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We have presented our activities in Lithuania and evaluated our experience and achievements in evaluation weekend. Now Lina and Sandra are making final report.

Project has finished.

But we have not stopped. Vilma is preparing for volunteering in Turkey, Elze is studying for egzams and belongs to Zvejone and I am getting back to Youth line. Sandra and Lina continue with Center for creative expression.

Offcourse, we will go on promoting environmentally friendly life style.

We invite you to surf on our blog and facebook page.

Good luck

Big thank you to Makis, Elen and neighbor from EVS house for lending us their bicycles.

We are traffic

We will call garbage truck to come to take it and recycle.

Imagine what is going on in the whole Greece. Recycle! Otherwise plastic bottles will cover whole Greece.

I became happy when I found out that there is already 5 years lasting market where certified organic products are sold. In the beginning 5 farmers were selling their goods there. Only 2 left now, as others went to sell in Thessaloniki. On my travel I met Achilles. He is one of farmers selling his goods in that market. He inherited farm from his father and reformed it to organic. When I was visiting his farm, I understood how the organic farm should look. No sterility or exaggerated tidiness. Mulch protects from weeds. Plant helps to plant. Achilles grows organic products already for 17 years and has about 30 species of goods – from water melons to eggs. He supplies products to nearby villages and 8 families in Thessaloniki. Farmer doesn’t complain abound demand and actually he can’t fulfill it. Achilles thinks that organic products are getting popular because of advertising. Though people often can’t afford it because of high price, it is 30-50% higher than ordinary products. Also farmer said that there is distrust in organic products and customers don’t believe it is any better or healthier.
Certified organic products can be obtained every Thursday in square of Peace.

Shop of organic products

Walking down the streets of Kilkis I jumped into one shop. I was surprised to find lots of certified organic products there. I have talked with the daughter of the owner. She told me about his father’s business. Shop started to sell certified organic products, which they offer more than 500 different kinds, in 2003. Owner was carrying after his health and wanted to drag attention of other people to healthy nourishment. They think that sportsmen, young families and parents taking care after their children are the ones who mostly buy in their shop. Every year shop sells more organic products. Owner’s daughter considers that demand grows because of advertising and customers’ distrust in sailors. That is why they search for certified products.
Certified organic products can be obtained in corner of Kampani and 21st of June streets.

Environmentally friendly places

More than for a month we were collecting plastic bottles, which we used to build boat. We had 9 bins in 9 places. Five bins were remained in their places and now owners of those places recycle plastic bottles. We want to praise them.

Café KAPI

Shop of Despouna Nikolaidou

Bakery Stahi

Youth center of Kilkis

Municipality of Kilkis

Thank you!

It is also good to know that ones can find environmentally friendly paper bags in supermarkets.

 Together with group of Youth Information Center volunteers, on 20th of August we made a cleaning action in Doirani. I was prepared for long and tiring day in reeds and bushes… But all rubbish ended in one hour  Doirani isn’t an attractive place for tourists, so all pollution comes there only from local people.

Finally, plastic bottles, which have been collected for all the summer, got into a form – a handmade boat. Yes, it wasn’t a tanker, or a ferry… but it swam over the water. And that was our dream, our purpose – to show that everything, which we are hurry to throw away, could have a second life. A second change… to swim in Doirani

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

What citizens of Kilkis think about these new trends?

On August we questioned 196 citizens on the internet, in the streets and open air cinema. Questionnaire consisted of three groups of questions – recycling, transport and shopping.

Recycling

Most of respondents (54%) recycle and do it because they want to conserve their environment (76%). Those who don’t recycle, answered that there is no recycle containers near their house (46%), they don’t have time (22%) or they don’t recycle because of other reasons (28%). Only 2% of respondents think that there is no point in recycling. People started to recycle because they saw advertisement on TV or read article in newspaper (49%) or they were interested by their friends and parents (31%). Most of questioned people knew where to recycle household and electronic appliances (61%) and they would use different container for paper, plastic and aluminum (87%).

