GRÈCE  2008       

Elix - CVG

ELIX -Conservation Volunteers Greece is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization promoting, since 1987, voluntary service and education. The main goal of ELIX is the personal development of individuals as citizens of the world, through active participation. Environmental protection, cultural heritage conservation, culture promotion and social service are the main thematic fields of ELIX's voluntary projects. 

ELIX aims in bringing together people from different cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds, willing to live, learn and work together as a team, through their participation in voluntary projects of enovironmental, cultural, social interest. ELIX projects promote intercultural exchanges and offer young people the opportunity to participate actively in the every day life of a hosting community.

activities
- ELIX organizes two or three weeks' workcamps mainly in the summer; participants learn traditional restoration craft and techniques, offer voluntary work to the hosting community, organise and participate in cultural and fun activities, share ideas and cultures. ELIX's work camps give to communities and small villages of Greece the opportunity to meet and host young people from all over the world and, with their contribution, to implement important projects for the local community.
- ELIX organises training seminars for youth workers and campleaders and a lot of activities addressed to volunteers, throughout the year, such as weekend and one-day excursions, environmental, cultural and fun activities, regular volunteers' meetings. 
- Finally, ELIX realises at present two hosting projects within the frame of the European Voluntary Service of the Youth in Action Program and each year sends a large number of E.V.S. volunteers abroad.

funds
ELIX's funds come mainly from volunteers’ participation fees, national and local bodies, such as the Greek General Secretariat for Youth, the Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, physical planning and public works, private institutions or foundations, donations, the Youth in Action Program and other European projects (Leonardo da Vinci, etc.).

projects in Greece
International workcamps in Greece are organised in co-operation with ministries, local authorities, forestry departments, cultural associations, etc. Their duration varies from 2 to 3 weeks and they are mainly realised in summer. Each group of volunteers numbers approximately 15 volunteers and two camp-leaders responsible for them. ELIX always appoints a stand by coordinator for each program, who is in constant communication with the group leaders and the hosts. Most of the projects are addressed to adult volunteers except from projects addressed to teenagers. If volunteers under 18 years old wish to participate in one of ELIX's project, they should send their application along with an approval letter signed by their parents or guardians.

work 
Each host decides on the priorities and takes up the guidance concerning work. The host in cooperation with ELIX defines and organizes work long before the beginning of the workcamp, but sleazy factors might occur; ELIX is not responsible for any last moment changes, concerning work, by the host and always tries to inform the group of volunteers thoroughly and in time. Participants work 5-6 hours/day, 5 days/week, on a voluntary basis, along with their camp-leaders and, if needed, a skilled technician appointed by the host. Volunteers must be committed to their choice to offer voluntary work; consequently, they there are expected to be responsible and receptive. 

accommodation
ELIX, in cooperation with the hosts, makes up rooms for the board and lodging of the volunteers. Volunteers are usually hosted in schools, youth centres, hospices, guesthouses, etc., with the basic facilities (showers, toilets). Each day, two volunteers from the group are assigned to cook for the group and clean their "home". 

language
The majority of ELIX 's camps have English as communication language; there are cases of French speaking camps, but that is always specified in the workcamps' descriptions. In any case, participants are expected to be able to communicate with the rest of the groups' volunteers and the camp-leaders.

insurance 
During each workcamp, volunteers are insured against accidents. First aid is provided on site.

free time
Free time activities depend on the possibilities for recreation existing in each area, as well as the interest and needs of each group. Free time expenses are not covered by ELIX.

expenses
ELIX  and each host cover the expenses for the board and lodging of the volunteers, but volunteers have to cover their travel expenses, as well as the expenses for the free time during the workcamp.

extra fee
Unfortunately, ELIX is forced to charge volunteers with extra fee due to financial problems that come from the decrease of financial support to voluntary projects from the local authorities. In order to maintain quality standards and continue offering the best we can to the volunteers who choose to come and offer voluntary work in Greece, we are obliged to add extra fee in our work camps, the amount of which depends on the project and the support ELIX has received for its realisation. Fortunately, this year, the extra fee will be smaller than it was during the past couple of years and is indicated at the project's list. The sending organisations are obliged to inform their volunteers on the extra fee on their catalogues and ELIX is obliged to indicate the extra fee when the projects' infosheets are sent for volunteers. Volunteers should pay the extra fee with a bank transfer to ELIX before the beginning of the workcamp otherwise in cash on the field.

