MUNICIPALITIES: 124 PRACTICES
The Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni is a municipality of the Region of Central Macedonia which was established in 2011 from the merger of the pre-existing municipalities of Ampelokipi and Menemeni. It occupies the north-western edge of the Urban Development Complex of Thessaloniki and its population amounts to 52,127 inhabitants. Its seat is Ampelokipi and its mayor is Lazaros Kyrizoglou.
This project is part of the effort to make the public aware of volunteerism and environmental protection, as well as to activate them to take initiatives in this direction.
The intended goals of the project are:
The target groups of the project are:
The project started on 03-06-2021 and was completed on 02-04-2022. Duration 10 months.
One of the most important environmental problems facing the region of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni is air pollution. The main source of this is the intense use of road infrastructure and therefore the increased use of the car. The industrial area located at the western entrance of the PST and the existence of industrial units on a national scale have a particularly polluting effect to the detriment of the municipality's air quality. In the area of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, the phenomenon of "road ravines, due to dense construction, tall buildings, narrow roads, heavy traffic load and meteorological conditions" is typical. The emissions of highly polluting gases from the industries and crafts of the specific zone pose a threat to the gaseous environment of the wider region.
The problem of air pollution is combined with the problem of noise. Major roads of the city pass through the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, with particularly high traffic. The increased road traffic is initially due to the large residential development of the area. In addition, these road axes are used daily by the entire city of Thessaloniki, because they lead to the industrial area located in a neighboring municipality and lead to the western entrance - exit of the city of Thessaloniki. The municipality also has a railway network, which passes through a densely populated area. Finally, an additional cause of noise is the fact that in D.K. In Menemeni, there is a large installation of industries - crafts, wholesale spaces and repair shops, while additional oil facilities, Intercity Bus station facilities, as well as a number of transport companies operate there.
Taking into account the above, the implementation of the project was chosen, which aims to strengthen ecological awareness and concerns the planning and implementation of actions to raise public awareness in matters of volunteerism and environmental protection and to activate them to take initiatives in this direction. The project includes the following Work Packages (WPs):
Work Package A. Planning and implementation of forty-three (43) Information and Volunteer Actions on Atmospheric Pollution, Noise and the improvement of the Urban Environment.
Thirty-nine (39) children's workshops (each lasting two hours) were planned and implemented on the topic of air pollution and noise with the aim of effectively informing and immediately raising children's awareness of environmental issues that particularly concern the area of the Municipality. air pollution and noise were presented in separate workshops so that they are distinct and better understood by the students.
In consultation with the directors of the schools, it was decided to implement them for 5th and 6th grade elementary school children. This choice was made because the children of these classes are taught the subject of Environmental Studies, so they have already learned some introductory concepts related to the protection of the environment and because they are at the right age to accept the relevant knowledge All primary schools of the Municipality of Ampelokipi- Menemeni were informed about the action and were offered the opportunity to participate. A total of 9 primary schools participated in the action. The workshops were implemented during the months of February and March 2022, strictly observing the relevant health protocols. Priority was given to strict adherence to health protocols to reduce the possibility of exposing the teaching staff and student body of the schools to a dangerous viral load.
The institutional framework for the protection of the personal data of the participating students, teachers and parents/guardians was respected, based on the current legislation. The students' participation in the educational program was optional and was done with the signed consent of their parents/guardians and with the agreement of the Directorate and the Teachers' Association, in accordance with the terms and conditions defined in the current legislation for the implementation of educational programs.
The workshops were attended by a total of 26 5th and 6th grade classes. In the school records, the declared students of these departments were 445. In practice, due to the special circumstances, as the workshops took place during a period in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, 342 students attended the workshops.
The workshops contain presentations, games and experiments, suitably designed for children, by experts.
During the workshops there was initially an interactive briefing on air pollution and noise, in which the students also actively participated with questions and observations. Then, once the students had a complete picture and the relevant knowledge, they followed some easy and fun games/quizzes to put what they learned into practice. Finally, the last part of the workshop was followed by a group experiment and the analysis of its results. Before the workshop ended, there was a discussion about what the students had learned in the whole two hours and they were asked to fill in a specially designed workshop evaluation questionnaire.
The students were given a canvas bag which contained the following:
A 52-page issue in magazine format, with information on the topics of air pollution and noise, games, quizzes and experiments.
A two-page booklet with instructions and information for the ozone recording experiment, which was done as part of the air pollution laboratory.
A certificate of participation.
A specially designed evaluation questionnaire.
A USB stick which contains the Electronic Environmental Guide, which were designed in the context of Work Package B (Creation of Electronic Environmental Guide & Application).
