EEA Grants

"See and Act Differently" - 10/2015 - 3/2016

We are all Citizens: Fund for NGOs in Greece

This project was funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA Grants Greek NGO Programme “We are all Citizens”. The Bodossaki Foundation is the Fund Operator of this Programme. The Programme aims to strengthen civil society and enhance the contribution of NGOs to social justice, democracy and sustainable development.

More than 3.900 youth with and without disability participated together at SKEP’s interactive programs, within the framework of the program “See and Act Differently”.

Dealing with diversity is not easy especially when you rarely have the chance to meet people that live a reality different from your own.

SKEP, under the call for “Promoting Democratic Values, Including Human Rights”, implemented the program “See and Act Differently”. This non formal education project aimed at combating discrimination and social exclusion of people with disabilities through interactive and experiential activities, with the participation of mainstream students and young people with disabilities (intellectual - motor - sensory). The project took place from October 2015 until the end of March 2016 and consisted of educational interactive activities, open dialogue sessions between students with and without disabilities, art workshops and sports. An “Open day” was organized at the end of the project, entitled "Learning Together". Furthermore, a team of volunteers was created (mainstream students and young people with disabilities) aiming to familiarize the wider public with the image of disability and promote and defend equal opportunities.

Project cost: 33.554,33 € - EEA Grants amount: 30.198,9 € - Project duration: 6 months (10/2015 - 3/2016)

Project Description
Using innovative experiential methodology, the project consisted of:

A. 20 Educational experiential / interactive programs with:

           1. open dialogue between mainstream students and people with
                  disability
           2. interactive / experiential workshops (arts & sports)

B. Open day entitled “Learning Together”: mainstream students and young people with disability shared their experiences and thoughts through their participation of the program.

C. Form a team of volunteers (mainstream students + young people with disability).

Participants: 1,200 mainstream students and 600 young people with disability

Objectives:
- Educate and raise students awareness regarding the notion of disability and diversity
- Increase the socialization of young people with disability and protect their rights.

Detailed description of the project during the school year 2015 - 2016

A/ Experiential and Interactive Workshops (Artistic & Athletic):

During the 6 experiential workshops that took place 1.137 students and youth with disability (physical – intellectual – sensory) participated together.

Our goal was through experiential workshops, to interact without "communication codes" or rigid rules, but most importantly without bias and discrimination.

Detailed Workshop Program:

The workshops offered students from special schools along with those from mainstream schools an alternative unique experience. Our main objective remains the interactive cooperation between students and youth with disabilities aiming at building relations rather than creating the perfect pieces of art.

The workshops were held during school hours (9.15 - 12.30) at the Vorres Museum (Paiania). Students from mainstream schools along with youth from special schools, participated together at the following workshops:

Interactive Artistic Workshops: Collage techniques, painting workshops, painting on t-shirts, tape art, visual constructions etc
Athletic Program: Playing Bocce all together
“STEPS by SKEP”: Be the catalyst for social change: Open discussions by SKEPs motivational speakers (youth with disability)
“See Differently!”: Educational Workshop Simulating Sensory Disability
“Give communication a meaning”: Greek Sign Language Workshop

During the duration of the project, the following workshops took place:

a/ Workshops within the Attica District, Vorres Museum

1. 12/11/2015

201 students and youth with disability participated at the 1st workshop:

From general education schools we had 131 students participating from the following schools:
Delasal Primary School – 2nd High School of Geraka – 16th Primary School of Galatsi
From special education schools we had 70 students participating with intellectual – visual and motor disabilities from the following organizations:
KDAP - Arogi – KEPEA Horizons - ESEEPA Special Vocational Education - Xloi - Chara.

2. 1/12/2015

Within the framework of the International Day of Persons with Disability, the 2nd Experiential and Interactive Workshop took place at the Vorres Museum, on Tuesday 1st of December.
Participants were more than 213 students from general education schools together with youth with disability from the following schools and special schools:

Delasal Primary School, Kantas School, 117th Primary School of Athens, 1st Professional High School of Aspropyrgos, Special Primary School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pefkis, ESEEPA Special Vocational Education, Technical Vocational Educational School of Koropi, Margarita, Ergastiri Lilian Voudouri

3. 19/1/2016 & 20/1/2016

During January, 2 Experiential and Interactive Workshops took place. Participants were 403 students and youth with disability. More specifically:

On Tuesday, January 19th, 181 participants came from the following schools, special education schools and institutions:

52nd Primary School of Athens, 1st Junior School of Vrilissia, 11th Primary School of Argiroupolis, ESEEPA Special Vocational Education, Technical Vocational Educational School of Ntaou Pentelis, Margarita, KEPEA Orizontes, PEGKAP

On Wednesday, January 20th, 222 participants were from:

3rd Primary School of Moschato, Saint Joseph, Leonteios School, ESEEPA Special Vocational Education, 1st Special Primary School of Marousi, Chloi, PIKPA Peiraia, Chara, Technical Vocational Educational School of Aegaleo

4. 16/2/2016

During February, the 5th interactive – experiential workshop took place at the Vorres Museum, on February 16th. 151 students with and without disabilities from schools and special schools participated. More specifically:

50th Primary School of Athens, 1st Primary School of Nea Ionia, 3rd Primary School of Glyfada, ESEEPA Special Vocational Education, 2nd Technical Vocational Educational School of Peiraias, Ergastiri Lilian Voudouri, KDAP Arogi, Technical Vocational Educational School of Ntaou Pentelis

5. 08/3/2016

179 youth with and without disability participated from the following schools and insitutions:

3rd High School of Petroupoli, Saint Joseph, 1st Junior High School of Artemida, 12th Primary School of Korydallos, ESEEPA Special Vocational Education, Technical Vocational Educational School of Koropi, Margarita, Xloi, Iris Βoarding House

b/ Workshops outside the Attica District

Following the numerous requests the project had from schools and special schools outside the Attica District, 946 students and youth with disability, participated together in experiential art workshops.

