Cultural Folklore Association of Kozani - I KOZIANI

Cultural & Folklore Association of Kozani “I KOZIANI” The Cultural & Folklore Association of Kozani “I KOZIANI” is a non-profit community cultural organisation based in Kozani, Western Macedonia, Greece, founded in 2005. Our mission is to preserve, promote and transmit intangible cultural heritage to younger generations through traditional dance, music, local customs, traditional costumes, cultural festivals and community-based activities. The association operates five traditional dance groups for children, young people and adults, providing regular opportunities for cultural participation, learning and social interaction. We cooperate with schools, local authorities, cultural associations and civil society organisations, with a strong focus on youth engagement, volunteering, intergenerational learning and active participation in community life. One of our major annual initiatives is the Children and Youth Traditional Dance Festival “Paradosis Synexistes” (Continuers of Tradition). In recent years, the festival has brought together approximately 2,000 children and young people every year, representing around 90 cultural associations from different parts of Greece, many of which participate with more than one dance group. Through this large-scale youth event, we promote cooperation, volunteering, cultural exchange and the transmission of living cultural heritage to new generations. The association is also actively involved in preserving and promoting the distinctive cultural traditions of Kozani, including local Carnival customs and the traditional “Fanos”, as well as traditional music, dance and local gastronomy. We have also created a Traditional Heritage Corner and a small Library of Memory and Tradition, supporting the preservation and transmission of local cultural knowledge. In addition to our cultural activities, we organise nature-based and non-formal educational activities, including guided mountain activities, wild mushroom foraging and traditional gastronomy experiences. Through these initiatives, we connect cultural heritage with environmental awareness, local knowledge, sustainability and community participation. In September 2026, KOZIANI participated as the Greek partner organisation in the Erasmus+ KA152-YOU Youth Exchange “Folklor ile Tarihe Yolculuk – Journey to History with Folklore” (Project No. 2025-3-TR01-KA152-YOU-), implemented in Kırşehir, Türkiye. Our organisation was actively involved in the preparation of the Greek participants, intercultural learning activities, traditional dance and cultural heritage workshops, presentation of Greek and Kozani traditions, cooperation with young people and organisations from other European countries, and dissemination activities in Greece. This Erasmus+ experience strengthened our capacity for international youth cooperation, non-formal learning, intercultural dialogue and European networking, and encouraged us to take a more active role in developing future European projects and partnerships. KOZIANI is based in Western Macedonia, a former lignite-mining region currently undergoing a major economic, environmental and social transition. This local context has increased our interest in initiatives connecting young people, cultural heritage, community resilience, environmental awareness and the just transition of former mining regions. We are interested in developing long-term international partnerships and participating in Erasmus+ and other European projects related to youth participation, intangible cultural heritage, traditional culture, intergenerational learning, social inclusion, volunteering, community development, environmental education, sustainability and just transition. We believe that living cultural heritage can be a powerful tool for bringing young people together, strengthening their sense of belonging and encouraging them to participate actively in shaping the future of their communities. OID: E 10407394 Kozani, Western Macedonia, Greece