Harokopio University is a public University dedicated to promoting research and learning in a small well focused set of intellectual areas such as family studies and home economics, geography and environment, nutrition and information technology. The University, situated in the centre of Athens and close to the Unesco World Heritage Centre of the Acropolis, originates from an educational institution that was first established in 1929 and gained the status of University in 1990. Harokopio University comprises three Schools and four Undergraduate Departments: School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics • Department of Economics and Sustainable Development  • Department of Geography School of Health Science and Education • Department of Nutrition and Dietetics School of Digital Technology • Department of Informatics and Telematics as well as six postgraduate programmes: 1. Sustainable Development 2. Education and Culture 3. Applied Nutrition and Dietetics 4. Nutrition and Health 5. Applied Geography and Spatial Management 6. International Master Program (MSc) “Sustainable Tourism Development: Heritage, Environment, Society“ in co-operation with the Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne University and the University of the Aegean. Research developing in the University contributes to the promotion of scientific knowledge and public health, as well as to the improvement of economic and social development of the country. According to international studies Harokopio University: a) is classified fourth and third, accordingly, among the Greek Universities, regarding international reports per publication of the Members of the Academic Community, and b) it is among the four Greek Universities, the publications of which have greater resonance and record indicators that approach the international average (EKT, recent study for the period 1993-2008).

The Department of Economics and Sustainable Development aims at the promotion of scientific knowledge and research for the quality of sustainable living of individuals, families and human communities but also the management of the natural and cultural environment. Graduates of the Department can be employed in education as well as in economic and environmental institutions. Students are offered a variety of education, culture, environment and economics modules including Pedagogical Studies, Entrepreneurship in Education, Cultural Routes – Educational Programs, Sustainable Tourism, and Microeconomics etc. Moreover, aiming at further promoting knowledge, understanding and skills in entrepreneurship among young people, the Department encourages research at post-graduate level by running three post-graduate programs:  “Education and Culture”, “Sustainable Development” and the International Master’s Program  “Sustainable Tourism Development: Heritage, Environment, Society”.

Address: 70,  El. Venizelou Street, 176 76, Athens, Greece

 Website: www.hua.gr

Team Members

Evangelia Georgitsoyanni

Evangelia Georgitsoyanni is a professor in history of art and civilization at the Harokopio University of Athens. She is a former vice-rector of academic affairs and personnel and former dean of the School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics at the Harokopio University, as well a former vice president of the General State Archives of Greece. She holds a bachelor of history and archaeology degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a master’s degree and a PhD from the University of Paris I (Panthéon - Sorbonne).

Katerina Antonopoulou

Katerina Antonopoulou is an Assistant Professor in Learning and Communication. Her research interests focus on the growth of communication in children with and without learning disabilities as well as the impact of social skills on children’s social behaviour and autonomy in the school and family contexts. Katerina Antonopoulou has published in numerous International and Greek scientific journals.

Sofia Kouvava

Sofia Kouvava is a Doctorate Candidate of Harokopio University. She is a qualified special needs teacher with teaching experience. Her research interests focus on the development of social and life skills in children and adolescents with learning and developmental disabilities.

  The AFID Difference Foundation is a charitable organization, created on June 23, 2005, by the National Association of Families for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities – AFID (1985), which focuses on rehabilitation initiatives, education, training and integration of persons with disability. AFID also promotes a wide range of activities of community support and close to home services in the areas of social assistance, infant care and senior assistance, as well as environmental care services. Vision: A quality and active life for people with disabilities and other target groups in an inclusive society. Mission: To promote autonomy and social support, health, education and training, in a sustained manner, fight exclusion, protect the clients and the heritage of the Foundation, and guarantee excellence in service provision. Social Responses: In the area of disability we have Occupational Activities Centers, Residential Homes, Vocational Training, a Resource Center for Inclusion and a Child Development Support Unit; for the elderly we have: Home Support Service and a Residential Structure; In health we have a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center. Some of the services are provided at the residence of the elderly and people with disabilities. AFID social work is certified by the ISO 9001:2008 Norm and by EQUASS – Level II – Excellence, in all its services, having become the first of its kind to achieve this goal in Portugal, and currently rating within the 17 top institutions in Europe in terms of the EQUASS certification system. Currently, AFID cares for over 1700 persons within its existing structures, having become one of the country’s most important Social Institutions – due both to the extension, diversity and comprehensiveness of the services it provides, but above all, by the efficiency of its management and technical intervention. And we have 230 staff members. In the Occupational Activities Center and Vocational Education Training the primary goal is to aid social-labour inclusiveness of people with intelectual disabilities, with the strong belief that everyone has work potential In what concerns the development, implementation and management of national and international projects, AFID has high international experience collaborating in partnership with several National and European organisations. Some capacity building programs/projects examples: • Dancing for Inclusion • DESQUAL • INDIVERSO • Design • QUES

