Guideline for SWYAA Annual Country Reports January to December 2015

This is a general guideline for each SWYAA when writing the annual report. Each Alumni Association has the freedom to add/delete specific information. The annual report will be uploaded on the SWYAA official website. Photos (maximum 10 pictures in high resolution, please add explanation) related to major post-program activities of each Alumni Association should be attached to the annual report.

Please submit your report to: swyaa@iyeo.or.jp

BASIC FACTS

Basic facts about your country’s Alumni Association:

Country Greece

Name of the organization SWY GREECE Alumni Association

Organisational structure □ Umbrella organization of the government

□ Officially registered NGO

□ Voluntary group

□ Other ( )

Board members (Name/batch)

President: Konstantinos Tsigkaras (SWY18 - SWY22) General Secretary: Anna Cheimona (SWY22) Treasurer: Danai Karnava (SWY18) Member 1: Vassilis Tikos (SWY06) Member 2 Sophia Spitha (SWY02)

Number of members Total number of ex-PYs: 80 Active members: 30 Affiliate members: 2 (Japanese Ambassador, Japanese Cultural Attaché)

Annual membership fee □ Yes How much? ( 10 euros)

□ No

Basic facts about your country’s participation in SWY:

Which batches has your country participated in?

SWY 2, SWY 6, SWY 10, SWY 14, SWY 18, SWY22

Which institution has conducted the selection process?

□ Japanese Embassy

□ Government

□ Youth organization

□ SWYAA

□ Other ( )

Which institution has conducted the pre-departure training?

□ Japanese Embassy

□ Government

□ Youth organization

□ SWYAA

□ Other ( )

How many days was the pre-departure training?

□ 1 day

□ 2 – 3 days

□ 4 – 6 days

□ Other ( the pre-departure training for SWY22 has started 2 months before the departure to Japan, and the fact that there was an ex-PY appointed as a NL (for the first time) helped

a lot the preparation stages.)

Communication:

How does your AA communicate internally with members and externally with non-members?

□ Website URL ( www.swygreece.gr ) □ Newsletter Please attach a copy of the newsletter to this report

□ Mailing list members@swygreece.gr

□ Blog URL ( )

□ Facebook page www.facebook.com/SWYAAGreece

□ Twitter ( https://twitter.com/SWYAAGreece )

NETWORKING AND COLLABORATIONS WITH JAPAN AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

Important associates and collaborators?

□ Government sector (name: General Secretariat of Youth)

□ Japanese Embassy

□ Japanese community

□ Other organizations (name: Citizens in Action, Scouts of Greece, American College of Greece)

Do you organize events with the Japanese Embassy?

□ Yes How often? (depends on schedule) What kind of events? (cultural)

□ Not in 2015

Do you organize events with the Japanese community?

□ Yes How often? (depends on plans) What kind of events? (cultural, educational) □ Not in 2015

ACTIVITIES IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR

International reunions (Please write your AA has hosted an international reunion) Name of the event SWY 02 - 25th Anniversary Reunion - India

Date of the event May 2015 SWYAA GREECE SWY02 organised together with SWYAA INDIA SWY02 members, the 25th Anniversary Reunion in India. 13 Ex-PYs joined this unforgettable SWY Reunion in Incredible India! Part of Sophia Spitha (SWY2) diary of these days in Meghalaya: ”On the way back home ... full of new

memories, feelings, knowledge, experiences, friends - once more I got the SWY ''side effects'' 25 years after... very special thanks to Pynbeit and all family that opened their heart and home for us, to Namita our successful ''Minister of Finance'' for everything ...... to Aishwarya and Maninder that left their obligations behind to organize the Delhi reception and flied to share time together in Meghalaya, to Sanjay for the great atmosphere yesterday evening ,to Durga that flied from Mumbai to meet us yesterday and to all of you dear SWY2ers and guest STARS that keep the spirit up...... as from now on I follow you on line via “what sApp”…. ENJOY TO THE MAX !!”

National reunions (Please write your AA has hosted a national reunion)

Name of the event Greek Alumni Association hosts very frequent reunions to strengthen the bonds of our alumni members and organize new actions.

Date of the event

Hosting city Most of the reunions take place in Athens were most of the ex-pys reside.

How many participants? As many as possible!

Receiving ex-SWY participants

How many SWY visitors did you receive in your country?

Around 20 this year alone More photos at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.211822215523975.57607.115907621782102&type=3 & in our social media pages

Did you organize a “Homestay + 1” project for the visitors? If yes, please write in detail.

