOMMON project

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Actions | No Comments

WELCOMMON – the community and hosting center for refugees – is a cooperation between ANEMOS ANANEOSIS/WIND OF RENEWAL (social cooperative) and Athens Development and Destination Management Agency of Municipality of Athens, in the framework of the UNHCR’s relocation project.

rooms1b rooms1a

It is based on the initiative of ANEMOS ANANEOSIS / Wind of Renewal social cooperative, and the cooperation with 3 other organisations:

Greek Forum of Refugees,
Greek Forum of Migrants
ANASA Cultural Centre, and the communities of refugees and migrants.

uploads2506_six_steps

Seeking to offer proper accommodation but also much more Key aims: Social inclusion, empowerment and integration of refugees, cooperation with the local community. Not only for the refugees, but also, with the participation of the refugees themselves (in common). It is a win – win and integrated solution for the benefit of both the local population and the refugees

20160902_131606

Let us inform you about the progress in the WELCOMMON project and how you could contribute in the facilitation of its implementation.

Project progress

The project has entered into the final phase of its preparation in order for WELCOMMON to be able to host 150-170 refugees.

WELCOMMON is housed in the Municipality of Athens. Its main features are:

– Accommodation capacity of approximately 170 refugees.

– More than 20 extra rooms for activities and workshops, training, painting, language lessons, meeting, offices and storage facilities.

– Accessibility by public transportation.

The WELCOMMON project has been granted from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA) of the City of Athens.

How an organisation could support WELCOMMON

Although basic needs of the project are covered by the funding of the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA) / City of Athens and UNHCR, we are seeking cooperations with organizations and citizens initiatives who are willing to “invest” in a visionary and realistic effort for covering needs:

of the refugees, eg special food for children, clothes, shoes, washing machines, refrigerators-cookers, medicines, medical appliances for the social clinic etc
of the community and hosting center WELCOMMON (improvement of the infrastructure, safety measures, energy efficiency of the building,

List of material needed:

Medical appliances
Medicines
Washing machines
Dryers
Composting system for 100 kilos per day (1 piece)
Refrigerators (12 pieces)
Small cooking kitchen (12 pieces)
Bed-side tables for rooms (60 pieces)
Sofas
Trash bins (big, small and for toilet)
PC for meeting points and lessons
Energy transition from oil to natural gas, energy efficiency of the heating/cooling system, led lighting and infrastructure for energy reduction in general
Professional kitchen (infrastructure, items, )

Every contribution could be decisively. If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you donate an amount we are committed to give you an invoice for the amount and to inform you how we have used the money. You could decide your self what you want to support from the whole package of need.

Thank you

Bank accounts of WIND of RENEWAL / ΑΝΕΜΟΣ ΑΝΑΝΕΩΣΗΣ for donations:

Pireaus Bank: GR8301720180005018077868253, swift code PIRBGRAA

Eurobank: GR7202602440000180200876471, swift code ERBKGRAA

Contact details: windofrenewal@gmail.com and welcommon.project@gmail.com

Tel: 0030-2103810646, -2103803959

More info: https://anemosananeosis.gr/en

Sep 13 2016

WELCOMMON a community center for refugees

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Χωρίς κατηγορία | One Comment

What?

Hosting and integration of refugees
Active participation
Empowerment
Connecting with the local community
win-win approach

Who?

WELCOMMON is a cooperation between Anemos Ananeosis and Athens Development and Destination Management Agency of Municipality of Athens, in the framework of the UNHCR‘s relocation project.

The project is based on the initiative and the cooperation of four organisations:

Anemos Ananeosis
Greek Forum of Migrants
Greek Forum of Refugees
Anasa Cultural Center

Where?

4, Kapodistriou str., 10682, Athens

Find out more about WELCOMMON project here

Aug 12 2016

CECOP & CICOPA sent a letter to the Greek Minister of Labour on cooperatives

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Actions | No Comments

First Greek law covering both social cooperatives and worker cooperatives to be discussed soon at the national parliament

CECOP and CICOPA, the International Organisation of Industrial and Service Cooperatives, have recently sent a joint letter to the Greek Alternate Minister of Labour, Ms. Rania Antonopoulos, after consulting a network of international experts in worker cooperative and social cooperative legislation.

International-Cooperatives-Alliance-General-Assembly

5 August 2016

The Greek government has prepared a draft law on Social and Solidarity Economy and the development of its agencies, which will soon be discussed by the Greek parliament. While part of the law is on the wider social and solidarity economy (which includes all cooperative sectors, mutuals, associations and foundations), most provisions actually aim at defining and regulating social cooperatives and worker cooperatives. It will become the first law regarding both social cooperatives and worker cooperatives in the country.

Two previous successive laws on social cooperatives already exist and are both in force, one from 1999 regulating exclusively social cooperatives involved in the integration of psychiatric patients and is too narrow to be really effective, and one from 2011 which is broader but presents a series of problems which the present draft law attempts to solve.

The new draft law certainly has strong points compared to the 2011 law, but still presents a series of weak points which are a matter of concern and should be improved. For this purpose, CECOP and CICOPA, the International Organisation of Industrial and Service Cooperatives, have recently sent a joint letter to the Greek Alternate Minister of Labour, Ms. Rania Antonopoulos, after consulting a network of international experts in worker cooperative and social cooperative legislation.