During the ozone recording experiment the students were given the special ozone recording tape. It was not given earlier because the specific films must be hermetically protected until a few minutes before they are used.
The students, with few exceptions, participated very actively, showed a lot of interest, asked a lot of questions and comments, did not seem tired or bored during the workshops and gave us very positive impressions. They especially seemed to enjoy the interactive games and experiments.
Three (3) interactive workshops were planned and implemented, entitled: "Live workshop for the mitigation of the Urban Heat Island (ATH) in West Thessaloniki", each lasting three hours.
The central topic of the workshops was the "Urban Heat Island" phenomenon, i.e. the increase in temperature and the microclimate that is created in the urban landscape during the summer months. The main objective of the interactive workshops was to inform and sensitize the residents, employees of the Municipality and local actors in the Municipality of Ampelokipi-Menemeni about the causes, effects and ways of mitigating the Urban Heat Island. The workshop participants were able to co-create and synthesize their own solutions to mitigate the Urban Heat Island and improve the microclimate in a central outdoor space, intended for plaza and playground regeneration, through a process critical dialogue. This area concerned the forecourt of the 2nd and 12th primary school, of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni. The workshop was guided step by step by the lecturer through the stages of analysis and planning and had an experiential nature.
The activity of the workshops had a very satisfactory impact on the audience as the participants watched the presentation with interest and actively participated in the discussion, asking questions to the speaker, but also discussing among themselves. In fact, they proposed interesting ideas and proposals for small urban renewals and the creation of green spaces and revitalization. Despite the special circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, public attendance can be considered satisfactory. It is estimated that the possibility of live monitoring of the workshops via the internet, as well as the recording of the workshops for future review, helped significantly in the further diffusion of knowledge in the society and in the dissemination of the results
The speaker's presentation, adjusted to a level so that it could be understood by all, piqued their interest, which was evident from the commentary and questions asked. In the second part of the workshop, the participants went from the theoretical background to practice, through the collaborative exercise and the dialogue for the regeneration simulation. The feedback from the participants at the end of each workshop was very positive, as they enjoyed the subject matter, learned useful information related to their area and gained knowledge about a topic that until recently was more academic and less known to the public, although they experienced it in the their everyday life.
One (1) workshop entitled: "Urban renewals and revitalization of environmentally degraded lands" was planned and implemented, for the improvement, regeneration of cities and revitalization of degraded environmental lands. With an emphasis on enclaves and wider areas within the urban fabric that show environmental degradation, as well as integrated regeneration policies using the available tools, the areas of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, which show environmental degradation, were presented. The Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni set an example for other Municipalities to carry out similar practices of urban upgrades and environmental relief, aiming to enhance the quality of life of citizens.
Work Package B. Creation of an electronic environmental guide and application (application) to inform and activate the citizens of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni on the issues touched by the invitation, namely: air pollution, noise & the improvement of the urban environment.
Designed and developed an electronic environmental guide and an application for mobile phones (Awareness App), related to issues of air pollution, noise & improvement of the urban environment. Also, 2500 USB sticks containing the environmental guide were created and distributed to students and citizens of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, with a capacity of at least 2GB, with the Act's logo printed on it.
About the Awareness App:
The purpose of the application is to educate and inform Citizens about the issues of air pollution, noise and the upgrading of the urban environment, by reading information and playing related quizzes. The awareness and active participation of citizens regarding environmental issues is provided, as by using the application they are given the opportunity to record problems in their area, to actively help by doing some good deeds, but also to share their point of view. It is available on Android and iOS.
About the Electronic Environmental Guide:
It is part of a holistic approach that includes education and information on scientific information on the issues of air pollution, noise and the upgrading of the urban environment. It is an important solution for overcoming obstacles and engaging citizens in awareness issues.
Work Package C. Creation of a Platform for informing and supporting volunteering and environmental protection actions. The possibilities and role of the online platform (https://ecologiki-sinidisi.gr) is to inform and raise awareness among its users about voluntary actions for the environment in the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni. The purpose is to understand the importance of joint effort in the context of improving the standard of living within the boundaries of the Municipality. Users of the platform are both the residents of the Municipality and citizens from the wider region, but also the entire Greek territory who are interested in information about environmental voluntary actions and assistance in them.
Work Package D. Publication of Results.
An informative event was organized and implemented to publicize, utilize and disseminate the results, which resulted from all the actions that took place in the context of the implementation of the project and specifically, in the context of raising public awareness in matters of volunteerism and environmental protection.
