CIVIL SOCIETY: 290 PRACTICES
EERco is established in 1997 non formally and 1999 formally. EERco main-core was as a Dancetheater group of professional artists. After many years of experimentation, the professional performers became leaders of youth and new talents in arts-related professions. Since 2003, EER has extended its activities and started functioning as a non Governmental Organization with Inclusive Culture and Arts & Innovation Social Activities.
THE FOOTPRINTS OF THE TIMETHREAD
THESSALONIKI – CHANIA | JULY 2025 This is a social solidarity initiative focused on accident prevention accidents and raising awareness about road safety, sustainable transportation, and empathy in public spaces, will take place in July 2025 in two cities: Thessaloniki and Chania and with an international impact.
On the initiative of the Cultural Organization ESAI EN ROI and the PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION OF SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY FOR FAMILIES OF ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIMS ACCIDENTS "Saint Christopher", and with the participation of 11 young Europeans from 9 countries and 12 European visual artists based in Chania, the program is part of the European Solidarity Corps' "MAXIMIZE ARTS AND CREATIVITY SKILLS," focusing on the human stories behind the statistics of road accidents and strengthening collective responsibility.
The initiative is aimed primarily at young people, youth workers, educators, the artistic, academic and sports communities, as well as civil society organizations interested in sustainable urban mobility, road safety, and social empathy. Combining artistic expression with active participation, the campaign targeted a diverse audience, from health and road safety professionals to policymakers and local communities to young volunteers with related interests. Another important target group was citizens who had experienced traffic accidents directly or indirectly, as the project sought to honor their stories and shape a collective consciousness of prevention and responsibility. The audience was further expanded to include families, cultural organizations, and institutions at the local and European level. Through its multidimensional nature, the initiative appealed to those interested in art and culture as well as green transportation, utilizing bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, walking, and other natural forms of exercise. We hope that the results will serve as a source of inspiration and a springboard for those involved in social awareness and policy-making, as well as for those seeking innovative educational practices. The campaign managed to bring together a wide range of participants and stakeholders, each of whom identified with different aspects of the campaign: artistic, educational, research, preventive, or social.
July 2025, with a preparatory phase from spring 2025 and dissemination of results until autumn 2025.
The initiative was implemented with the philosophy that artistic creation and social participation can coexist and feed into each other. It was not limited to a classic awareness campaign, but introduced innovative tools: soundscapes from interviews and testimonies, photographic impressions of urban mobility, video narratives depicting everyday life in Thessaloniki. The decision to involve both young and older participants was innovative, as it highlighted intergenerational dialogue and collective responsibility. Collaboration with institutions such as the Institute of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Traffic Police Directorate of Thessaloniki, the War Museum, the Floating Museum, The Thessaloniki's Railway Friends Association, and PROTEKTA of Pavlos Melas and Evosmos Municipalities underscored a holistic approach that brought together education, art, and politics. The exhibition "Traces after Chaos" set an example, bringing to light diverse perspectives on the consequences of road accidents. What made the initiative unique was its multidisciplinary nature and the connection of local cultural identity with European values of solidarity, conveying messages of prevention, empathy, and sustainability beyond the narrow confines of the community.
ACTIONS & PLACES (Brief Development)
Thessaloniki
July 11, 2025 | IMET (Institute for Sustainable Mobility & Transport Networks)
July 14, 2025 | Thessaloniki Traffic Police Headquarters
Presentation of statistical data on traffic accidents in the city, information on prevention, and experiential exercises in simulators. Creation of audiovisual material (reels).
July 15, 2025 | Thessaloniki Railway Museum
Guided tour of the city's historic trains and training on railway transport safety. Visualization of the experience in educational reels.
July 16, 2025 | Nations Park
Film screenings on accident prevention and an art workshop on creative expression with the participation of young people.
July 17, 2025 | Thessaloniki Floating Museum
Educational tour of Thessaloniki's maritime history exhibits. Reels focusing on maritime transport safety and eco-friendly navigation.
July 18, 2025 | molto-radio | Youth Workers Radio Show
Radio program dedicated to sustainable mobility and empathy, with stories from young people across Europe.