In the letter, both organisations have made a series of proposals for modification, including:
 Differentiating the wider social and solidarity economy part of the law from the one focusing on social and worker cooperatives, possibly by passing separate pieces of legislation;
 Inserting in the Greek legislation (in this draft law or another law) the cooperative definition, values and principles enshrined in theStatement on the Cooperative Identity and inserted fully in ILO Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation n°193 (2002), which the Greek Government (like the Governments of all present members of the European Union) has formally approved;
 Enshrining the definition and key characteristics of social cooperatives as formulated respectively in the CICOPA 2011 World Standards of Social Cooperatives and the CICOPA 2003 World Declaration on Worker Cooperatives ;
 Defining tax-related provisions, in particular regarding the employment of disadvantaged persons and the change of ownership in worker buyouts;
 Providing the option that social cooperatives be multi-stakeholder, namely with different categories of members;
 Differentiating more clearly, in the second degree structures of social cooperatives and worker cooperatives, representative associations from entrepreneurial consortia;
 Instituting audit functions covering the proper implementation of the cooperative modus operandi, to be exercised by the representative associations through their own auditors in the case of affiliated cooperatives, and by the State in the case of non-affiliated ones, similarly to what is already in force in several EU countries.

Jul 27 2016

Social Cooperatives International School

By Nikos Chrysogelos | Χωρίς κατηγορία | No Comments

Social Cooperatives International School – SCIS2016

Naples (Italy), 20-23 October 2016

The CECOP Italian member Federsolidarietà – Confcooperative, the biggest federation of social cooperatives in Europe and in the world, organizes the second edition of the Social Cooperatives International School – SCIS2016, in Naples (Italy) from 20 to 23 October 2016. The School, with a high entrepreneurial profile and specifically addressed to cooperatives’ managers, is renewed this year after the successful editions held in Bertinoro (2014) and Milan (2015). Since last year, the School has become international, extending the participation to social co-operators from all over the world. This responds to the increasing need to give social cooperation an international space for debate and exchange.

The Social Cooperatives International School will be a unique learning space, where theoretical discussions will be accompanied by exchanges on practical issues, allowing a mutual understanding among the participants and encouraging networking. The School expects to host 40 people, 20 of whom will be Italian and 20 from other countries. The working language will be English.

You will find attached the programme of the School with the description of the different training modules. To attend the School, apart from travelling costs, candidates must pay a participation fee of 220 euros € (VAT included) which includes lectures, workshops and teaching materials, coffee breaks and lunches, and accommodation in double rooms in Naples (20-21-22 October). For those who wish to stay in a single room, it will be possible by paying a fee of 385 € (VAT included). The participation fee also includes the visit to the Catacombe di San Gennario at Rione Sanità in Naples, a project of the social cooperative “La Paranza” (www.catacombedinapoli.it/en).

Candidates should fill in the attached form and send it to Valerio Pellirossi at Federsolidarietà (pellirossi.v@confcooperative.it) with copy to Elisa Terrasi at CECOP (elisa.terrasi@cecop.coop) on 15 September 2016 at the latest. They should also have transferred the registration fee for that date. The registration is considered confirmed after the transfer of the participation fee and the transmission of the payment receipt topellirossi.v@confcooperative.it.

Ecole internationale sur les coopératives sociales – SCIS2016

Naples (Italie), 20-23 octobre 2016

Le membre italien de CECOP Federsolidarietà – Confcooperative, la plus grande fédération de coopératives sociales en Europe et dans le monde, organise la deuxième édition de l’Ecole internationale sur les coopératives sociales 2016 – SCIS2016, à Naples (Italie) du 20 au 23 octobre 2016. L’école, avec un profil entrepreneurial élevé et adressé spécifiquement aux gestionnaires des coopératives, est renouvelée cette année après le succès des éditions précédentes de Bertinoro (2014) et Milan (2015). Depuis l’année dernière, l’Ecole est devenue internationale étendant la participation aux coopérateurs sociaux provenant du monde entier. Cela répond à la nécessité croissante de donner à la coopération sociale un espace international pour le débat et l’échange.

L’Ecole internationale sur les coopératives sociales sera un espace d’apprentissage unique, où les discussions théoriques seront accompagnées par des échanges sur des questions pratiques, permettant une compréhension mutuelle entre les participants et encourageant la mise en réseau. L’Ecole prévoit d’accueillir 40 personnes, dont 20seront italiennes et 20 provenant d’autres pays. La langue de travail sera l’anglais.

Vous trouverez ci-joint le programme de l’Ecole avec la description des différents modules de formation. Pour assister à l’Ecole, les candidats doivent payer, en dehors des frais de voyage, un droit d’inscription de 220 euros € (TVA incluse) qui comprend l’accès aux cours et ateliers et le matériel pédagogique, ainsi que les pauses café et les déjeuners, et l’hébergement en chambre double à Naples (20-21-22 Octobre). Pour ceux qui souhaitent rester dans une chambre individuelle, ceci sera possible en payant un droit d’inscription de 385 € (TVA incluse). Le droit d’inscription comprend également la visite à Catacombe di San Gennario à Rione Sanità à Naples, un projet de la coopérative sociale “La Paranza” (www.catacombedinapoli.it/en).

Les candidats doivent remplir le formulaire ci-joint et l’envoyer à Valerio Pellirossi à Federsolidarietà (pellirossi.v@confcooperative.it) avec copie à Elisa Terrasi à CECOP (elisa.terrasi@cecop.coop) le 15 Septembre 2016 au plus tard. Les frais d’inscription devraient également être payés pour cette date. L’inscription est considérée comme confirmée après le paiement et l’envoi de la confirmation de paiement à pellirossi.v@confcooperative.it.

Nous vous invitons à diffuser l’information auprès de vos coopératives membres et à nous tenir au courant de toute expression d’intérêt à participer!

Elisa Terrasi

Development and Studies Officer

CECOP – CICOPA Europe

The European confederation of industrial and service cooperatives

105 Avenue Milcamps

BE – 1030 Brussels

Tel: + 32 2 543 10 38

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