Address: Rua Quinta do Paraíso, Alto do Moinho, 2610-316 Amadora, Portugal

 Website: www.fund-afid.org.pt

Team Members

Isabel Maria Marques Bordaleiro

Isabel Maria Marques Bordaleiro is Monitor of the weaving workshop at the AFID Difença foundation. Craftswoman in the area of Weaving. Trainer of arts and crafts at the National Museum of Ethnology. Trainer of arts and crafts at the Museum of Popular Art.

Mauro Filipe Ribeiro Fonseca

Mauro Filipe Ribeiro Fonseca holds a Degree in Communication and Cultural Sciences, branch of Journalism, Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies. He is Account Junior, organization of press conferences and brand promotion events, Hill + Knowlton Portugal. He is Deputy Director at the AFID Foundation. He has experience in international projects such as INDIVERSO *, DESIGN *, SEC4VET *, QUES *, Awareness 4 Change * and Crosswarp * (* ERASMUS +).

Isabel Maria da Silva Santos Ribeiro

Isabel Maria da Silva Santos Ribeiro is Monitor of the weaving workshop at the AFID Difença foundation.

Professional Course of Rehabilitation Superior Technicians.

Carpentry Trainer.

Margarida Barros Amaral

Margarida Barros Amaral, 25 years old, holds a Degree in Occupational Therapy, by Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão (ESSA), since 2018; She Postgraduated in Cognitive and Behavioural Neurosciences, by Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA) and Instituto de Ciências Sociais of Unidade Católica Portuguesa, since 2020.

She has working experience as an Occupational Therapist: Neuroestimulation Unit with elderly people; Multi-deficiency at a special education school, Multi-deficiency at the Occupational Activities Center (OAC) of Fundação AFID Diferença since 2019. Working as Technical Director of OAC from AFID since October, 2020.

Interest areas: Sensory Integration, Multi-deficiency (children and adults), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy.

Edite Duarte Antunes Gonçalves Sobrinho

Edite Duarte Antunes Gonçalves Sobrinho holds a Degree in Curative Psychopedagogy from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Modern University of Lisbon. She has Specialization in Convergent Psychopedagogy - Clinical Service, by CEPERJ (Center for Psychopedagogical Studies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). She is Project Coordinator at Fundação AFID Diferença, Manager of the Staff Training Service at Fundação AFID Diferença, and part of the depsrtment of Human Resources, Psychopedagogue at Fundação AFID Diferença, CAO (Center for Occupational Activities), Global Training and New Technologies activities.

She has experience in national projects on Augmentative Communication, and International Projects such as DESQUAL, INDIVERSO *, DESIGN *, SEC4VET *, QUES *, Awareness 4 Change * and Crosswarp * (* ERASMUS +).

