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Description
The 12 month duration project, coordinated by PRAKSIS, aims to enhance civic participation in homelessness by responding to the challenges related to the needs of a) increased awareness and civic participation of the general population in general and also about homelessness in all its forms (ETHOS typology), b) improvement of the knowledge of the business sector (students, employees-executives) about planning and implementation of essential Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions for the homelessness, c) improvement of the respective knowledge of the Mass Media sector (students, professionals) concerning the use of appropriate vocabulary, promotion of voluntary culture without stereotypes about homelessness and volunteering etc. d) raising awareness and improving the knowledge of the student community of social sciences, humanities, for participation in public issues and in voluntary actions for homelessness, d) organizing targeted, coordinated multi-level voluntary actions for homelessness (provision of immediate support, empowerment and inclusion, advocacy). The main categories of project activities consist of 1) Educational actions regarding Civic Participation and Volunteering for Homelessness (EMEA, PRAKSIS) with target groups being individuals from the of Mass Media, Business sector (professionals, students), students of social sciences and humanities 2) Awareness raising campaign for the civic action of citizens and Volunteerism for Homelessness (PRAKSIS), the target group mainly being the general public, especially young people 18-29, but also students, business and media professionals 3) Voluntary Activities for Homelessness (PRAKSIS, ITHACA). Target groups will be volunteers who will be actively involved (general population, young people, students). All of the above actions are expected to directly and / or indirectly benefit homeless individuals.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address homelessness, particularly the lack of up-to-date data on the demographic profile and needs of homeless individuals, as well as the gaps in service provision tailored to this population. It also sought to raise public awareness about homelessness and activate volunteerism to support homeless communities in Athens and Piraeus.
A key output of the project was the creation of an Education Guide for Volunteering in Homelessness, which served as the foundation for educational seminars targeting both students and private sector employees. Six seminars for students and two for companies were organized, with a total of 205 participants. The project established a volunteer network of 168 active individuals who played a crucial role in organizing cultural activities, distributing essential supplies (food, clothing, hygiene items), and conducting street work excursions to gather data. Volunteers facilitated workshops for homeless people at the PRAKSIS Homeless Day Center in Athens and engaged in data collection from 330 homeless individuals using a structured questionnaire. The project also organized holiday-themed cultural activities, such as an art workshop, movie screening, and karaoke event.
The project strengthened community support for homeless individuals through the active engagement of 168 volunteers, who experienced the direct impact of their contributions. It provided homeless participants with a sense of relief and optimism through the distribution of necessities and the creative workshops held at the day center. The project also filled a critical gap in data collection, offering insights into the demographics and needs of 330 homeless people, which informed subsequent advocacy efforts. Although some cultural activities faced limited attendance, the project laid the groundwork for ongoing volunteer engagement and support for homeless communities.