It is strange that though people recycle, more than half of them (60%) believe in gossip that wastes from recycle containers are mixed with ordinary wastes. Environmentalist from municipality of Kilkis assured us that wastes are recycled and gossip is not based on truth. In Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, there was the same gossip. Later it was figured out that some of the neighborhoods were not recycling properly, so companies had to mix all wastes and recycle on their own.

Anyway, it is worth to recycle. If we won’t do it, sooner or later, walking outside we will have to grab a broom to make our road through wastes, which don’t degrade for hundreds of years.

Transport

It can be said that Kilkis could be the city of bicycles, because majority (56%) of questioned people prefer bicycle for using in the city. 57% of respondents ride a bicycle and they do it for entertainment (51%). Most of people (92%) would like to have streets with bicycle lines and streets closed for cars. It seems that people afraid to ride bicycle as 43 persons answered that it is dangerous to drive bicycle in Kilkis. When I had just arrived in Kilkis, I started to ride bicycle in the streets and I can assure you that it is safe – car drivers are respecting bicycle riders. In Vilnius we have not so many lines for bicycle, but more and more people switch to bicycle.

72% of interviewees would like to have public transport. Also majority of people (60%) would agree to drive a car to work and back with person, who goes the same direction, instead of driving alone.

Bicycle is perfect solution to escape traffic jams and pollution in the city. Also it can improve your health.

Shopping

Most of respondents (88%) replied that they are aware of certified environmentally friendly products and 64% of them know shops, where these products are sold.

67% of interviewees buy certified organic food products. Those who don’t buy it explained that these products are too expensive (26%), they receive food products from their relatives and friends (21%) or they think, that products they buy are healthy and safe (22%). Most of people (80%) buying organic products think that these products are healthy and less polluting environment.

78% of respondents buy certified environmentally friendly household and electronic appliances. Mostly (37%) people who are not buying these appliances told that it is too expensive. Those, who buy environmentally friendly appliances, thinks, that they are less dangerous to their health (37%) and they want to conserve their environment (54%).

Organic markets are getting more popular in Vilnius. Farmers sell certified organic products there. Also more and more shops are opened where only certified environmentally friendly products are sold.

It is true that these products are more expensive and not everybody can afford it. Anyway, people can buy it once or twice per week. More people will buy it, faster it will become cheaper. Buying certified environmentally friendly products you will protect your health and environment.

It seems that citizens of Kilkis want to be environmentally friendly and tries to harm less both themselves and environment. We want to wish to the city Of Kilkis to have more citizens, who recycle, ride bicycle and buy certified environmentally friendly products.

If you want to check all data from opinion poll, press on the pie below.

It is also good to know, that in Kilkis there are farmers and shops, which sell certified products and recycle. Those who want to know more about those environmentally friendly farmers, shops and cafes, read next post.

Lots of volunteers from Kilkis helped during this work, they were our messengers, dictionaries between us and fishermen, who speak with strong village dialect.  

However, during these activities, I became more ascertained that language doesn’t play a main role in people relationship. Because everybody smiles in one language…

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Understanding and popularity of volunteering differs a lot from country to country, and we found it interesting to take a look at its situation in Greece and Lithuania. Even though intuitionally we feel that in both countries volunteering exists and is based usually on good will and motivation of young people, we also saw some differences when comparing the statistics found in both countries. As methodologies of surveys done in both countries differ a lot, we can not make a valid comparison of the available data, but nevertheless we can mention some significant numbers that could help us have a picture of volunteering situation in both countries.