ASTRA Museum is one of the most dynamic public museum in Romania when it comes to active preservation and promoting of tangible and intangible cultural heritage with ethnographic value. For the last five decades, it focused on gathering the most impressive and extended open air collection of traits and samples of Romanian rural civilization, developing programs and cultural activities for better understanding the life of the villagers in the entire country, as well as enhancing and promoting Romanian minorities’ collections and non-European collections. ASTRA Museum is a model of good practice in the implementation of sustainable development concept on cultural policies, carrying out strategic partnerships with important cultural institutions across Europe. Lately, the Museum has been focusing more on promoting traditional crafts and adopting measures to safeguard them, knowing that some of them risk to be lost, either because the techniques are not passed on from one generation to another, either as a result of the fact that they alone are not considered to be enough to assure a decent living standard. Thus, the museum’s efforts focus on assuring the transfer of endangered skills to new professions relating to architecture, construction, design and developing synergies between the old crafts, education and contemporary labor market in order to ensure survival and sustainability. In order to promote and safeguard the traditional crafts, including weaving, the Museum has developed a series of annual events and activities such as the educational program School in the traditional village, where families with children, young adults, teenagers or elderly people can take part in practical workshops carried out by museum specialists and craftsmen. Through these workshops, the visitors have the opportunity to get in touch and practice various traditional crafts and learn different working techniques. The Traditional Artistic Crafts’ Olympiad is an event organized annually for the past 22 years where over 200 children and teenagers from all around the country compete in crafts such as weaving, embroidery, painting on wood or glass, sculpting or making furniture, traditional mask making or egg painting. The Olympiad was granted the 2017 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards: special mentions, at the category Education, Training and Awareness-Raising (https://www.europanostra.org/2017-eu-prize-cultural-heritage-europa-nostraawards-special-mentions/). Nonetheless, the most important event dedicated to traditional crafts is represented by The Romanian Traditional Craftspeople Fair which is the largest and the oldest fair in Romania dedicated to traditional crafts and craftsmen. For the past 35 years, this event has represented the special occasion where craftsmen can display and sell their products to the public, whether we are talking about products made out of clay or wood, fabrics, traditional Romanian blouses, hats or painted furniture. Another such example would be ASTRA Multicultural (http://patrimoniudeschis.ro/prezentare-proiect/astra-multicultural-the-third-edition/?lang=en), the most recent event of ASTRA Museum which brings to the public the cultural values and traditions of various ethnic groups on the territory on Romania. At its third edition, the event had six major components: a multi-ethnic traditional music and dance festival, a multicultural fair for craftsmen, a multi-ethnic culinary marathon, workshops of Roma culture, an educational program and an international seminar. In addition to all the activities carried out by the museum – exhibitions, field and cabinet research, educational programs, fairs, workshops and seminars, a special interest is given to the implementation of international cooperation projects with non-refundable financing. ASTRA Museum has developed a department specialized in project management and implementation and, therefore, Call 2019 Round 1 KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices KA204 – Strategic Partnerships for adult education FormId KA204-B26A0E0B Deadline (Brussels Time) 26 Mar 2019 12:00:00 EN 31 / 132 has the specialists and expertise to take part in an international Project.

Str. Pădurea Dumbrava, 16, Sibiu, Romania

Website www.muzeulastra.ro

Team Members 

Management team:

Diana Roman (ASTRA Project Manager) – Head of the Project Management Department

Simona Voica (ASTRA Project Assistant) – Curator

Daniela Bobanga (ASTRA Financial Manager) – Chief Accountant

Implementation team:

