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EKO, the Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Group, is a non-profit organisation seated in Athens, Greece, established in 2013, operating at a local and European level, with youth as its main target group.
EKO`s primary mission is to contribute to the creation of an inclusive society, free from prejudice and discrimination, which will be in the position to develop and grow sustainably. Particularly within Greece, its major concerns refer to the challenges of:
The xenophobic attitudes, cultural intolerance and exclusion created by the migration crisis
Empowering youth and vulnerable social groups through non-formal education, youth work, and life-long learning, as well as through the promotion of youth and female entrepreneurship and innovation
Facilitating intercultural and interreligious awareness and solidarity, especially within Greece and Europe, as well as between Europe and MENA, by providing dialogue platforms, organizing cultural exchanges and tolerance trainings
Fostering active participation and civic engagement of young people, and assisting them to address novel challenges and become agents of change in their local communities
Actively supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental causes, and promoting green growth and sustainable social and economic models
Strengthening cross-border civil society, through knowledge transfer and sharing of good practices, as well as through collaborative initiatives with its broad network of international partners
EKO’s team has experience in the management and coordination of national and international projects and initiatives, including quality assurance, dissemination and sustainability planning. Our members have diverse expertise, which they utilize in conducting research, developing intellectual products and implementing trainings, on the basis of each project’s needs.
EKO’s team consists of experienced youth workers and a culturally diverse and constantly renewed group of young volunteers, through European Programs (ESC, EYE), while the Board Members are experienced psychologists, educators, entrepreneurs, who provide services to youth, schools, universities and institutions, chambers of commerce and industry, ministries of education, culture and labor, syndicates and related associations. Currently, EKO has 4 permanent staff members, 2 members employed on project basis, as well as 3 volunteers.
President
President
Kitty Panourgia is the President of EKO.
She is a social scientist and female entrepreneur, with studies in the field of educational and cultural planning and organization in the context of regional development. She holds an M.Ed from the University of Manchester-UK, and a PhD from the University of Geneva-CH.
She works as a consultant and evaluator mainly for central and local government bodies in Greece (i.e. Ministry of Education, of Labor, of Health etc.). Furthermore, she is an expert in events management, being involved in scientific international conferences mainly in the field of Intelligent Systems. As an educational expert she plans and organizes educational/cultural trips for different target groups, such as school-kids, youngsters, families, civil society organisations, etc.
For many years she held and been still holding important positions in different Bodies, Organisations and Associations such as the Women’s Organization of Managers and Entrepreneurs , and general secretary of University of Manchester Alumni Association Greece. In addition, she holds the honorary title of a European Ambassador of female entrepreneurship, in the context of which she has worked as a mentor in Greece, Europe and elsewhere to encourage different target groups to get involved in Entrepreneurship.
General Secretary
General Secretary
A Law graduate of the Kapodistrian University of Athens, a member of the Athens Bar and a practicing lawyer in Athens since 1989
After having worked in several renowned Athenian corporate law firms and in the legal departments of large technical companies, she has established her own law firm in Athens city center in which she currently works with associates.
In 2002, she was elected Municipal Councilor of Psychiko, a big suburb of Northern Athens. In 2006, she was nominated candidate for the Mayor of Psychiko. Since then she has been a Municipal Councilor of Filothei-Psychiko Municipality. Eleni is a founding and active member of the Environmental Protection Associations of Psychiko and Ampelokipoi (two major municipalities of the Greater Region of Athens).
Apart from being the General Secretary of E.K.O, she presides the board of two other important organizations: She is Vice-President of the Association of f the Soroptimistic Association of Sozopolis, Greece (International Women’s volunteering organization) and President of the Soroptimistic Group of Psychiko.
Human Resources
Human Resources
Natalia Kakourou holds a Bachelor degree in Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management (Athens University of Economics and Business. Regarding her extended education, she has been certified in adult education, in creative writing and in teaching English as a foreign language. She has worked in the field of conference organization and Events Management for 5 years.
Currently she works in EKO as a project manager with duties including the coordination of KA1 mobilities, the monitoring of some large-scale projects (KA2, ACF) and the development of a range of intellectual outputs. She is also in charge of exploring new venues for enriching EKO’s team with interns and volunteers, training new members and
managing the organization’s team dynamics.
Project Manager & Youth Worker
Project Manager & Youth Worker
George Fligos has studied geology and geoenvironmental sciences and is very sensitive on environmental protection. He’s now working on the field of education on secondary school and he has practiced environmental education through non-formal activities. He has accomplished an important body of scientific research for his thesis during his studies in geology where he conducted a large geochemical study in the Big Agglomeration of Attica, examining the soil of this region vis a vis its pollution levels.
Driven by his love and compassion for every human being and especially for children and youngsters and their role in our social change, George has completed two postgraduate programs. The first on “Developmental Psychopathology” and the second on “Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents” at the Faculty of Medicine (Child Psychiatric school of NKUA). Motivated by his strong desire to be involved and constantly informed about socio-political, educational and environmental issues, as well as to advance his understanding in human psychology, he has attended an extensive list of relevant seminars and workshops.
His participation in more than 10 youth mobility Erasmus+ programs, made him realize that multicultural settings is where he feels at home, while his natural talent in public relations and events promotion make him best fit for the roles of project management, evaluation and project promotion. Moreover, George has a good in the development of educational plans for non-formal education activities and in conflict-management. In addition, he is an inspiring mentor of ESC Erasmus+ volunteers and a workshop facilitator working with Universities students and youngsters on topics such as Erasmus+ opportunities and Project Cycle Management.
George has also been an accredited international election observer and he monitored the referendum of April 2019 in Egypt, where he had the honor to provide data and information and to participate in discussion and interviews on public and private channels.