Voluntary (Social Contribution) projects – Post-Program Activities

Name of the event

1. SWYWorld.net & http://www.facebook.com/SWYworld.net

Date of the event

Ongoing project since Autumn 2010 - Will be relaunched in May 2016 in a new framework

Hosting city Online Project

How many ex-PYs involved and how many beneficiaries?

SWYAA and the World More than 8000 unique visitors so far from 106 countries in 4 ½ years!

Please write a summary of the event

SWYWorld.net aims - to connect all the ex-PYs with various kinds of activities, - to create stronger bonding for the SWY family and to - share our energy to the world. More info: http://www.swyworld.net

OTHERS

This is a space to freely write about other activity reports of 2015. If there is anyone from your AA who had major achievements in their professional work or voluntary activities, please include that information as well. Ex) Winning a major award, interviewed by major newspaper or TV, promoted to a significantly high position in companies or government, etc.

1. International Youth exchange programs. Anna Cheimona & Panagiotis Mamouzakis (SWY22) after their SWY experience, they got involved in several international youth exchange programs. Being connected with big educational organizations from Europe they created legal organizational entities that can prepare and support Greek youth to travel through Europe and neighboring countries to attend non-formal education activities. Additionally they funded a network of Greek organizations that they are working with topics such as: media, personal branding, personal development, learning for new trainers, body awareness and others. Throughout this activity they are aiming to increase employability skills of young people, to create international and intercultural awareness, to generate and inspire leadership skills, to increase youth nobilities around Europe. These programs are financially supported from the European Commission. During 2015, 59 Greek youngsters attended educational activities in Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Armenia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Netherlands. Anna and Panagiotis are also involved in the field of non-formal education as educators and project managers creating possibilities for young people from all over Europe. 2 major examples: 1. Spectrum project Panagiotis Mamouzakis created a 2 years project aiming to aiming to combat the youth unemployment. More than 650 unemployed youngsters from at least 15 different countries had the chance to attend educational programs in the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Czech Republic based on a method developed in a way that allows people to explore their talents and skills. 2. Europe Express project Another program created and implemented by Panagiotis Mamouzakis during Spring 2015 was the Europe Express program. During a 12 days program in the Netherlands 55 young people from 11 different countries came together and explored together volunteering. The main aim was to foster these young people and their circles to embrace volunteering as a fulfilling pathway in finding the desired job.

2. Social Responsibility Events in the framework of 10th Alexander the Great Marathon (April 5th, 2015) Konstantinos Tsigkaras (SWY18, SWY22), member of the organizing committee and responsible for Social Program as well as the Volunteering program of the 10th Alexander the Great Marathon, www.alexanderthegreatmarathon.org (April 5th, 2015), organized several parallel cultural events, events of social responsibility and environmental offer that completed the sports program. The organization supported the Greek Company of Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled Children “ELEPAP” and highlighted its admirable work, aiming to reinforce the institution of the "ADOPTION DONATION" which supports children with disabilities from economically weak families, covering the annual cost of their program of therapy. In cooperation with the non-profit corporation “DESMOS” there were actions organized such as the "MARATHON GOODS COLLECTION" (baby diapers, baby cream and milk powder), which were offered to institutions of Thessaloniki. The organization also supported the Children's Villages SOS, helping financially the social project of the SOS Children's Village of Plagiari in Thessaloniki. Last but not least, the International Marathon “ALEXANDER THE GREAT” supported financially the Down Syndrome Association of Greece so as to create the House of Supported Living and the Day Care Centre, LAMPSI (Parents Association of Children with neoplastic diseases), the Girls Orphanage “Melissa”, the Panhellenic Association of Paraplegics (PASPA, Macedonia - Thrace branch) and the Institution “Children’s Asylum”.

More info: http://www.alexanderthegreatmarathon.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYMCAMFGyZU

3. Social Responsibility Events in the framework of 4th Thessaloniki Night Half Marathon (October 18st, 2015 Konstantinos Tsigkaras (SWY18, SWY22) and his team, worked for months and achieved to turn the third International Night Halfmarathon into a great athletic, cultural, social and tourist event which is already thought to be an institution and an important factor to the upgrade of Thessaloniki's centre. The cooperating institutions of social offer included the Hellenic Society for Disabled Children (ELEPAP), SOS Children's Vil lage of Plagiari, DESMOS, Association of Down Syndrome of Greece, A21 Campaign, LAMPSI, Panhellenic Association of Paraplegics, Macedonia - Thrace branch (PASPA), Girls Orphanage “Melissa”, Children’s Asylum. The visit of four ex-pys (one Bahraini and three Greeks) in the last 3 days of the event, helped the preparation a lot and gave a SWY team spirit to the event. More info: http://www.thesshalfmarathon.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed0ap0Ysfog