July 21, 2025 | Thessaloniki War Museum
Educational visit focusing on the history of air transport and aviation safety. Production of reels for use in the prevention campaign.
July 23, 2025 | Ivanov Park
Film screenings and interactive art workshops to raise public awareness of accident prevention, with the participation of young people.
July 24, 2025 | Protektos Pavlos Melas & Evosmos | First Aid & CPR Seminar
Practical first aid training in case of accidents and learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from expert trainers.
July 25, 2025 | molto-radio | Youth Workers Radio Show
Second themed youth radio show on accident prevention and social initiatives that are changing the landscape of urban mobility.
July 28, 2025 | Ombreles Zongolopoulos | GREEN VELOCITY Art Event
Large public event with music, cycling education, CPR dance, and creation of comic flyers by young artists involved in the action. Distribution of advertising leaflets featuring comics with educational messages about green and safe transportation, created by the working group's graphic designer. In addition, an informative talk on bicycle maintenance and proper use was given by a member of the team, a triathlon champion.
July 29, 2025 | Farewell meeting
A festive gathering was held at a tavern in Thessaloniki as a farewell celebration.
Chania – Azogyres, Paleochora
July 19 & 20, 2025 | Koukoutsaki Hall | Road Accident Prevention Exhibition
Exhibition of historical and contemporary artworks dedicated to the prevention of road accidents, with parallel educational discussions.
July 26, 2025 | Koukoutsaki Hall | Vintage Artworks Exhibition
A special tribute to the Koukoutsaki family's vintage artworks, dedicated to the memory of road accident victims.
July 27, 2025 | Chania Cultural Center | Presentation of the Azogire (Koukoutsakis) Exhibition
Transfer and presentation of the Azogire Exhibition at the Chania Cultural Center, reinforcing the social dialogue on road safety.
Hybrid (Online & In-person)
July 25, 2025 | GREEN PORTALS THINKTANK | International Symposium
Hybrid conference with participants from Greece and abroad, focusing on sustainable mobility, accident prevention, and social empathy. The initiative was coordinated by a volunteer specializing in marketing and management, who was recognized for her outstanding performance by the Legacy Project (Global Youth Awards 2025).
The initiative achieved substantial and multiple results. At the social level, it stimulated public dialogue on prevention, empathy, and sustainable mobility. On a cultural level, it created lasting works—exhibitions, audio and visual materials—that remain tools for reflection. At the educational level, participants acquired skills in artistic expression, first aid, and intercultural communication. In addition, green mobility was promoted through the use of scooters, bicycles, walking, rollerblading, and other similar practices, encouraging fuel-free physical movement while improving the physical condition and quality of life of participants. The public was moved by the participatory nature of the actions; we hope that the campaign will not remain at the level of information but will encourage citizens to take responsible attitudes in their daily travel. For this reason, the material will be upgraded and co-designed with the contribution of a special team of experts, educators, and researchers in the field of traffic education. The aim is to use it in primary and secondary education as a supplementary educational tool for school programs, but also to serve as a starting point for the design of special voluntary actions within the framework of academic social policy programs, suitable for young students. The families of road accident victims found a place to make their voices heard. Young people gained a deeper sense of European solidarity, understanding that common challenges require collective solutions. The action transformed the abstract concept of "prevention" into a hands-on experience, expressed through art and empathy, leaving a mark that goes beyond its duration.
1. Field Actions (awareness campaigns, transport stations interventions, public performances)
Impact on participants: They experience direct civic engagement, gain communication skills, and feel empowered by contributing visibly to society.
Impact on community: Passersby and citizens are reached in their everyday environments, making the message about safety and sustainable mobility unavoidable, relatable, and memorable.
Innovative element: Everyday public spaces are transformed into learning and awareness arenas, bridging the gap between activism and daily life.
2. Workshops (interactive, educational, creative labs)
Impact on participants: They acquire practical knowledge on accident prevention, empathy-building, and sustainable transport solutions. Workshops also promote teamwork and intercultural dialogue.
Impact on community: Through knowledge transfer, participants can later become multipliers in their own local contexts, ensuring long-term impact.
Innovative element: Learning is not only cognitive but experiential, blending technical safety knowledge with empathy exercises and creative problem-solving.