Differences

According to the survey implemented in Greece in 2005[1], only 4,7% of young people report on participation in voluntary work organizations. This percentage brings Greece at the negative extreme of the total European picture, where youth volunteerism, especially in the North, is particularly strong. While a recent survey implemented in Lithuania[2] claims that 46% of citizens of Lithuania participate in at least one voluntary activity per year (most of them participate in activities related to environment or help other people in various ways). Due to difference of respondent groups we can not directly compare this percentage, but on the other hand, survey in Lithuania states that the age group most involved in volunteering is 15-19 years old, which lets us claim that volunteering in Lithuania is much more popular than in Greece among young people.

Same could be assumed about involvement in civic activities in general, as a number of NGOs registered as active in Lithuania reaches 3000 associations, several hundreds of them offering placements for voluntary services. While in Greece, being several times bigger country, there are around 2000 registered active NGOs (270 of them – working on issues of children and youth). Those numbers confirm a stereotype about differences of North and South, as it is often claimed that Northern countries are more developed and active in volunteering and youth work.

There are 76 European Voluntary Service (EVS) hosting projects in Greece[3], some of organizations that are coordinating those projects are also EVS sending organizations. However, the number of EVS volunteers hosted annually in Greece is twice bigger than those sent to do their voluntary service abroad. While in Lithuania we have 67 EVS hosting projects, and the number of volunteers sent abroad every year is higher than the ones hosted. Such difference may be related to differences of economical situation in the compared countries, even climate and various social traditions most probably influence those numbers. Nevertheless, it is obvious that different numbers would be expected from first glance according to the difference of size of the countries (Greece having population of 11 millions and Lithuania – only 3,5 millions).

Similarities

Apart from differences, both countries have something in common: a very limited legislation regarding voluntary services exists. In both countries there is no specific legal document determining volunteering. Volunteers in Greece are assimilated to other categories of people depending on the case (e.g.: students, workers, etc.) and there are some national laws which refer to particular types of volunteering (for instance firemen). On one hand lack of legislation might be seen as an obstacle, but on the other hand, as it is in Lithuania, volunteers might benefit from that. In Lithuania you can sign a voluntary service contract with the organization or institution where you volunteer, having a right to determine specifics of the service. A need to sign an agreement stating responsibilities and rights of the volunteer helps to avoid exploitation, human rights abuse or similar cases. At the same time it gives a chance for volunteer to have an officially signed document, showing his commitment to voluntary service placement. Eventually this can be a starting basis for officially including voluntary experiences in one’s CV.

However, recognition of volunteering is still not yet developed enough in both countries. There are efforts to acknowledge voluntary services in various ways: many volunteers receive honors by local authorities for their voluntary activities, Youthpass for EVS volunteers is available since January 2007, it becomes more popular to include voluntary experience in CV confirmed by signatures of organizations in which voluntary service was held. But anyway, volunteering has still a long way to go to be adequately acknowledged.

Also there is no general system of ensuring quality of volunteering in both countries. There are efforts to improve quality of voluntary activities by organizing trainings and seminars, creating databases for voluntary organizations, creating communication channels on national and international levels, but there is no overall coordination in terms of administration, theory or approach. In addition it has to be mentioned that none of those trainings lead to an officially recognized qualification.

If we look for reasons and try to understand obstacles that still exist for volunteering development in both countries, we can mention absence of comprehensive legislation, lack of access to appropriate information on existing voluntary activities, and difficulty to involve people from disadvantaged backgrounds. But on the other hand, the existing voluntary organizations, activities, active volunteers are proving that volunteering is possible. So we openly claim our opinion, that the key word in this issue is the motivation. When you do have one – you find space for volunteering, you find the activities fitting your interests, you even find time to do something that is not paid for.

Volunteering opportunities in Greece

Volunteering opportunities in Greece are mostly offered by voluntary non-governmental organizations. Range of voluntary activities is really wide: social assistance, environment, human rights, humanitarian aid, religious volunteering, education, arts/culture, sports, animal welfare, blood and human organ donations, support for immigrants, minority groups and many others.

