e-Nable Greece

The e-NABLE Community is an amazing group of individuals from all over the world who are using their 3D printers, their designing skills and their spare time, to create free 3D printed hands and arms for those in need of an upper limb assistive device. The community started its activities in 2013 and now counts more than 3000 members all over the world. E-Nable Greece is the Greek chapter of this community, launched in July of 2018. Established by a team of engineers and teachers, e-Nable Greece aims to help people with disabilities, by creating for them 3d printed devices. Moreover, e-Nable Greece aims to use other new technologies, apart from 3d printing, such as automation, Internet of Things and Informatics in order to address the current demands of modern society. The spark that led to the idea of creating our organization e-Nable Greece was triggered by the participation of one of our co-found member Panagiota (Julie) Tsoni in the Erasmus + / KA2 program “IoT in Education - We are the Makers” with project number 2017-1- DE03-KA with the main purpose of introducing 3D printing to school activities. During this project the initial with the global e-Nable community took place via the e-Nable France and the social purpose and importance of their global initiative offering was recognized. Ms. Tsoni then came in with Mr. Mitzifiris and Mr. Antonakos whom she knew through their professional activities and she was totally sure about their interest in 3D printing and the potential of this technology in both education and industry. At the same time, recognizing the needs of Greek society and the difficulty to meet the needs of disabled or mutilated people by insurance funds, in conjunction with increased migratory and refugee flows of people from conflict zones, it was considered that the supply of 3d printed hands and similar devices to people of all ages and with no limitations at no cost, will be a true social offer. We consider that the participation in the European Solidarity Corps is a crucial option for the consolidation and the development of the spirit of offer and disseminating knowledge of the technological and social issues we deal with in e-Nable Greece The aim of e-Nable Greece is to raise awareness of the local community about the needs of volunteering and offering to groups of people with various disabilities. We also consider it important that everyone, irrespective of origin, place of residence, marital status, economic and social background, can be accepted for the achievements of technological development and trained to develop and direct the skills and competencies that will assist them in their economic and social development. At the same time, e-Nable Greece provides training, specialization and seminars to those already working in these fields, with the aim of informing them on technology, communication and crisis response. e-Nable Greece scope is to organize and coordinate educational programs and seminars about new technologies (as 3d printing, IoT, Arduino etc.) and volunteering for school and college students, professionals and adults. In this context, we are constantly looking for trusted partners to disseminate our social actions to raise awareness of our social partners about our activities, clearly and voluntarily supporting the voluntary and social nature of our organization. For this reason, we have started cooperation with the Refugee and Migrant Coordination Center of the Municipality of Athens, we have ed the Greek Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and in progress are early stage s with associations and bodies representing persons with disabilities or people facing different forms of social isolation. Our seminars and training programs are taking place in carefully controlled areas, providing all the logistical infrastructure for their complete implementation. They also cover all hygiene and safety rules and are within easy reach