In his free time George volunteers in the official Eurovision Fan Club of Europe and works for the elaboration of press release, the organization of relevant events and the promotion of the Eurovision values as the world’s biggest music event that unites all European nations through music! Last but not least, he is a fluent speaker of 5 languages and always keen to learn more through languages about different countries history, traditions and culture.
Youth Worker & Project Manager
Youth Worker & Project Manager
Konstantina Traka works as a youth worker and project manager in EKO. She has graduated from the Law School of the Democritus University of Thrace. She has a special interest in the promotion of human rights and in the development and work of civil society institutions. Part of her experience is the result of her work as a volunteer in Russia in the context of a long-term ESC program. Since her return to Greece, she had been actively involved in the planning , organisation and implementation of Erasmus+ projects in both KA1 and KA2 projects. She believes that non-formal education is the best way to empower youth and vulnerable groups and hopes that her work will contribute to create a better future for European citizens and beyond.
Over the years EKO has built an extended network of more than 100 partners across Europe, the Euromed basin, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It is the founding member of the Euromed Network of Youth Organizations (Y-NEMO), as well as a founding member of the International Alliance for Peace and Development (IAPD) with members in European and MENA countries. EKO also supports the Observatory to Prevent Extremist Violence (OPEV) contributing constructively to prevent and combat violent extremism, organizing various events, info days and conferences to raise awareness on this matter.
Moreover, EKO is an active member of the network of the Anna Lindh Foundation and is honored to display the logo of the European Year of Cultural Heritage (EYCH) for two implemented Erasmus+ youth mobility projects.
At a local level, EKO maintains a special collaboration with local public bodies and municipalities in broader Athens, local Universities, Foundations working with children and youth from vulnerable socioeconomic backgrounds, Adult Education providers, as well as Art and Theater Tutors, constantly expands its network of partners and collaborations in Greece and operates a Youth Club with active members organized in local youth groups. In addition, EKO collaborates with Greek organizations in remote areas to reach out to target groups of the local societies for the promotion of equal opportunities and social inclusion.
By clicking on the titles and logos below, you may find more information!
About the Alliance The International Alliance for Peace and Development is a group of non-governmental organizations from around the world who have agreed to play an active to support peace and development issues and have converged on a common working agenda based on universal human values, principles of coexistence, and universality of human rights. The Alliance is based on the international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the recommendations and interpretations of the international mechanisms emanating from these instruments and mechanisms based on the Charter of the United Nations. The Alliance also complies with the decisions of the UN bodies on international peace ,security issues, and Sustainable development. The coalition gained official organizational character through its founding meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva on 28 February 2018 on the sidelines of the 37th session of the Human Rights Council. Currently, the Alliance has 40 members representing the continents of Africa, Europe and Asia.
The Vision A world without violence, hatred, fanaticism or extremism and an effective international partnership for peace and sustainable development.
The Mission The Alliance seeks to promote peace, support sustainable development across the world, combat hatred, violence and extremism, to work effectively with UN mechanisms and actors around the world to achieve its vision within a framework of coordinated action, integration and cooperation.
The Objectives 1. Promote respecting human rights and strengthening communication with international mechanisms to protect of human rights 2. Support various UN and regional bodies 3. Contribute to the improvement of sustainable peace policies throughout the world 4. Build a global culture against violence, hate speech and extremism, and supporting peace, dialogue, tolerance and acceptance of the other 5. Provide a platform for dialogue, cultural exchange and cultural integration 6. Support UN, international and regional bodies in achieving sustainable development goals by 2030
The Mechanisms 1. Launching forums, conferences and dialogue platforms 2. Exchanging experiences 3. Organizing activities, joint projects and attracting donors and development partners 4. Communicating with various UN agencies 5. Communicating with policymakers around the world 6. Preparing reports, studies, research and providing sources of information
Click here to find out more about:
The Members of the Alliance
Joint Cooperation Protocol
IAPD on Facebook
The Foundation – Video
About the Alliance The International Alliance for Peace and Development is a group of non-governmental organizations from around the world who have agreed to play an active to support peace and development issues and have converged on a common working agenda based on universal human values, principles of coexistence, and universality of human rights. The Alliance is based on the international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the recommendations and interpretations of the international mechanisms emanating from these instruments and mechanisms based on the Charter of the United Nations. The Alliance also complies with the decisions of the UN bodies on international peace ,security issues, and Sustainable development. The coalition gained official organizational character through its founding meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva on 28 February 2018 on the sidelines of the 37th session of the Human Rights Council. Currently, the Alliance has 40 members representing the continents of Africa, Europe and Asia.
The Vision A world without violence, hatred, fanaticism or extremism and an effective international partnership for peace and sustainable development.
The Mission The Alliance seeks to promote peace, support sustainable development across the world, combat hatred, violence and extremism, to work effectively with UN mechanisms and actors around the world to achieve its vision within a framework of coordinated action, integration and cooperation.
The Objectives 1. Promote respecting human rights and strengthening communication with international mechanisms to protect of human rights 2. Support various UN and regional bodies 3. Contribute to the improvement of sustainable peace policies throughout the world 4. Build a global culture against violence, hate speech and extremism, and supporting peace, dialogue, tolerance and acceptance of the other 5. Provide a platform for dialogue, cultural exchange and cultural integration 6. Support UN, international and regional bodies in achieving sustainable development goals by 2030
The Mechanisms 1. Launching forums, conferences and dialogue platforms 2. Exchanging experiences 3. Organizing activities, joint projects and attracting donors and development partners 4. Communicating with various UN agencies 5. Communicating with policymakers around the world 6. Preparing reports, studies, research and providing sources of information
Click here to find out more about:
The Members of the Alliance
Joint Cooperation Protocol
IAPD on Facebook
The Foundation – Video
Empowering Youth,
Building a Better Future!
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