Interesting examples of voluntary programs could be the one annually organized by General Secretariat for Youth and Hellenic Postal Service – “Holidays and Voluntary Work” Program. This program targets young people aged 18-26, who are called to cover the additional staff requirements of Post offices during the summer months in Greek tourist resorts. Another interesting example could be a summer camp in Crete held by the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece ARCHELON and General Secretariat for Youth. This program “Volunteer for Nature” is inviting young people to help protecting eggs of species of turtles in beaches that are under extinction. Searching for interesting and motivating voluntary activities can be started from your Municipality or the closest Youth Information Center. Next step would be to check other information channels, such as:

-          General Secretariat for Youth, www.neagenia.gr,

-          Greek Centre for the Promotion of Volunteering, www.anthropos.gr,

-          Citizens’ Union Paremvassi, www.paremvassi.gr,

-          Volunteering Organizations Initiative, www.simetexo.gr,

-          General Secretariat for Adult Education, Educational Voluntary Program for Emergency Situations, www.ethelontismos.gr,

-          Hellenic Federation of Voluntary NGOs, www.ngofederation.gr,

-          Panhellenic Network of Ecological Organizations, www.eco-net.gr,

-          Other.

European Voluntary Service and AMICUS program are most common and least resources demanding (thus being really available for youth) programs for volunteering abroad, also there are many other programs, available depending on your age, qualifications, priorities for activities, etc. One step is to want to do it. Another – and very important one – is to do it now.

Resources:

-          EVS database http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm

-          General Secretariat for Youth, H Nea Genia stin Ellada Simera (Youth in Greece Today), University of Athens (Institute of Applied Communications), Athens, Greece 2005.

-          Voluntary Activities in Lithuania, Volunteers‘ Center and TEO, Lithuania 2008.

-          Voluntary Activities of Young People, Youth-partnership survey, data of Greece 2006.

In addition, a part of the article is based on qualitative information collected during consultation with youth expert Dora Giannaki, Thessaloniki 2009.

[2] Voluntary Activities in Lithuania, Volunteers‘ Center and TEO, Lithuania 2008.

[3] EVS database http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm

 How everything began

The history of volunteering begins from First World War. In 1920 Swiss Pierre Ceresole rallied an international group of young people who wanted to rebuild the war destroyed houses. But the status of volunteer was determined when UNESCO joined those activities in 1948. After 1990‘s lots of different programs were established by European Commission and European Council.

The main principle is learning

It doesn’t matter what kind of volunteering you are doing – saving turtle’s eggs from tourists in Crete, teaching children not to drink dirty water in Asia, or helping to organize a concert in your birth town. Every volunteering work has two sides – benefit for local society/ environment/nature and your personal development.

There are jobs, which can not be paid by anybody. These kinds of jobs don’t require special knowledge or skills, sometimes they are even invisible, but they are very important for society. In that case there is a need for people who believe in ancient community principals (if you are happy, I am happy too) and don’t look for material profit.

Volunteering has the same mechanism like it is written in Bible: “Store all your riches in heaven”. If you don’t count hours spent by volunteering, little by little Knowledge and Experience are coming to you…

At first you are totally inexperienced, you don’t know so many things – nor as how to work in organization, neither how to communicate with different people…But young people have to collect the experience somehow! Only youth organizations can believe in you and give you a job. Where else you can try to organize your first event, or learn how to manage a project?

But the result of young person’s experience is valid not only for himself. Educated and trained persons can build a better society with strong humanity beliefs. Now, when there are no borders in Europe, we can focus on global issues, not war and conflicts…

All the opportunities are given to you

Your beginning could be at Kilkis Youth Information Center, which acts in local and international levels. It organizes annual events like Puppet festival, annual Carnival in spring and music concerts in summer. Also Center runs Youth projects (mostly youth exchanges under “Youth in Action” program), sends and hosts volunteers from all over the world (we also came to Greece, Kilkis for volunteering, not for holidaysJ).

This organization could be your bridge to exploring the world. Just come and tell “I want to be a volunteer!”…

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.