The workshops were held at the schools and special schools outside the Attica District. In order to establish a similar artistic outcome, we send the same material used at the Vorres Museum to all the participating schools and special schools.

The art pieces that we received, was presented by our volunteers at the Open Day “Learning Together”.

Students from the following schools and special schools participated:

Junior High School of Psachnon & Technical Vocational Educational School of Evia
Special Vocational and Training Workshops Amfissas & Musical School of Amfissa
Special Primary School of Amfissa & 1st Primary School of Amfissa
Special Vocational and Training Workshops Irakleiou Kritis & 2nd Educational High School of Irakleio Kritis
Special Vocational and Training Workshops Thivas & 4th Junior High School of Thiva
Special Junior High School – High School of the Deaf and Hard at hearing Thessalonikis & High School Kalidonion Thessalonikis
Special Vocational and Training Workshops Korinthou & Junior High School of Isthmia
1st Special Vocational and Training Workshops Panoramatos Thessalonikis & 8th General Education High School of Thessalonikis
Technical Vocational Educational School of Nea Ionia Volou & 2nd Chance School of Volos
Special Nursery of Katerini & Primary School of Ganochora Katerini
Special Primary School of Salamina & 4th Primary School of Salamina
Technical Vocational Educational School of Serres & 5th Junior High School of Serres
Special Primary School of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Patra & 40th Primary School of Patras
Special Experimental School of Rhodes & 5th Primary School of Rhodes
1st Special Primary School of Rhodes & Dear and Hard of Hearing of Rhodes together with the 3rd Primary of Rhodes
Special Vocational and Training Workshops of Evia & Primary School of Mitika
Daily Care Center for People with disability “The Children of Spring” & Junior High School of Neou Milotopou Pellas
Special Junior High School of Irakleio Kritis & 4th Junior High School of Irakleio Kritis

B/ OPEN DIALOGUE IN SCHOOLS

Being socially excluded can be prevented, if from a very young age, children live together and share their uniqueness.

- Thessaloniki:
From the 18th until the 20th of November our associates went to Thessaloniki to conduct the open discussions in schools of secondary education and universities. They spoke to 610 students from the following schools:
26th Junior High School of Thessaloniki - Experimental High School of Thessaloniki – 3rd Junior High School of Chortiati – 18th Primary School of Stauroupolis – 6th Junior High School of Stauroupolis - ΙΕΚ Delta - 10th Primary School of Agiou Athanasiou
- Athens:
21st Primary School of Ilioupolis – Primary School of Delasal - 1st Junior School of Kaisariani - 2nd Tositsio Junior School of Ekali - 2nd High School of Vrilissia - 5th & 10th Primary School of Vironas - 99th Primary School of Athens - 1st Primary School of Pefki - 1st Primary School of Porto Rafti - Junior High School of Drosia – 4th and 5th High School of Larisa – 3rd Primary School of Glyfada – Malliaras School – 1st General High School of Sivitanidio – 1st High School of Cholargos – High School of Pentelis – 2nd Junior High School of Kamatero – 2nd General High School of Sivitanidio – General High School of Kryoneri – 26th Primary School of Athens – 5th Junior High School of Nea Ionia – 3rd Primary School of Agiou Dimitriou

C/ CREATING A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS

With the beginning of the program, we had approached and informed a wide audience about the program’s objectives. Since October, we had already established a team of volunteers that actively participate in the project. The volunteers aim was to promote the program, familiarize the wider public with the image of disability and promote and defend equal opportunities. Volunteers were actively involved throughout the project in both the preparation of artistic and sports workshops as well as coordinating the overall program.

D/ OPEN DAY "Learning Together!"

201 students presented for the first time in Greece, proposals on a society of equal opportunities for people with disability.

On Wednesday, March 16th, at the Vorres Museum, the Open Day “Learning Together” was held with great success. Key speakers were students that had participated in the experiential workshops together with youth with disability, within the framework of the program “See and Act Differently” that SKEP completed during the school year 2015 – 2016, at the Vorres Museum.

The Open Day “Learning Together” gave students the opportunity to freely express their own opinions, experiences and feelings. More specifically, they presenting their own proposals aiming to change the mentality of the general population in regards to combating discrimination and social exclusion of people with disabilities as well as promoting a society of equal opportunities.

With their own unique and interactive way, students chose to promote social inclusion through music, theatrical sketches, open dialogue, art pieces and even through the creation of a board game focusing on disability issues.

Participants of the Open Day were 201 students from: 1st Junior High School of Vrilissia – 2nd High School of Gerakas – Kantas School – Saint Joseph .

The Open Day was also attended by students of Doukas School and Junior High School of Psachna.

All participants received the program's educational interactive leaflet.

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information about SKEP's Programme