Greece
• From 1/1/2024, Deputy Mayor of Athens for Climate Governance and Social Economy - Former MEMBER of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2/2/2012 – 1/7//2014 Vice-chairman of Regional Development Committee (REGI) of the European Parliament - Substitute member of Environment, Public Health and Food Security Committee (ENVI) Greens' rapporteur in EP for social cohesion policies, regional development, eco-innnovation, bio-economy, smart specialisation, marine spatial planning, eHealth policies, “blue” economy etc • President of the Board of Anemos Ananeosis / Wind of Renewal www.anemosananeosis.gr and project manager of the innovative and inclusive Welcommon Hostel www.welcommonhostel,gr in Athens • Regional Councillor in South Aegean (2010-2014) - Active in climate action, green transition, combating energy poverty, social economy, social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, sustainable tourism, marine and environmental protection - Organiser of a number of conferences and events on eco-innovation, green economy, social economy, industrial symbiosis, RES cooperatives, green ports, green shipping, green jobs in the European Parliament. • Member of the official list with certificated trainers on environmental issues created by the Greek Minister of Labour. • President of the Board and Project manager of MEDITERRANEAN SOS Network • Project manager of Ecological Recycling Society • Training of trainers, educators, technicians and scientists on environmental and social issues related to sustainability - Lectures and teaching about sustainable development, climate change issues, local agenda 21, coastal management, EMAS and Life Cycle Analysis, reduction and recycling issues, programmes and policy for marine protection - Environmental consultant in a number of european projects - Lectures about sustainable development - Representative of the Greek ecological NGOs in the Legislative Committee for waste management and for reduction and recycling of garbage, established by the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Public Works (1994-1998). - Representative of the Greek Environmental NGOs in the Alternative Management Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the Law 2939/6-8-2001 on the “alternative management of package and other products” established by the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Public Works (2001-2002).
He is project manager of energy strategies and projects. Wind of Renewal participates in 2 projects of European Climate Initiative and promotes a) education and awareness of 200 teachers from 73 school from Athens and the participation of 2000+ students in order to raise awareness about climate and reduction of energy consumption in schools. b) The training of 11 Greek young people (at the same time 11 young people in Spain) aimed to obtain professional qualifications for young people to promote the energy control in schools and other buildings to implement the innovative natural climate systems and practices that will transform schools into zero-emission buildings. (c) We want to make our innovative WELCOMMON HOSTEL, a new Hostel in Athens with social and green impact, more energy efficient as well as a demonstration center for energy efficient systems, a zero emission building, a training center for energy transition and climate protection in collaboration with different organizations, research centers, energy cooperative, financial institutions. With the WELCOMMON HOSTEL we are combining two “different” aims: sustainable tourism, green and social innovation with green transition, social inclusion, art, intercultural dialogue. (d) WoR is also active in promoting the energy transition and is planning the creation of a Energy Transition Lab in the Welcommon Hostel (space, experienced and spirited team, partnerships) in order to familiarize the students, engineers or any interested parties in energy transition, RES and energy efficiency (e) WoR is working for reduction of energy poverty (EP) promoting the empowerment of households, facing EP through consulting and implementation of low cost Energy Efficiency Measures, RES cooperatives, and behavior change (f) WoR combines technical and scientific know-how with empowerment and social skills on climate and energy transition policies
The WELCOMMON HOSTEL is a hostel in the center of Athens for sustainable tourism, a proposal for accommodation of social, cultural and environmental active persons during their stay in Athens. The WELCOMMON Hostel is something more than just a nice hostel with social impact. It is also a place for social gathering and experiment, a center for innovation and art, social and job integration for Greek locals, migrants and refugees. The WELCOMMON Hostel is run by the #SocEnt ANEMOS ANANEOSIS / WIND OF RENEWAL. Located in the heart of Athens, it is a 4-minute walk from National Archaeological Museum of Athens, 4-minute walk from Omonia Square. Our philosophy is that we want to be part of the social change we want to see happen. Anemos Ananeosis/Wind of Renewal has a strong commitment to building a better world through social and green innovation and the cooperative business model. We want to influence the direction of our society to become more sustainable and ecologically and socially fair. Our vision is to bring close people from all over the world, to enable them to communicate, to be entertained and to explore the creative side of Athens. We can introduce you to the world of Greece’s cultural, environmental and social organizations as well as of social economy. You can also contribute with your ideas and experience. It highlights the positive impact that cooperatives and social enterprises have on communities, revitalizing neighborhoods, making bridges between communities, social groups, newcomers and local people. Our mission is to daily improve and develop our services, make our hostel more than convenient, friendly and live, artistic and social innovative. We can organise your study trip in the city and provide details about interesting social events and groups. We can also supply you with all necessary information on other Greek cities, islands or a mountainside, connect you with cycling groups, or let you know the secrets of culinary delights.
“Anemos Ananeosis” (“Wind of Renewal”) is a social enterprise with main aims the promotion of green - circular economy, the development of social - cooperative and responsible economy, the promotion of culture, as well as the strengthening of environmental protection and intercultural dialogue key issues of our work: circular economy, social enterprises, combating energy poverty through green social innovation, social innovation in health / community health models, in home health care models, consultancy to municipalities. housing, empowerment and social integration of refugees based on social enterpreneurship etc
WELCOMMON was an innovative, model community center for accommodation to refugees, especially to people in need of long term care, promoting social inclusion and job integration of vulnerable groups of refugees victims of torture, rape, trafficking,pregnant women, families with newborns, people with disabilities, serious medical conditions and serious psychiatric disorders) run by the social cooperative ANEMOS ANANEOSIS / WIND OF RENEWAL. It was closed in Ferbuary 2018, hosting in 1,5 year more than 600 refugees from 22 nationalities. It was a structure not only for refugees but with refugees for the benefit of the local community as well. WELCOMMON is implemented by the social enterprise Wind of Renewal (“Anemos Ananeosis”) (WoR). It was in cooperation with Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA), and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). It was funded partially (hosting and functional costs) by the European Union until the end of February 2018. In order to shape our project, we cooperated with migrant and refugee communities and the organizations representing them in our country (Greek Migrants Forum, Greek Refugee Forum, Syrian-Greeks’ Union, while we studied the existing (good and bad) examples of similar projects. Our plan differed from most others, because it aimed in an integrated way in reception and housing (in decent conditions) of refugees in need of long term care but also in supporting their social and job integration. It is a pitty but it seems there is no room for social innovation concerning housing and inclusion of refugees with refugees for the benefit of the local communities. We were not able to find resources in order to be able to continue the project without the cooperation of the UNHCR and the development agency of the MUnicipality of Athens https://anemosananeosis.gr/en/actions-2/page/3/