LES CHANTIERS  2008

"REVIVAL OF THE PAST"
ELIX 01 AMVRAKIA I ETOLOAKARNANIA 23/07 - 06/08 RENO / ENVI

WORK: The old, traditional, stone made Primary school is an ornament for the village of Amvrakia. During the last two years voluntary groups started renovation works in the precincts of the school (They relayed pebble, built banquettes of stone and started removing the old plaster from the surface). In summer 2008, volunteers will continue working in order to improve the old building and they are also going to contribute in the restoration, renovation and conservation of traditional cobblestone pavements and terraces in different parts of the village. 
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in the old Primary School. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group's accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that will be bought for them from a big city, not very close, called Thermo. 
LOCATION: Amvrakia is a traditional, isolated village of Etoloakarnania, near the city of Thermo, a political and religious centre during antiquity. The city of Thermo is 60 km away from the city of Messologgi and Amvrakia is 46 km from Agrinio, another big city of the area. During the past few years, former inhabitants of the village, who have formed an association for its preservation, make strong efforts to find funds in order to save the old stone made building, cobblestone pavements and squares. The small village has luxuriant vegetation, a beautiful waterfall where volunteers will have the chance to swim, an old watermill in the bed of river Gidomandritis and very hospitable villagers who await joyfully each year the groups of volunteers.
TERMINAL: Athens International airport ''El. Venizelos''/ Araxos (Patras' airport) 

NOTE: Volunteers should have in mind that the village is isolated and the access to and from it is quite difficult.

''PRESERVING ANCIENT FOOTPATHS''
ELIX 03 ANDROS I CYCLADES 26/06 - 12/07 RENO / ENVI 
ELIX 04 ANDROS II CYCLADES 13/07 - 29/07 RENO / ENVI
ELIX 05 ANDROS III CYCLADES 30/07 - 14/08 RENO / ENVI 

WORK: The municipality of Andros has an extended network of footpaths, spreading in a wide area, that have been signalled and chart - mapped by the Cyclades prefecture and the Municipality. Local and tourists ramblers often wander in this footpaths' network for the extra reason that, due to the landscape, it is not possible, in most cases, to create routes for vehicles. Volunteers will work under the guidance of locals in order to clean, conserve, renew the signals and, generally, to highlight some of the most important footpaths of old times, which used to be the main routes of communication among the villages and ports of the island. 
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in Chora's (the capital of the island) High School. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group's accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area. 
LOCATION: Andros is the northern island of the Cyclades complex, a little smaller than Naxos. Its surface covers 380 m2. The trip to the island from the port of Rafina (around 1 & 1/5 from Athens) lasts about 2 hours. Visitors arrive at the port of Gavrio and need 36 km in order to reach the capital, Chora. Chora was built on a peninsula and ends up in a small island, on which there is still a medieval fortress. This small island is separated from the peninsula by a narrow sea strip, 2- 3 m wide and its communication to the land is achieved through a stone made culvert. The central avenue of Chora leads to the sea and the large central square of the Back-room Macker, where stands the homonymic statue, done by a famous sculptor, Michael Tombros. Chora is an aesthetically impressive city and combines the beauties of the old city and its narrow stone made alleys, with the new city of imposing stately homes, built during the previous century, while seafaring in the island reached its peak. 
TERMINAL: Athens International Airport 'El.Venizelos' / Andros Airport

''RESERVING ANCIENT FOOTPATHS"
ELIX 06 KORTHI I CYCLADES 14/07 - 30/07 RENO / ENVI 
ELIX 07 KORTHI II CYCLADES 31/07 - 16/08 RENO / ENVI 
ELIX 08 KORTHI III CYCLADES 01/09 - 17/09 RENO / ENVI 