3. Artistic Interventions (painting, installations, participatory art, performances)
Impact on participants: They connect emotionally with the topic, express concerns and hopes through creativity, and foster a sense of ownership over public space.
Impact on community: Artistic outcomes spark reflection, generate dialogue, and make abstract issues (like accident prevention) tangible and accessible to all ages.
Innovative element: Art becomes a vehicle for safety education, crossing cultural and language barriers, while embedding the message in the collective memory of the city.
4. Radio Broadcasts and Media Engagement
Impact on participants: Youth learn media skills, public speaking, and how to communicate social messages effectively.
Impact on community: Broader audiences, beyond those physically present at activities, are reached through radio and digital channels, expanding the social footprint of the initiative.
Innovative element: Radio acts as both a pedagogical tool and a dissemination medium, blending tradition with modern outreach in a participatory way.
5. International Symposium
Impact on participants: They gain a sense of global belonging, exchange good practices, and build long-term partnerships. This enhances both their personal growth and professional development as future youth workers or civic leaders.
Impact on community: Local actors (universities, municipalities, civil society) are exposed to European-level perspectives, encouraging stronger regional and international collaborations.
Innovative element: The symposium is not an isolated academic event, but the culmination of a participatory process, showcasing real outcomes from field and artistic actions, bridging grassroots activism with policy-level dialogue.
Overall Positive Impact: The program’s layered design ensures a 360-degree effect: individual empowerment, community awareness, artistic transformation of public space, broad dissemination through media, and structural change through international dialogue. Its innovation lies in merging art, activism, education, and civic space into a single coherent initiative.
Thessaloniki (Central Macedonia) and Chania (Crete), Greece. The activities were hosted in cultural venues, museums, public spaces, and outdoor locations throughout the city.
ORGANIZERS
Thessaloniki is becoming a place for international meetings, dialogue, and action with the organization of "The Thread of Time and its Imprints," in collaboration with the Second Municipal Community of Thessaloniki the Deputy Mayor for Technical Works, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Mobility, the assistance of the E Community of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, and the financial support of the European Solidarity Corps.
In Chania, it is being organized by the Regional Unit of Chania and the Region of Crete, with the participation of the Cultural Association of Azogeres Paleochora and the support of the Panhellenic Association for the Assistance and Solidarity of Families of Road Accident Victims "Agios Christoforos" and the Association of People with Disabilities of Chania.
SUPPORT/COOPERATION
OTHER AFFILIATIONS
Program co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps of the European Union, under the auspices of the MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT.
Communication sponsor: ERT3 and radio 95.8
The participants were 12 adult foreigners (from Chania, curators of the art exhibition TA ICHNI META TO CHAOS) and 11 young people from Europe and around the world aged between 18 and 25, who worked hard to create the campaign material from the city of Thessaloniki.
The initiative was supported by a strong team of professionals, youth workers, and volunteers. The coordinators ensured the organization of the workshops, exhibitions, and symposium, while collaborating organizations provided valuable support in hosting and guiding the participants. Volunteers from Greece and Europe played a decisive role, bringing the campaign to life with their creativity, energy, and teamwork—from the production of visual and audio material to the active involvement of citizens. Local organizations and artistic partners contributed to the curation, exhibition design, and educational interventions. Volunteers also supported the practical aspects—translations, event documentation, and dissemination of material on social networks. This combination of professional experience and volunteer contribution created a dynamic environment of collaboration, giving participants a sense of co-ownership and empowerment.
The initiative was designed with a holistic and experiential approach, combining education, creativity, and civic engagement to foster awareness on transport safety, empathy, and sustainable mobility. Its implementation followed a multi-layered structure: field actions, workshops, artistic interventions, radio broadcasts, and a culminating international symposium. This ensured that participants engaged both intellectually and emotionally, while also reaching the wider community. Innovative elements include the fusion of artistic expression with safety education, the participatory role of youth from diverse cultural backgrounds, and the use of public spaces as interactive learning environments. These features make the initiative stand out as both educational and socially impactful, blending theory, practice, and creativity in a way that stimulates long-lasting awareness and action.