Mirela Crețu (Researcher) – Director

Elena Găvan (Researcher) – Curator

Iulia Teodorescu (Researcher) – Restorer

Teodora Verza (Technician) – Curator

COGAMI (Galician Confederation of People with Disabilities) is a non profit entity declared of public utility and constituted by 54 local and regional associations created and managed by People with Physical Disabilities, in the year 1990. Its mission is to achieve the full inclusion of the people with disabilities in all areas of society, through the defence and promotion of their rights, the claim for social change, the empowerment of the associations and of the provision of services that meet their needs and expectations. It counts with delegations in the seven major cities of Galicia (Northwest Spain): Ferrol, A Coruña, Lugo, Vigo, Pontevedra, Ourense and the headquartered located in Santiago de Compostela, which converts it in the organization most representative all over Galicia, offering services to more than 20.000 people to the date. To achieve its mission, COGAMI provides the following services/activities: • Advice. • Information and guidance in all relevant aspects in the lives of the people with disabilities. • Active defence of the rights of people with disabilities. • Vocational training, in a wide range of specialities. • Accessibility intervention. • Promotion of employment for people with disabilities by means of a “Service for the Labour Integration” (employment agency) and promoting and managing social firms. • Self-employment support. • Coordination of member associations and strengthening the associative movement. • Promotion and management of volunteering. • Organization of leisure activities (Holiday program, European Exchange Projects, GAVEA project, others…). • Social intervention. • Personal assistance management. • Realization of awareness and informative talks. • Managing resources centres for people with disabilities… The organisation is a member of: – CERMI – Spanish Confederation of Organizations Representing People with Disabilities. – EAPN-Galicia – Galician Network against Poverty. – COCEMFE – Spanish Confederation of People with Physical Disabilities. -EASPD- European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities In addition, COGAMI has collaborations and agreements with other non-profit organizations, private companies, local and regional administrations at all levels in the implementation of policies and actions related to people with disabilities participating with other organizations throughout Europe, representing their member entities by the administrations. COGAMI has its own methodologies and learning systems developed under programs funded by the UE certified by 400 + EFQM European Excellence. At organizational level, COGAMI is composed by a General Assembly, Administration Board, Standing Committee, one Coordination Area and one Economical Area, these last two counts each one with, a coordination for each of the areas depending upon the needs and the resources available. A staff of professionals formed by social workers, labour counsellors, training monitors, psychologists, lawyers, economists, etc., formed these areas.

Address: Rúa Modesto Brocos, nº 7, 3 º Bloque, Baixo, 15704 Santiago de Compostela (a Coruna), Spain

 Website: www.cogami.gal

European University of Tirana is a leading university and research Centre in Albania, established in full compliance with the criteria of the Bologna Charter, including study program in the three levels of study: BA; MA and Doctorates. UET engages in high quality teaching and research as well as exchange programs and capacity building projects with local and international partners. UET is already participating in projects funded by the European Commission, such as: Erasmus+ KA2/Capacity Building for Higher Education Institutions (8 projects), being also a lead partner in one of the projects (EVIVA); Life Long Learning Program – Jean Monnet Chair (for the first time in Albania) LLP – Tempus Project (3 Tempus project) Erasmus Mundus; European Program for Science and Technology (COST)-7 cost actions accessed by our researcher; Erasmus + KA1 Credit Mobility (20 projects). UET has accessed other international and national donors, specifically for projects related to social and political sciences such as Visegrad Fund “EU Policy Lesson Learned from Visegrad Countries”. In line with its internationalization strategy, UET brings to its students and staff the most updated EU practices and enhances a peer-to-peer approach, such as “National Conflict in the Balkans” training course, conducted by students of Sorbonne University, France under the Broader Perspective project. European University of Tirana is particularly interested in the internationalisation of its study programs and thus it seeks to build successful partnership with other institutions in the region, in Europe and now also in the USA, Australia and China. UET has established the network Next Europe, which brings together leading universities in the Western Balkans and research centres in Europe (LSEE, UCL SSEES, EUI, CEU, Sciences Po etc.) with research expertise and interest in Albania and South East Europe. Currently, we are part also of the GTFP-Global Teaching Fellowship Program with CEU, an exchange program for recent PhD graduates from CEU who can teach at UET for one year. UET pays importance to its strategic communication, visibility of actions, dissemination of information, knowledge-sharing and exchange of experiences and know-how. UET is part of The European Charter for Researchers and it has started working on this direction by receiving the certification HR Excellence in Research of the European Commission (http://uet.edu.al/images/pdf/UET-2018-projects.pdf). Since 2018 UET offers new vocational courses tailored to meet needs of the job markets and future professionals. UET promotes issues such as gender equality and social inclusion, by providing support to socioeconomically disadvantaged people and encouraging active participation of people with disabilities in the community. In its previous projects, UET has provided different services including training/coaching/mentoring programs, conference and similar event organization, vocational education modules, research and publishing services (manuals, handbooks, reports, reviews, etc.), entrepreneurship incubator and programs, etc.