WORK: The municipality of Korthi has an extended network of footpaths, spreading in a wide area, that have been signalled and chart - mapped by the Cyclades prefecture and the Municipality. Local and tourists ramblers often wander in this footpaths' network for the extra reason that, due to the landscape, it is not possible, in most cases, to create routes for vehicles. Volunteers will mainly work in order to clean, open and renew the signals of the most important footpaths of the network. They will start cleaning the footpath E3 that connects Korthi and Chora, the capital of the island, about 7 km long. They will continue by opening and putting signals of the footpath that connects Moussionas - Petres - Tromarchia, 4 km long. They might proceed in cleaning the footpath that connects the Convent of Panachrantos with Chora. 
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in the High School of the village Ormos. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group's accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area. 
LOCATION: Andros is the northern island of the Cyclades complex, a little smaller than Naxos. Its surface covers 380 m2. The trip to the island from the port of Rafina (around 1 & 1/5 from Athens) lasts about 2 hours. The Municipality of Korthi lays on the southern part of the island, where the castle of Faneromeni is, a medieval fortress, which dominates the area. The Municipality of Korthi is crossed north by two bulge - massifs, called Guerakones, which consist the natural border with the Municipality of Andros and the Municipality of Rahi. Between those bulge -massifs lies the fertile flat of Korthi and the imposing canyon at Dipotamata, with abundant running waters and a large number of watermills. The municipality is full of small, picturesque villages, built amphitheatrically, with a wonderful view. Following the old footpaths, one can admire windmills and watermills, dovecotes, convents and small chapels, culverts and beautiful stately houses. The administrative and commercial centre of the Municipality is the village of Ormos. 
TERMINAL: Athens International Airport ''El.Venizelos'' / Andros Airport.

''OPENING ANCIENT FOOTPATHS''
ELIX 09 TINOS I 22/06 - 08/07 RENO / ENVI 
ELIX 10 TINOS II 09/07 - 24/07 RENO / ENVI 

WORK: The municipality of Exomvourgo has an extended network of footpaths, spreading in a wide area, that have been signaled and chart - mapped by the Cyclades prefecture and the Municipality. Local and tourists ramblers often wander in this footpaths' network for the extra reason that, due to the landscape, it is not possible, in most cases, to create routes for vehicles. Volunteers will mainly work in order to clean, open and renew the signals of the most important footpaths of the network. 
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in the Primary School of the village Steni. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group's accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area. 
LOCATION: The island ''not made by human hand'', as characterised by the philosopher Cornelius Kastoriades, is one of the North Cyclades. Its surface covers about 195 m2 and it is smaller than Naxos and Andros. The Municipality of Exomvourgo has 35 villages, 30 of them are traditional and 5 onshore; covers the 2/3 of the island. It is the less developed area concerning tourism on the island; it is a mainly agricultural and semi - mountainous area, but it is the part of the island with the most beautiful sites, with inhabitants who like keeping traditions and customs. The structured scenery, with the 30 traditional dorps, the dovecotes, the culverts, the fountains, the mils, the small chapels, the museums and, also the unstructured scenery, with the granite bulges in Volax, Voliaka, Livada, Polemos, Kambos, the coombs, the field-grassland, the beaches, the antiquities at Kionia (temple of Posidon), at Exomvourgo (capital of the island during the Venetian rule), the Tower of the Maid and a large number of other unexplored places and wonders, compose a site of great interest for the sight-seer tourist and a lovely and sacred place for the local inhabitants. Both workcamps will take place in Steni, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages of the Municipality.
TERMINAL: Athens International AIrport ''El. Venizelos''.



''PRESERVING ANCIENT FOOTPATHS"
ELIX 11 TINOS III 14/10 - 30/10 RENO / ENVI 

WORK: The municipality of Exomvourgo has an extended network of footpaths, spreading in a wide area, that have been signaled and chart - mapped by the Cyclades prefecture and the Municipality. Local and tourists ramblers often wander in this footpaths' network for the extra reason that, due to the landscape, it is not possible, in most cases, to create routes for vehicles. Volunteers will mainly work in order to clean, open and renew the signals of the most important footpaths of the network. 
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in the Primary School of the village Falatado. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group's accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area. 
LOCATION: The island ''not made by human hand'', as characterised by the philosopher Cornelius Kastoriades, is one of the North Cyclades. Its surface covers about 195 m2 and it is smaller than Naxos and Andros. The Municipality of Exomvourgo has 35 villages, 30 of them are traditional and 5 onshore; covers the 2/3 of the island. It is the less developed area concerning tourism on the island; it is a mainly agricultural and semi - mountainous area, but it is the part of the island with the most beautiful sites, with inhabitants who like keeping traditions and customs. The structured scenery, with the 30 traditional dorps, the dovecotes, the culverts, the fountains, the mils, the small chapels, the museums and, also the unstructured scenery, with the granite bulges in Volax, Voliaka, Livada, Polemos, Kambos, the coombs, the field-grassland, the beaches, the antiquities at Kionia (temple of Posidon), at Exomvourgo (capital of the island during the Venetian rule), the Tower of the Maid and a large number of other unexplored places and wonders, compose a site of great interest for the sight-seer tourist and a lovely and sacred place for the local inhabitants. Both workcamps will take place in Steni, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages of the Municipality.
TERMINAL: Athens International Airport ''El. Venizelos''.



