The journey of solidarity starts from Patras and the Co-Solidarity Platform.
The first event of the Co-Solidarity Platform: “Solidarity without borders” was successfully held. An initiative set up to promote the transnational solidarity network, starting from Greece and France, through the solidarity network, has been developed with local and social operators, in these two countries. This effort is supported by the Region of Western Greece, the social organizations Co2gether and InterMediaKT, the Patient Care Simulation Laboratory of the Nursing Department of the University of Patras and the French organization SECOL.
The first presentation of this initiative to the general public was held in Patras, which amounted to 130 participants. The response of the event caused particular joy to the organizers and supporters of the initiative, as the necessity of the action had an impact on several citizens of the local community. Both the participating organizations and the citizens had the opportunity to learn about the services and health materials offered free of charge by the CO-SOLIDARITY PLATFORM. The program’s offerings were ; an electronic platform, through which health equipment and mobility aids for the elderly and other vulnerable groups, the possibility of training professionals and corporate social responsibility programs.
The opening event of the Co-Solidarity Platform was attended by the Deputy Regional Governor Mr. Charalambos Bonanos, who performed the opening and addressed the citizens, who came to watch the event and support the action. He referred to the importance and innovation of the initiative both for the local community and the wider community. He also underlined the vision behind the action, which is identified with improving the quality of life of the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
Among other things, Deputy Regional Governor Mr. Bonanos referred to the benefits that the Co-Solidarity Platform has for the economy, society and the environment. More specifically:
Regarding the economy:
Resources are saved for the health system jobs are created for vulnerable population groups a regional network of collection and distribution of equipment is developed
Regarding society:
Free equipment is provided to the elderly and vulnerable population groups. There is cooperation with associations and institutions for the elderly or disabled patients and carers are trained.
Regarding the environment:
Material that currently remains unused or destroyed is reused. Waste reduction. Create a local circular economy culture
At the same time, important institutional bodies of national and regional scope who support the action spoke at the event.
The presentation of the CO-SOLIDARITY PLATFORM initiative was carried out by Dr. Maria Zafeiropoulou, Lawyer- Gerontologist, Founder of Co2gether and Nikos Matsankos, planning manager and member of the Board of InterMediaKT. Specifically, they informed the public that through the “CO-SOLIDARITY PLATFORM” free health equipment and walking, moving, transportation aids are collected, repaired and offered to the elderly, the disabled, uninsured citizens, patients, the needy, refugees, nursing homes, hospitals, health centers and social associations of our local community. At the same time, they emphasized that the planning of the interventions carried out in the community and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions contribute to the development of solidarity actions and a culture of giving, as well as that home interventions to citizens who really need it and to those their caregivers, are carried out by experienced specialized scientists, with the aim of strengthening and improving their quality of life.
Along with the presentation of the Co-Solidarity Platform, the first screening of the serious game for the elderly and caregivers took place, which was talked about by Nikos Stephanopoulos, Associate Professor of the Department of Nursing, University of Patras and Karan Prasher, Creative Director of Karan Creative Media in collaboration with Co2gether. A film, which is based on health education, a learning process of shaping behaviors and not just providing information. The tool used to create the film is simulation
After the speeches, positions were held at a round table, attended by Iulia Syrokosta -Stathopoulou, Pathologist, Infectious Diseases Specialist, Regional Director of the National Health System, located at the University Medical Hospital of Patras, Municipal Councilor, Head of the Disabled Persons Office of the Municipality of Patras, who spoke about the cooperation regarding the provision of wheelchairs, underlining that the first delivery has already been made.
Antonis Harokopos, President of the Regional Federation of Persons with Disabilities of Western Greece & Southern Ionian Islands (P.OM.A.meA D.E. & N.I.N), who analyzed the idea of the action – a telephone service line for the disabled people, which will be implemented in collaboration with Co-Solidarity. Also, Theodoros Tsoubelis, Secretary General of the Chamber of Achaia, CEO of Dynacomp, referred to the Corporate Social Responsibility of businesses and the role of the Chamber. Finally, Ignatios Fotiou, TOBEA Managing Director, as a sponsor of the repair of walking and mobility equipment, explained how the repair of the used sanitary material and equipment will be done.
It is worth mentioning that opportunities for youth mobility in Europe were also discussed by Olympia-Christina Kalogianni, representative of INEDIVIM: Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation. The young workers and students of our city, who attended the event, had the opportunity to learn about the opportunities that are created through their participation in European programs and initiatives both on a professional and voluntary level, as well as getting to know the student organizations and pan-European networks operating abroad. Discussions were also held with the representatives of the student organizations AIESEC Patras, ESN UOPA, BEST Patras, who also participated in the event as community partners.
The event was coordinated by the journalist of the “Peloponnisos” newspaper, Konstantinos Lambropoulos and ms. Elizabeth Nikolopoulos, from the Association des Francophones d’Achaie.
The main objective of the event was to develop and create partnerships both with the institutional bodies of society and with social enterprises, as well as to spread the vision of the Co-Solidarity Platform related to the development of values, such as giving and solidarity.
It is worth mentioning that opportunities for youth mobility in Europe were also discussed by Olympia-Christina Kalogianni, representative of INEDIVIM: Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation. The young workers and students of our city, who attended the event, had the opportunity to learn about the opportunities that are created through their participation in European programs and initiatives both on a professional and voluntary level, as well as getting to know the student organizations and pan-European networks operating abroad. Discussions were also held with the representatives of the student organizations AIESEC Patras, ESN UOPA, BEST Patras, who also participated in the event as community partners.
The event was coordinated by the journalist of the “Peloponnisos” newspaper, Konstantinos Lambropoulos and ms. Elizabeth Nikolopoulos, from the Association des Francophones d’Achaie.
The main objective of the event was to develop and create partnerships both with the institutional bodies of society and with social enterprises, as well as to spread the vision of the Co-Solidarity Platform related to the development of values, such as giving and solidarity.