4. European Voluntary service in Cyprus (2012 till now)

Michail Drakomathioudakis (SWY22) is a certified Youth Trainer for European Commission Youth Programs (including EVS) since 2012. Under this capacity, he has been in the past a member of the Pool of Trainers of the Greek National Agency (the national authority responsible for funding and monitoring EVS projects). He co-operates with the Youth Board of Cyprus-Cypriot National Agency, in order to provide trainings to foreign EVS volunteers coming to this beautiful island of Cyprus in the framework of the EVS Training and Evaluation Cycle, but also in order to promote the program among Cypriot young people and youth organizations.

The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is a European Commission (EC) program promoting voluntarism, European co-operation among young people and youth organizations, and non-formal, intercultural, and language learning. The pilot phase of the program was launched in 1996, marking this year (2016) its 20th anniversary!!! Since 2014, EVS is under the umbrella of the EC “Erasmus+” Program, a program in the fields of education, non-formal learning, youth and sports, bringing together actors from the sectors of formal education (such as schools and universities), non-formal learning (such as youth organizations and other non-governmental organizations), local authorities and social services (such as municipalities, regional governments, and community hospitals), and the business world (such as local businesses and big corporations). The concept of the program is simple, but effective: two organizations, from two different European Union (EU) member-countries (or, one from EU and one from a partner country), co-operate in order to create a voluntary project in one of the two countries (receiving country). Then, the organization from the other country (sending country), sends one (or more) EVS volunteer(s) (aged 16-30 years-old) in order to implement the project, together with local volunteers. The topics of the projects vary, including environment, cultural heritage, public health, youth empowerment, intercultural co-operation, European citizenship, human rights, peace building, and much more. For the EVS volunteers, this can be a great opportunity not only to offer their voluntary services, but also to get to know another country, culture, and language (language learning is part of the program), to co-operate in an international context, to develop new competences in a non-formal way, to foster their employability. Most of the project costs are funded by the EC, and usually the volunteer has to pay a small (if any) contribution for flight costs from his/her sending country to the receiving country. Although the program is open to all young people aged 16-30, priority to participate as EVS volunteers is given to young people with fewer opportunities, such as young people with disabilities, young people from remote or marginalized areas, young people from minorities, migrants, refugees/ asylum seekers. More Info: European Voluntary Service 20th Anniversary official website: http://europa.eu/youth/evs20 European Commission Erasmus+ official website: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm

5. Ikebana

Sophia Spitha (SWY2) was honored to be appointed as vice president of Ohara School pf Ikebana for 2nd term in 2015. She is also offering ikebana demos to publics arranged by the embassy of Japan in Greece. She has also made her own ikebana arrangements at the ikebana exhibition on the occasion of 2015 New Year Celebration.

6. Volunteerism for the refugee crisis in Greece, 2015 Marita Dolka (SWY18) is a citizen of the island of Lesvos where thousands of refugees arrived from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq in 2015 and the need of emergency supplies was urgent. She participated in the voluntary activities happening on the island by offering personal items such as clothes, shoes, blankets and socks and delivered them to men, women and children in Sikamnia, a village in Lesvos where many refugees still arrive every day. With the help of the Facebook page called "a toy for a smile" she delivered toys to the children who were gathered in refugee camps. Also, as an owner of stationery shop (school items etc), she offered paint markers, pencils and drawing papers to children.

7. Volunteer Forest Fire Protection

Antigoni Margariti (SWY22) has been an active member of the Volunteer Forest Fire Protection of Kessariani municipality since 2010. The team was founded back in 1985 when the mayor of the city asked a handful of civilians to do ‘fire watches’ at Mt. Immitos, one of the very few forests in Athens, the Greek capital, where there were many concerns about wild forest fires mainly as a result of arson. All of the members are volunteers, no one is getting paid and there is no financial support by the government or civilians as it is not an NGO but a team that only ‘answers’ to the Municipality and Civil Protection. 120 volunteers are responsible for keeping in shifts, fire watches in purpose build shelters in the heart of the forest for 3 or 6 hours per day as many times per week as they wish. The main responsibility is to look out for any signs of smoke or fire - if this is the case, they inform immediately the Operations Centre via VHF radio and one of the 4 fire trucks rushes to the incident in order to put out the fire if they arrive first at the fire , alternatively they assist the Fire Service.