During the informative event, all the actions, in total, implemented by the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, in the context of the act entitled: "Strengthening ecological awareness and promoting environmental volunteerism in the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni", were presented.
Audience participation was quite high, either live or online.
Work Package E. Promotion - Communication of Actions.
Actions were implemented to promote and advertise all of the actions to raise public awareness in matters of volunteerism and environmental protection. The specific action concerns the provision of communication and publicity services with the aim of creating the "identity" of the act on the one hand and on the other hand raising public awareness of volunteerism and environmental protection.
In more detail:
1. A Communication and Results Dissemination Plan was created
2. A logo-sign of the act was designed
3. Action posters were designed and produced
4. Single-page promotional forms were designed and produced for the different actions of the act
5. An informative video was created about the interventions and actions of the Act
6. Radio spot created
7. A TV spot was created
8. Registration in printed media
9. Advertising in media (radio, television, print media)
10. Participation of a representative of the Municipality in a television program - participation support
11. Promotion of journalistic material
The results of the project are as follows:
Particularly:
Upon completion of the children's workshops, the participants:
The main conclusion is that the action undoubtedly managed to achieve the information and awareness of the students on two issues, which are particularly magnified in the Municipality of Ampelokipi- Menemeni, and directly concern it.
As can be seen from the analysis of the results of the evaluation questionnaires, about 80% of our students said that the presentation helped them a lot or very much in learning more about air pollution and noise. The educational materials of the workshops (bag, USB stick, issue, etc.) were very or very much liked by over 90% of the students, while 89.5% of the students liked the experiment and quizzes very much or very much.
The message of the workshops was successfully transmitted to the participants, giving stimuli and a trigger for more dialogue and thus making small but steady steps towards strengthening the activism of citizens on environmental issues and also motivating them for more active participation in them. Through the students, their parents are also expected to be informed and sensitized indirectly, with the result that the action has an even greater impact.
Upon completion of the Urban Heat Island workshops, the participants:
The main conclusion is that the action managed to achieve the information and awareness of the world in a subject, which until now was unknown and especially, in its causes and ways of dealing with it. The message of the workshops was successfully transmitted to the participants, giving stimuli and a trigger for more dialogue and thus making small but steady steps towards strengthening the activism of citizens on environmental issues, as well as motivating them for more active participation in them.
The day achieved its main purpose, which was to inform about the current situation of the areas that present environmental degradation and to present proposals for integrated renovations to citizens, residents and local actors, not only of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, but and the wider area. Interesting proposals and practices were heard from both the presenters and the participants, who exchanged opinions with each other.
The Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni set an example for other Municipalities to carry out similar practices of urban upgrades and environmental relief, aiming to enhance the quality of life of citizens.
In the context of the methods of planning and implementation of the practice, proposals and interventions that have been launched for environmentally degraded areas of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, using urban planning, financial and other available institutional tools, were presented.
The set of activities of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, in addition to the conference and workshops mentioned above, also includes the creation of an online platform, an electronic environmental guide, as well as an online application for mobile phones or tablets. Users of the above applications can be all citizens without exception. Based on the above, it is evident that the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni is trying to modernize and keep up with new technologies, while remaining close to the citizen, embracing their problems and understanding their needs.
With the use of the USB stick, which includes the electronic environmental guide, the participants of the conference, as well as the primary school students, are given the opportunity to be informed in the future about the concepts of the urban environment, air pollution and noise. Children can urge their parents to adopt simple daily habits, which will contribute to the improvement of the environment, such as the reduced use of the car, as well as to learn from an early age to take care of their environment,.
2,500 USBs were created, some of which were distributed to students and citizens of the Municipality of Ampelokipi - Menemeni.
Municipality of Ampelokipi – Menemeni
There was cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Primary Directorate of Western Thessaloniki to secure the permission to implement the workshops in the schools and with the principals of the schools to conduct the workshops. In the context of conducting the ATHN workshops and the days, the municipality proceeded to approach various local environmental bodies, professional associations, representatives of craft and industrial units in the area and other citizens' associations.
In particular, there was collaboration with:
For the implementation of the action, a project team (employees of the municipality from the services necessary for its implementation) was established, by decision of the mayor.
Creation of a platform (https://ecologiki-sinidisi.gr) for information and support of volunteering and environmental protection actions.
Creation of an electronic environmental guide on issues of air pollution, noise and improvement of the urban environment (http://ipo.ecologiki-sinidisi.gr/#/welcome).
Creation of an application for mobile phones, which includes:
Finally, actions were taken to promote and publicize the project, specifically:
