Shedia is the only Greek street magazine and member of the International Network of Street Papers – INSP, www.street-papers.org. As it happens with all street magazines worldwide, Shedia is sold exclusively on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki (on crowded city spots such as metro stations, central squares etc), by official vendors. Vendors come from socially vulnerable population groups such as homeless people and long-term unemployed and socially excluded fellow citizens experiencing poverty.
Street paper vendors buy copies of the magazine for 1,50 euro (at a price of 50% of the cover price) and sell them for 3,00 euro, keeping the proceeds. "Shedia" not only provides employment opportunities for individuals to earn a minimum decent income, but importantly, to build confidence, their capacity to help themselves, to re-integrate into society and finally to improve their economic and social well-being. It is, essentially, a social reintegration process, through which individuals who until yesterday felt "invisible" (their own term), recover their belief that they can and will reach it.
Through “Shedia” they have a new ability to relive the simple and obvious. To wake up in the morning and have a goal. Have an office to welcome them, go to the "pitches" in the center of the city, interact with people to conciliation, to enter into friendships, to sell or not to sell one, two or five magazines. They enjoy the recovery of a sense of "belonging". That, they are living cells, members of our society. And the hope for total recall is becoming real.
This social process, however, involves also the general public who buys “Shedia", supporting in this way the individual who is selling it. It is not a classic case of "purchase". It is a process that raises awareness and mobilizes all of us against poverty and exclusion in any form. A social transaction, through which all of us can draw of "something". People in "Shedia" are not passive recipients of an act of love or charity, but an active part of the process part of which they are. “Shedia" is not begging. Vendors do not beg, but with dignity sell the magazine, which previously they themselves have purchased, to ensure a minimum income. Therefore, “Shedia" is not charity.
From the journalistic aspect, "Shedia" is an independent, consistent magazine with strong social characteristics, in which dozens of experienced and celebrities, but also younger journalists full of enthusiasm and knowledge contribute their work. An optimistic magazine of general interest with particular emphasis on free reportage (social and cultural, artistic, sporting, from Greece and internationally) and the keen sense of humor.