CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
PRAKSIS whose main goal is the design, application and implementation of humanitarian programs and medical interventions, the elimination of social and economic exclusion of vulnerable social groups and the defense of their personal and social rights.
Read more: www.praksis.gr
The on-the field training “To Help, You Must First Understand” is a life-changing experience designed by NGO PRAKSIS professional team. Its goal is to raise participants’ awareness and stimulate thinking and action as well relatively to social exclusion and daily survival of vulnerable groups, especially during the current crisis. It is a “hands on” experience that can be combined to any Corporate Social Responsibility program and enhance its outreach. The program constitutes a cutting edge initiative through its interactive seminars and workshops, while it combines the needs of broader social groups such as companies that want to contribute to society, their employees who wish to volunteer as well as of social excluded population affected by the long-term crisis.
Designed by professionals of the humanitarian field, the program is suitable to each company’s employee who is willing to offer his/her support to PRAKSIS programs in every possible way. The program provides the suitable support for each participant to enable thorough understanding of the problem. Further to this, the seminar provides holistic approach to the facets of the problem and promotes a wide range of solutions that are applicable individually or on a corporate basis.
The seminar was inspired and designed by PRAKSIS professionals aimed at:
Contributing towards further engagement of employees with the cause and supplementing existing CSR activities of the company (engagement). Building a strong motivation with regard to volunteering activities not as an ad hoc compulsory action but as a life attitude, while giving the opportunity to company’s employees to experience the problem of humanitarian crisis and the general problems faced by social excluded groups. Through the "hands on" training, employees assess in a better way the effects of their company’s CRS activities, they embrace and promote them to their wider environment, and thus become active supporters of these efforts. Finally, through appreciation, corporate loyalty is enhanced.
This training seminar is designed for employees from all levels and sectors of a company, as part of the CSR process, benefiting them both on personal and professional level.
2 - 3 months
Through the broadening of the crisis, the last five years, Greek society has gradually lost much of what was considered established. The results of this social disintegration are visible to all of us, sometimes in the face of a stranger satisfying his hunger out of the garbage, sometimes in the eyes of a child from our neighboring family, who was forced to leave the apartment due to unpaid rent and sometimes in our own bills remaining unpaid till a next month. The current financial crisis has proven us that only through strong cooperation and enhanced links between the civil society, corporate and institutional sectors we can build a coherent social network.
The seminar is divided in three parts, its of them aims to provide the suitable support for each participant to enable thorough understanding of the problem faced by social excluded groups, while provide an holistic approach to the facets of the problem and promotes a wide range of solutions that are applicable individually or on a corporate basis. The first two parts are being held at company’s premises while the final part is being held in Day Centers of any other structure of PRAKSIS.
The first part (Day 1) introduces participants into the core philosophy of PRAKSIS humanitarian programs and medical interventions and its provided services, while problems faced by social excluded groups are also discussed. A detailed account is given to the facets of the Greek crisis and its implications on Greek society, the role of NGOs and the organization structure of PRAKSIS. In addition, two identical questionnaires will be filled in. The first one will be completed prior to the initiation of the Seminar and the second one after its completion. The main purpose of this process is for employees to face their own initial answers. This is the perfect way for them to tell the difference in what they believed before and after the Awareness Training Seminar as well as to actually understand how this new knowledge can be of help in a personal, professional and social level.
The second part (Day 2) consists of an interactive role playing activity with the participation of small groups of participants. The main goal of this activity is for the participants to be able to get a thorough understanding of the problem faced by Greek families that face the repercussions of the financial crisis, asylum seekers and homeless people, through the activity of representation of social excluded population and the design of the right tools and programs in order to cover the emergent needs.
During the third part (Day 3) participants have the opportunity to get involved and make a difference in the homeless Day Centers of PRAKSIS in Athens/Thessaloniki or any other structure of PRAKSIS. This part consists of a “hands on” experience as participants are introduced to the concept of street work and take part in special designed street work routes, while at the end of the day participants have, also, the opportunity to carry out voluntary work. Employees have the option to individually decide on how their participation fee will be reaching vulnerable groups through PRAKSIS (e.g. purchasing of two sleeping bags or food for a whole week for a family etc.). The employees’ participation fee is being covered by their companies while all sessions take place during office hours.
Results for the employee-participant include:
1. Development of flexible thinking and resourcefulness, cultivates stress management, better prioritization of our personal needs.
2. Better understanding of social reality.
3. Enhanced Team building.
4. Development of the collaboration skills within a team.
Measurable results:
- 92% of the employees stated that they were enough to very satisfied with the overall performance of the program.
- 32% of the participants understood better the role and structure of PRAKSIS.
- 25% of the participants understood better the Greek content of crisis and its implications on society.
- 16% of the participants understood better the problems faced by homeless population and the “SYN sto PLIN” program.
- 20% increase in the attitude of employees with regard to corporate image and SCR programs.
All the Seminar Sessions are being held during the employees’ working hours at Roche’s premises in Athens and Thessaloniki and the Day Centers or other structures of PRAKSIS in Athens and Thessaloniki, as well.
Roche Hellas A.E., Mondelez International, PRAKTIKER.
In total, 160 employees participated in Athens and Thessaloniki.
1. Strengthen bonds and cultivate synergies with private sector.
2. Promotes the concept of volunteerism.
3. Raise awareness among employees.
No Connection with Global Goals found