They also act in the occasion of severe weather conditions such as high wind, hurricane, floods and heavy snowfall, either by keeping the road open, by pumping water from flooded areas, by cutting or removing fallen trees etc In addition a lot of the members are trained in first aid, they also create and support campsites in an event of a major crisis event, and they are trained in search and rescue of trapped people in buildings because of earthquakes. They are also involved in the education of children, young people and civilians about the importance of the forest and the environmental protection and they frequently organize reforestations in burned areas. Antigoni Margariti had the pleasure of hosting a couple of SWY visitors from Bahrain and showing them around the precious forest. More info: A video about the team https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_5-iW75MRE Website www.dasoprostasia.gr

8.Environmental activities Vasilis Tikos (SWY6) has been working for the Ministry of Environment & Energy in Greece for the last 13 years. He has been actively involved in a number of environmental committees in Greece and Europe and he has also participated as a speaker in many EU initiatives, always promoting SWY program, as he considers himself "a product of SWY". The events that he has been actively involved this year include: -European Sustainable Development Week (30/5-5/6), participating in the organization of free public screening of the documentaries -"HOME" and a local WWF production -"SEA MAMMALS OF GREECE" World Environment Day, June 5th -SWY Alumni has participated in the Kids Eco Festival organised for the 3rd continuous year. Vasilis Tikos conducted environmental trainings about reusing and recycling.

European Mobility Week: 16-22/9 Members of the alumni participated in a number of awareness campaigns about alternative ways of commuting in our cities, as well as in a training for public safety in Trikala, where all the students of the high schools of Trikala had the chance to participate. SWY-Greece has started collaborating with the Ministry of Environment & Energy in Greece three years ago and until now, the association has been a valuable partner of the ministry in awareness campaigns and environmental events. Vasilis Tikos is the contact person between the alumni and the ministry.

9. Greek SWYAA Alumni Members with the New Ambassador of Japan and his spouse during the Official Event of his ΗΜ the Emperor 's of Japan Birthday, December 10th, 2015

MAJOR EVENTS SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AA IN YOUR COUNTRY

This is a space to write about other past activity reports.

Name of the event 1st Global Assembly

Date of the event Athens from September 5th to September 9th as well as the extended programs to Mykonos and Corfu islands (9th to 13th) 2007

Hosting city Athens - Mykonos and Corfu islands for the extended program

How many ex-PYs involved and how many beneficiaries?

30 ex-pys and 28 Greek pys from 17 different countries

Please write a summary of the event IYEO and SWY Greece Alumni Association organized the first Global Assembly in Greece. More info: http://www.swygreece.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=67&lang=en

Name of the event 1st Rennaisance Reunion.

Date of the event September 22nd to October 1st, 2006.

Hosting city Athens – Meteora – Santorini island.

How many ex-PYs involved and how many beneficiaries?

12 ex-pys and 8 Greek pys from 8 different countries

Please write a summary of the event SWY Greece Alumni Association organized the first REN reunion in Greece. More info: http://www.swygreece.gr/images/pdf/reunion_newsletter.pdf

Name of the event Global Photo Contest and “Our World, One World” Photo Exhibition

Date of the event May 6th to May 13th 2007

Hosting city Athens in the premises of the “Citizens in Action” NGO.

How many ex-PYs involved and how many beneficiaries?

60 ex-pys and all the Greek Alumni Association from 6 different countries, as well as foreigners students who lived in Greece at the time.

Please write a summary of the event The project aimed to reinforce a positive self image in “at-risk” children, and to encourage physical expression through photography, thus strengthening the capacity to recognize, differentiate, and handle emotions appropriately. The project also intended to provide us, as outsiders, the opportunity to peek into the lives of individuals who are – or at least seem to be – less privileged, only to realize that our world is one world after all. More info: http://www.swygreece.gr/images/newsletters/thalassa3.pdf

Name of the event SWY and SWY22 Presentation at General Secretariat of Youth Date of the event May 29th, 2010

Hosting city Athens in the premises of the “General Secretariat of Youth”.

How many ex-PYs involved and how many beneficiaries?

All the Greek Alumni Association, as well as around 80 guests.

Please write a summary of the event We felt that we had the obligation to share with our families, friends, sponsors and supporters our SWY experience. Mr Tomotaka Yoshimura, cultural attaché of the Japanese Embassy was present among other sponsors and friends.

For more information about past projects of SWY Greece Alumni Association, please visit: http://www.swygreece.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=62&lang=en

All current projects are currently posted on SWYWorld.net and on our Alumni’s Facebook page,

due to the popularity of Social Media the last years. www.swyworld.net

www.facebook.com/SWYAAGreece

For more information, please contact us at: info@swygreece.gr , board@swygreece.gr