Address: Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta 70 H1 Njesia Bashkiake 7, 1023 Tirana, Albania 

Website: www.uet.edu.al

Team Members

Ermir Nika

Dr. Ermir Nika is Head of the Department of Applied Arts in the European University of Tirana. He has extended his professional activity in several fields of important both in terms of artistic creativity and in terms of study and research scientific. In 2016 he received the title Doctor of Philological Sciences with the topic: "The beginnings of modernity in Albanian novel prose, while in 2005 he completed postgraduate studies for the title Master at the University of Tirana, Faculty of History - Philology, branch Language - Literature. He would complete his higher studies in the field of language and literature in 2000 at the University of Tirana at the Faculty of History and Philology. Dr. Ermir Nika is the author of a series of literary and scholarly works.

Erisela Marko

Erisela Marko completed her Bachelor of Arts in Radio - TV and Film studies in 2006 at Eastern Mediterranean Universtity, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In 2009 she completed her Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies at the same university, with a degree in 'The Effects of New Communication Technologies on Teenagers: The Case Study of Computer Games'. A research paper published in 2011 along with another research paper 'Focusing on Eye Contact: Interpersonal Communication among Students at Eastern Mediterranean University', where Erisela is a co-author.

During 2004-2006 she worked as a Student Assistant in the Department of Radio - TV and Film Studies and in 2006-2009 as a Master Research Assistant in the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Eastern Mediterranean University. 2009-2012 worked as an external lecturer at the Department of Arts at the Faculty of Stage Art, Film Direction. From 2010 to 2017 she has worked as a film assistant and director assistant on Klan TV, Top-Channel, Digitalb and RTSH television, with various television programs and a feature film “The Forgiveness of Blood” directed by Joshua Marston. Winner of "Silver Berlin Bear" and "Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention" at Berlin International Film Festival 2011. Silver Hugo Award at Chicago International Film Festival 2011. "Special Mention" at Hamptons International Film Festival. From 2017 she holds the position of Assistant Lecturer at the European University of Tirana in the Department of Humanities and Communication, Faculty of Humanities, Education and Liberal Arts

Anila Zajmi-Katanolli

Anila Zajmi-Katanolli is Lecturer of Art at the Mode-Design cathedra at European University of Tirana. She has participated in many exhibitions in Albania and abroad. Her works are part of private collections in Albania, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Australia, etc.  

In 1989, she was awarded the Second Prize of Republic of Albania in the National Exhibition of November, at the National Gallery of Arts, Tirana.  

Anila contributes as expert in developing the professional curricula on fashion and design, to the National Education Agency, the sector of professions and professional qualifications.

Since May 1996, Anila directs the first professional fashion workshop/studio, with profound skills in creating and realizing regular season collections under the brand AZK, as designer in fashion, accessories, women and men artifacts, etc., experimenting with etno-Albanian themes for her AZK trademark. She is driven by experimental research and design of authentic fashion and art products, marked by a deep love and quest for ethnography in creating textile materials through traditional techniques and handicrafts.

In 2012 Anila created her line of decorative objects “Objet d’Art - AZK”, subsequent to the fashion clothing line, with a wider array of artistic objects’ design and realization in different materials, such as:

  • The soft line (covers/seatings, curtains, decorative pillows, etc.);
  • The glass line (mirrors, separe, etc.);
  • The tapestry and weave line (beddings, blankets, carpets, armchairs, etc.);
  • The accessory line (earings, necklaces, bracelets, bags, clips, circles, etc.);
  • The ceramic line (sets of cups, kitchen dishes and other utensils)

Following such creative period, Anila’s quest and diligent ethnographic studies of handicraft motives and techniques in fabrics and carpets, is channeled into creating and realizing products of conspicuous authentic Albanian character. 

