ThessVolunteer
Thess Volunteer was designed to strengthen the culture of volunteering in Thessaloniki by connecting volunteers with municipal bodies, educational institutions, companies, and civil society organizations. The program promoted active civic engagement and supported alternative forms of volunteering, encouraging participants to initiate and lead their own initiatives.
Within its framework, a Volunteer Guide and a Volunteer Coordinators’ Guide were developed, while 73 individuals were trained through targeted seminars. In total, 72 volunteers participated in 7 activities and two (2) public events (including EuroPride, the Greenwave Festival, and the Volunteer Forum), significantly enhancing the visibility of volunteering in the city.
Additionally, eight (8) volunteer groups were hosted through 27 meetings in collaboration with ThessDiktio and SolidarityNow, while 26 organizational representatives were trained during the 1st Volunteer Forum, contributing to the development of a strong and collaborative volunteering ecosystem in Thessaloniki. The program was implemented with the support of the John S. Latsis Foundation.
Active Citizens Fund
With a budget of €15 million, the Active Citizens Fund programme, funded by Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway, forms part of the EEA Funding Mechanism for the period 2014-2021. The programme sought to develop the long-term sustainability and capacity of civil society, in order to reinforce its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and the protection of human rights. In Greece, the Fund was managed by the Bodossaki Foundation in partnership with SolidarityNow.
The program was successfully completed in 2024, having funded 128 initiatives implemented by 208 civil society organizations and partners. With significant impact, 154,000 people directly benefited from the actions, while more than 4.35 million individuals were reached through awareness-raising activities.
Detailed results of the programme can be found here. The evaluation of the Active Citizens Fund programme for Greece here.