ENVIRONMENT

CIVIL SOCIETY: 52 PRACTICES


TOPIC:

Initiative

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Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Αθανάσιος Κ. Λασκαρίδης

The Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation was established in 2016 with the mission to act as a catalyst in addressing major issues concerning Greece and Hellenism. Its work focuses on three main pillars: environmental protection, the support of micro-entrepreneurship, and the advancement of initiatives that serve the common good.

The Foundation has a wide umbrella of programs that tackle pollution, support academic research, promote environmental awareness, and educate younger generations. It designs and implements its own initiatives, collaborates with partner organizations, and supports joint actions by other institutions. What truly sets the Foundation apart is its constant, hands-on presence in the field every single day, across every corner of Greece.



Objective Action

Through the "Typhoon Project", the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation aims to be at the heart of meaningful action for the marine environment, both in Greece and internationally. The mission of "Typhoon" goes beyond cleaning the entire Greek coastline: it restores and protects sensitive ecosystems, supports scientific research, fosters collaborations, and raises awareness through educational initiatives.

The program’s goal goes beyond tackling pollution and restoring coastal environments. It aims to deliver lasting solutions and effectively shape environmental policies.

 

Target Audience

The "Typhoon Project" addresses the Greek society as a whole, with a special focus on the local communities of the islands and coastal areas. At the same time, it engages the scientific community through systematic data collection, students and youth through awareness activities, as well as policy makers by contributing to the development of marine protection strategies.

 

 

Duration

The “Typhoon Project” is in its sixth year of operation. Launched in 2019, it continues year-round to this day.


Description

Unique in the Mediterranean, the "Typhoon Project" is the flagship program of the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation. At its core is the “Typhoon,” a 72-meter Norwegian-built vessel with a permanent crew of 35 people and 5 speedboats, operating year-round to clean Greece’s inaccessible shores.

Beyond immediate coastal cleanups, the “Typhoon Project” has uncovered a wealth of valuable data on coastal pollution. All collected waste is recorded, categorized, weighed, and entered in the Foundation’s database, which is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in the Mediterranean.


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Impact on Society

In six years of continuous field presence and thousands of hours of cleanups, the “Typhoon Project” has completed the cleaning of the entire Greek island coastline and most of the mainland. Since its first operation in 2019, it has cleaned 4,332 shores, removed 885 tons of waste, nearly 20 million items, and over 41,844 cubic meters of waste, equivalent to three times the volume of Thessaloniki's White Tower.

Since February 2023, “Typhoon” has embarked on a second round of cleanups nationwide. Data so far indicates that the same shores that were cleaned during the first cycle are now showing improvements of up to 80%, demonstrating not only the initiative’s effectiveness but also the growing public awareness of the issue.

Additionally, the program has created the largest and most comprehensive database on coastal pollution in the Mediterranean, and has involved thousands of students, citizens, and volunteers, cultivating active participation and strengthening environmental consciousness.



Initiative Location

The “Typhoon Project” operates across Greece, covering the entire island coastline and the majority of the mainland, focusing on cleaning remote and inaccessible shores.


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Working with Organization

Collaboration is a key pillar of the "Typhoon Project". In partnership with the University of Patras, “Typhoon” operates as an oceanographic base to study benthic litter using ROVs, recording waste at depths of up to 50 meters.

With the University of the Aegean and its spin-off team SciDrones, drones and AI technology are deployed to automatically detect and map shoreline litter, creating tools that enhance and optimize clean-up actions.

In collaboration with the Technical University of Crete, research is being conducted on the chemical substances released into the environment from cigarette butt leaching. Finally, the project also works with additional stakeholders and Ministries, constantly expanding its network of partnerships to protect the marine environment.


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Workers Participation

“Typhoon” is staffed with a permanent crew of 35 people who work full-time, eight hours a day, under demanding field conditions. At the same time, the program engages students, citizens, and local communities through cleanup and awareness activities, enhancing public participation in marine protection. Volunteers from the Armed Forces also participate actively in Typhoon's cleanup operations, giving the project an institutional and collective dimension.


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Benefits for Οrganization

The “Typhoon Project” has established the Foundation as a point of reference for marine protection in both Greece and the Mediterranean. It has been recognized as a best practice in the EU's “Mission Restore our Ocean & Waters Charter”, while its contribution to Greece’s coastal protection was officially acknowledged by the Greek Government and presented to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the 9th Our Ocean Conference.

Meanwhile, university partnerships have positioned the program as a reliable source of crucial marine pollution data. International recognition, increased public engagement, and societal trust are significant benefits that strengthen the Foundation’s work.

The “Typhoon Project” is entirely funded by the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, demonstrating its steadfast commitment to environmental protection.




Connection with Global Goals






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