 

 

The vocational training center MARGARITA is a specialized center for vocational training and employment for people with intellectual disabilities living in the Region of Attica. MARGARITA was founded in 1979 by Ioanna Tsokopoulou, mother of Leonidas, a child with Down syndrome. It is accredited as a Specialized Charitable Nonprofit Organization registered with FEK 539/B/17- 10/1978 (Government Gazette Number). MARGARITA hosts nearly 100 students, who all have the chance to participate in entertaining, cultural and educational activities. Attendance is free, as is the support provided to the students as well as their families. The approximate number of paid staff is 35 people meanwhile our volunteer database hosts 50 active members from different sectors. Services Provided by MARGARITA are the following: • Education and specialized vocational training These services are provided to young people with intellectual disabilities, aged from 14 to 25 years at the beginning of their studies, and the attendance lasts up to five years. The education is divided in 2 periods: The first period is the pre – training student program and the 2nd period is the student education on different professional fields in order to help them gather general vocational and social skills. • Employment Protected productive workshops designed as social enterprises, where students have the ability to work in producing gifts, ornaments, dragée purses, silkscreen, weaving and catering or in gardening. • Employment Opportunities MARGARITA provides students occupational orientation and support aiming at their integration in the free labor market. Until now 30 of graduates have found a job, whereas we support 14 of them on a regular basis. More specifically, MARGARITA has established the “Social services department” which employs social workers that are specialized in the field of employment opportunities of the graduates. In this framework, the department has established the “Work Environment Integration Service” which includes, practical training during studies, search for probable employers, on the job training and supervision of employees. The service investigates, the candidate’s wish to work, the capability and/or the wish of the family to support the candidate in this effort, the candidate’s capabilities, potential workplaces and the delineation of his/her professional profile. • Parallel – Support Services MARGARITA  provides to students and their families support by specialized personnel (psychiatrist, psychologist, social workers). • In 2013 the pilot program for supported living began in an apartment in Athens (Pagrati Area). MARGARITA’ s  goal is to provide young people with intellectual disabilities chances for personal development and progress, realization of their rights, autonomous living and social and professional integration. MARGARITA’s   vision is equality and total integration of people with intellectual disabilities in the society, in order for them to lead the fullest possible live.  ’s   resources are derived from the Region (which is the surveying authority), the Ministry of Labor, EU programs, social welfare funds, donations and sponsoring.

MARGARITA since its founding years has developed many sheltered workshops in different fields in which the service users are engaged in vocational activities. At the same time the Supported Employment department collaborates with the service users and their families to investigate their professional ambitions and how they can be rehabilitated vocationally. In order to support the vocational rehabilitation of the service users furthermore, MARGARITA is developing new services in which the sheltered workshops establish professional relationships with clients from the community that need their skills. This upscale make the sheltered workshops more connected to the society increasing the inclusion of the service users and improving their professional skills because they work in a real working environment. One of the sheltered workshops MARGARITA has plans to up-scale is the weaving workshop. In the weaving workshop the service users produce high quality weaning products using traditional looms. These products are very popular in bazaars and in MARGARITA’s recently opened selling point, ”Gallery 13m2”. The up-scaling will be completed by creating easy-to-read educational materials for the adults with intellectual disabilities participating in the workshop, by opening up in the society to create mixed classes of weaving, inviting professional from the field of weaving to exchange expertise in weaving and design and by creating a curriculum with specific goals based on the needs of the learners and the society.

Address: MESOLOGIOU 4-6, NEA PENTELI, ATHENS, GREECE

 Website: www.eeamargarita.gr

Team Members

Maria Sgourou

Maria Sgourou was born in 1959, in Samos island, Greece. Her initial studies were on Radio Operation in Merchant Navy, but she soon discovered her passion in the art of weaving. She studied the art of weaving at the Aggeliki Chatzimichali Museum of Folk Art and Tradition, in 1985 and she completed her studies at the Hellenic Organization of Small-Medium Enterprises and Crafts, in 1995.

She had been teaching the art of weaving to people with disabilities, working for 15 years as weaving instructor at the workshops of Sikiarideio Foundation and since 2017 at the weaving workshop of the Margarita Vocational Training Center.

She is the founder and president of the Specialized Association of Greek Weaving Art «Ilakateiai» founded in 2016. The Association organizes lectures, courses, seminars and events aiming to spread the traditional Greek weaving art.

