CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
ELLET –a non profit NGO– has since 1972 been active in the fight for the preservation of the natural environment and our cultural heritage, bringing together volunteers, scientists, sponsors, members and friends all over Greece.
Read more: www.ellet.gr
The “Greek Paths of Culture” programme aims at supporting local communities in times of financial crisis through the protection of natural environment and cultural heritage.
Its main goals include:
“Greek Paths of Culture” is a particularly versatile programme, appealing to a variety of target audiences:
Eight years (2010 – 2018). The programme started in 2010 and has been running ever since, while interest and requests from local communities in many areas of Greece is steadily rising.
“An act of sheer brilliance!”, Bettany Hughes, Journalist & BBC Presenter, Prospect Magazine, 12/12/2012
The “Greek Paths of Culture” is an integrated, multi-disciplinary programme by ELLINIKI ETAIRIA - Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, which involves selecting, sign-posting and linking up a nexus of public footpaths in areas of particular environmental or cultural importance in Greece. Its implementation brings together scientists from many fields (geographers, archaeologists, historians, teachers, ornithologists), institutional players and representatives of the business / tourist industry, aiming – though highlighting landscapes – to extend the tourist season, create new jobs, improve the health of local populations and, indeed, quality of life.
The title of the programme, “Paths of Culture”, highlights its fundamental principle, that culture and the natural environment are considered as one unified whole.
Τhe “programme is ‘activated’ following a written request by the Municipal authority. Benefits are maximised for all parties involved when the Municipality supports, mobilises, informs, promotes and actively participates in the implementation of the programme. Then, a specialised associate (geographer or land-surveyor) is sent to the area, where, in collaboration with designated municipality representatives and local inhabitants, records the trails in electronic form and completes a signposting study. The next step involves the bi-lingual signposting in eco-friendly materials. Lastly, particular attention is given to the sustainability of the programme and its development over time, through actions such as the ‘adoption’ of particular paths by schools and the formation of groups or societies of ‘Path Friends’.
Communicating the “Paths of Culture” programme is of particular importance, in order to increase visibility and establish an interaction with international websites.
Specifically:
The whole of Greece - areas of particular natural or cultural interest.
The programme has been implemented or is currently in progress in the following areas:
Future implementation areas: Delphi, Tinos, Lefkada.
Cooperation with other bodies / associations – both in Greece and abroad – constitutes a basic factor for the successful implementation of the Programme “Greek Paths of Culture”.
We cooperate with:
always on the basis of sustainable tourist development, through the protection and promotion of our natural and cultural heritage.
Katerina Stebili, Programme Manager
Katerina Vlachou, Secretarial Support
A number of external associates and providers (from 5 to 10 people) for each different area, both in Athens and on a local level: Researcher, cartographer, graphic designer, photographer, signmakers, workers, etc
