Xenios Polis. Culture, Science and Action

1) General Description The "Xenios Polis" is a new, non-profit organization established in Athens (in a time and place with social and global changes) and whose aims are the cultural concern and scientific research as well as the organization of culture, education and social welfare programs. Emphasis is primarily on issues concerning specific social groups information, training and support; these groups are steadily or occasionally characterized as socially sensitive and vulnerable (refugees, immigrants, people with special needs, single parent families, e.t.c.) As a major voluntary effort, XPSC cares about vulnerable people, without discrimination and with full respect and acceptance of human rights, with belief in selfless social work offer and visions for a better and more humane society, all of them through promoting the value and role of culture, arts and education. 2)Dominant objectives of ‘Xenios Polis’ are : a) social integration, solidarity, racism- intolerance -negative perceptions combat (existing in cases of, and/or associated with national / racial origin, religion, gender, disability and specific groups such as people with an immigrant background, asylum seekers, youth and children, religious and language minorities, e.t.c.) b) protection, support, information and education of socially vulnerable groups c) citizens information and training on crucial social issues and prevention strategies concerning refugees and immigrants as well as vulnerable people in general d) intercultural content training e) exploiting both research and operational uses of the Information Technologies and Communications 3) Actions As part of our socio-political, cultural and educational interferences implemented actions are such as: a) organization and implementation of programs and networks to support disadvantaged social and population groups b) development of awareness as well as education programs of all these involved social groups (for management of issues related to vulnerable groups) c) special use of arts as a creative and culturally advantaged tool for accomplishing Xenios Polis objectives, as above, through organisation of cultural/arts activities (festivals, painting and photography exhibitions, e.t.c.) d) cooperation with institutions, organizations and associations (national or international), which being active in the direction of human rights advancement as well as of cultural and educational content initiatives e) organization of training seminars, conferences and workshops f) publication of scientific journals and books g) use of ICT through innovative actions and practice h) website creations, ‘new media’ and Multimedia platforms i) management of scientific data files and documentation 4) Structure and partnerships The ‘Xenios Polis’ structure is defined as four main sectors organization: education and intercultural training - culture and creative arts -programs administration - technical and ICT department. So far it has also been engaging in active co-operations and partnerships with municipalities and provinces throughout Greece as well as universities and institutions at a national and European level (University of Thessaloniki-Department of History and Archaelogy, University of Crete-Center for Intercultural and Migration Studies, Cyprus University of Technology-Digital Heritage Research Lab, Eugenides Foundation - Exhibitions Centre, e.t.c. ). So far, it has been engaged in Creative Europe, and Europe for Citizens projects (SURICATA-Support Refugees Integration by Co-Creative Arts and Training Actions,and CHISPAS-Children Spanish InSights Project) under a two-level dimension role: coordinative and actively participating.