Mrs Sgourou is also very active regarding the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage associated with the weaving art through lectures to clubs, associations and art venues and presentations to the general public.

Ioannis Bistas

Ioannis Bistas is the Director of the Educational Department of Vocational Training Center MARGARITA and a member of the Ex-Com of the organization. Ioannis has a BA in Philosophy of Pedagogical Psychology, with a specialization in Pedagogy from the University of Athens. 

He has 28 years of experience in vocational training and has participated in many European Projects. He ie member of the Board at The Greek Society of Supported Employment and at the GREEK Society of Toy Libraries.

Afrodite Koti

Mrs Afrodite Koti since 2019 works as an Administrative Assistant providing secretarial support at MARGARITA Vocational Training Centre a specialized center for vocational training and employment for people with intellectual disabilities.

Mrs Afrodite Koti worked at APHCA, a scientific, non-profit organization that developed activities and provided services relevant to the psychological wellbeing and mental health of children and adolescents in Greece, which included a hostel for children, a day center for adolescents, and two counseling help lines. It also had been active in the field of school bullying prevention and intervention with the implementation of a variety of programs addressed to elementary school children. During the years 1997-2005 she worked as an executive assistant at the Administration Dept. and the following years 2005-2014 she was the executive secretary at APHCA’s Educational Center providing secretarial support to the educators in organizing and conducting seminars for mental health professionals and special educators.

During the years 2000-2005 she worked as an executive assistant at University Mental Health Research Institute (UMHRI) providing secretarial support in organizing and conducting seminars for mental health and social welfare professionals and organizing congresses in regards to rehabilitation and deinstitutionalization process.

From 2012 and on-going, she is the executive assistant at the Institute of Classical Psychoanalysis, a scientific non-profit organization, providing secretarial support in organizing seminars and long-term courses in psychoanalytical studies, conferences and congresses for Mental Health Professionals.

THEOTOKOS Foundation is a welfare, non-profit, non-governmental organization, that is to say, a legal entity governed by private law. It was established in 1954 (Royal Decree 212 Issue I 08/09/1954) and is supervised by the Ministry of Labour Social Security & Welfare. The Foundation offers services to children and young people with intellectual disability and other developmental disorders as well as giving support to their families. Fundamental features of the internal operation and administration of the Foundation are the democratic decision-making and regulating processes. The mission of the Foundation is the education and training of 354 children and young people aged 2 -35, with the aim of facilitating their full participation in society. The main specialization fields are: • Special needs education and development of daily living skills • Vocational training • Promotion towards Supported Employment • Early Intervention.

All of THEOTOKOS staff is highly trained and specialized to offer the best possible services to children and young adults with intellectual developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorders. The Weaving Workshop Instructor is not only a good technical Instructor but also a trained Special educator. A Psychiatrist, a Psychologist, a Social Worker as well as a Special Educator/Occupational Therapist are always available to help in the design of the specific needs in the training Program.

Address: Koim Theotokou 2,  13122 Ilion, Greece

Website: www.theotokos.gr

Team Members

Venetia Panourgia

Venetia Panourgia is a vocational trainer in the weaving workshop at Theotokos Foundation. For the past 15 years she has been learning to weave along with young adults with developmental disorders. Her studies focused on special and inclusive education. This is the first Erasmus+ she is participating in.

Vaia Arsenopoulou

Vaia Arsenopoulou is a Speech Language Pathologist and Program Developer at Theotokos Foundation, Greece.  She has over 20 years of experience working with children, teenagers and young adults with developmental disorders. She is a certified adult trainer and has implemented group programs for adults with developmental disabilities, focusing on social, communication and job-related soft skills. She has experience in the use of technology to enhance learning via video modeling and serious digital games, as well as production of written materials in easy-to-read formats. She is a certified Makaton Language Program tutor. She has extensive experience in promoting the person centred model and promoting the participation of service users in their individual planning through the use of the ICF. For the past 4 years, she has coordinated and participated in many Erasmus+ projects.