"ANCIENT FOOTPATHS OPEN NEW HORIZONS"
ELIX 12 ÊÅÁ I CYCLADES 25/06 - 10/07 RENO/SOCI 
ELIX 13 ÊÅÁ IÉ CYCLADES 17/08 - 01/09 RENO/SOCI 

WORK: It is the second year in a row that ELIX cooperates with the Municipality of Kea. The island of Kea has a long history in pedestrian courses, through its developed network of footpaths that goes back in the antiquity. Many of these footpaths are already marked and signaled and offer to local and tourist ramblers the possibility to get to know the island, walking through picturesque courses, where vehicles cannot approach. Volunteers will clean the footpaths from the vegetation and they will renovate and signal, wherever needed. The areas where volunteers are going to work will be chosen relatively to the needs for the places which are going to be used for the narrations of fairy tales, during the Fairy Tales Festival. 
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in the Primary School of Korissia, the port of the island. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group's accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area. 
LOCATION: Kea, resembling a water drop, is considered the natural bridge of communication of the mainland of Greece with the Cyclades. Kea is one of the biggest Cycladic islands; the most western cycladic island and the nearest to Attica (only 40 miles from Piraeus and 16 miles from Lavrion ports). The gulf of Saint Nikolaos, situated at the north-west of the island, is one of the biggest natural harbours of the Mediterranean. Kea's history starts from the prehistoric times. Kea is the home of 16 of the 1300 plants that grow only in Greece. The south-eastern part of the island was included in the network of NATURA 2000. During the past few years, the island has great tourist development, without losing its traditional colour. Each year, since 2002, the Festival of Fairy Tales is held all around the island, on ancient footpaths, forests, beaches, archaeological sites, churches' precincts and, generally, places where people can gather, with different themes per year; this year's theme is: 'Dragons' and the festival will last from 12 - 20 of July. Through these activities, visitors take the chance to get to know the island, its history, traditions, legends, and customs. 
TERMINAL: Athens international airport ''El. Venizelos''.
NOTE: This project will be organised in cooperation with the Greek Council for Refugees and its Cultural Centre "Pixida". Its aim is to connect people who, either themselves or members of their families, have been refugees and, through an international workcamp, to encourage them share experiences and search the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

"KEPEP CENTRE -GIFTS FOR LIFE" 
ELIX 14 LECHENA I PELOPONNESSUS 07/07 - 22/07 SOCI/DISA
ELIX 15 LECHENA II PELOPONNESSUS 23/07 - 08/08 SOCI/DOSA 

WORK: These workcamps will take place in cooperation with the N.G.O. Fair Trade Hellas. F.T.H. aims in promoting fair and fellow-feeling trade in Greece and in educating responsible and conscious consumers. Its main activity, until today, is the promotion of certified fair-trade products, through two non - profit stores in Athens and in Thessaloniki. At the same time, F.T.H. realises educational projects for children and young people all over Greece. Volunteers of both groups, in cooperation with the children and young people hosted in the KEPEP Centre, along with the specialised professionals of the Centre, will make different, small objects with fair trade materials, which are going to be sold in the F.T.H. stores, in order to sensitize people concerning the children and young people of the KEPEP Centre and to collect funds for voluntary events in the Centre. Volunteers will have the chance to meet other foreign volunteers who live and work in the Centre through the European Voluntary Service program (EVS), of the European Union. 
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in one of the schools of the town. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group's accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area. 
LOCATION: KEPEP is located in the town of Lechena, in the district of Ilia-Peloponessus, in Greece. Lechena is a small town of 4.000 inhabitants located on the huge and clean coast of Kilini, about half an hour from the city of Patras. KEPEP is a centre specialised in the care and hosting of seriously disabled children and young people, from 6 to 28 years old, from families who lack financial means or abandon them. Some of the institution inmates are mentally and physically handicapped. The institution occupies a sufficient number of paid staff, comprising 85 nurses. KEPEP provides the following services: medical diagnosis, physiotherapy, psychological and speech therapy and rehabilitation. The inmates participate daily in a programme aiming to improve their abilities and their life conditions. ELIX has been in cooperation with the KEPEP Centre for three