Emm. Benaki 93-95, GR 106 81 ATHENS

“Citizens in Action” is a non-profit, non-governmental, youth organisation based in Athens.

The aims of C.i.A are:
· To support and promote the idea of active citizenship to the young people, through new forms of social commitment and participation, for a democratic and open society.
· To encourage the circulation of people and ideas through international exchanges, with the aim of the enhancement of knowledge, mutual understanding and peace.
· To contribute to community and local development through the participation of local and foreign volunteers in projects of benefit to all, with an emphasis on rural areas.
· To promote people's participation to defend and define their quality of life, aiming at the protection of the human dignity and the environment.

To achieve its aims, C.i.A invites its members to practical action, with emphasis on youth voluntary work, youth mobility and communication, international exchanges and non-formal education.
Activities

Volunteer projects

Workcamps
Workcamps are a very efficient training tool. C.i.A is organising workcamps in different parts of Greece, with the participation of young people from Greece and abroad. The aim of this activity is to promote the idea of voluntary work for supporting local development and cover needs related to the protection of the environment and cultural heritage. For the realisation of these projects C.i.A is closely co-operating with local authorities and local youth groups.

Weekend activities
C.i.A organises weekends of voluntary activities, on a regular base, mainly in Athens, but also in other areas.

European Voluntary Service
C.i.A is also involved in the European Voluntary Service (E.V.S.) programme, both as sending and hosting organisation.

Local groups

· Support of local groups, active in different areas according to local realities (e.g. environmental protection, youth expression, youth mobility, training etc). Training of young people in project planning and management; counselling of the group, till they become independent actors in local social life.
· Networking of the different local groups on a national and international level.
· Promoting the dissemination of information.

Networks

· Exchange of experiences and good practices.
· Platforms for open dialogue and exchange of information.
· Meetings (national and international) seminars, symposia and campaigns on different themes, such us democracy and youth participation, human rights, racism, peace, quality of life etc.

Training - education

Seminars and workshops, in a theoretical and experiential way, on two main areas:
· Intercultural learning
· Active citizenship

C.i.A is actively involved in the EVS training as a partner of the National Agency of Greece.
“Istos” - Youth Expression Centre One of the main and permanent activities of C.i.A is the Youth Expression Centre. The centre is in Athens and it offers:

Space for expression. It hosts exhibitions of young artists, of other NGOs and various artistic events.

Space for meeting. For young people individually or in groups, of different NGO's, of social groups, with the aim to promote the exchange of information, knowledge and to search for areas of common interest and action.

Space for information. Information material is available to the public, regarding all the activities run by young people and organizations, nationally and internationally. Leaflets, magazines, books and Internet access, concerning youth matters, European policies and programmes.

Space for training,
Planning and realisation of seminars, conferences, lectures on different subjects, suggested and organised by active members on a regular base.

Citizens in Action Workcamps

ü Every international workcamp team is formed by 15 volunteers
(12 international & 3 Greek participants)
ü Volunteers are working 30 hours per week (Monday to Saturday).
ü The language spoken in our workcamps is English
ü Every day life: the group organises home duty teams, so that everybody can participate in the cleaning, tidying up and preparation of the meals.
ü Leader team: Camp leaders are volunteers too. They are not there to manage everything alone but to advice volunteers and suggest various activities. They are a link between the different actors of the workcamp: the organising association, the project sponsor, the local population and the volunteers.
ü Age Limit: 18 years old minimum – no maximum
ü Insurance: Volunteers are insured against accident, only within the specific dates of each project. First aid is provided on site.

Our insurance does not cover lost or stolen objects, or illness (except those due to accidents).
Volunteers from the EU countries must bring the E111 form (medical, pharmaceutical and hospitalisation cover).

ü Volunteers cover free time activities costs on their own.
ü In all Camps volunteers should bring: sleeping bag, a mat, working clothes, walking shoes, torch and batteries.

C.i.A Workcamps 2008

Code	Name	Location	Area	Dates			Type	Age	Vols
				Start	-	End
C.i.A 01	Oropos I	Oropos	Attica	04/7	-	18/7	Reno/Kids	18+	15
C.i.A 02	Oropos II	Oropos	Attica	19/7	-	03/8	Cult	18+	20
C.i.A 03	Pentalofo I	Kozani	Macedonia	04/8	-	20/8	Ren/Fest	18+	15

C.i.A 01 Oropos I Oropos Attica 04/7 - 18/7 Reno/Kids 18+ 15 Vols

LOCATION: Oropos village is divided in two areas the mountain village and the seaport village. The workcamp will take place on the mountain village which in any case is less than 30min away from the sea. Oropos is situated in Viotia region, on the Southern Euboean Gulf, in Attica.

WORK: Volunteers will participate in small renovation works in public spaces (play grounds & squares) of the village. Some days they will also organise activities for the children aiming to raise their environmental and intercultural awareness. The local partner, hosting the project, decides on the priorities and the co-ordination of the work. Volunteers will work 5 hours per day, 6 days per week. C.i.A. is not responsible for any changes in the work.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be hosted at a public school. Toilets, showers and cooking facilities are provided. Participants will prepare meals themselves, in shifts.

FREE TIME: Sunday and afternoon visits, to the most important sites of the area. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to see some of the cultural events organised in different parts of the area. Camp-leaders will organise free time activities in co-operation with the volunteers and the local partner. C.i.A does not cover free time activities expenses.

TERMINAL: Athens airport.
C.i.A 02 Oropos II Oropos Attica 19/7 - 03/8 Cult 18+ 20 Vols

LOCATION: Oropos village is divided in two areas the mountain village and the seaport village. The workcamp will take place on the seaport village where an environmental workcamp was successfully organised last summer. Oropos is situated in Viotia region, on the Southern Euboean Gulf, in Attica.
WORK: In the area of Oropos one of the main income resources is agriculture. As it happens in many parts of the Europe in the last decades agricultural jobs are mainly performed by immigrants. In Oropos area live and work many hundreds of immigrants (from India, Pakistan, Iraq, Albania etc). Even though immigrants are greatly contributing to the local economy, they are practically excluded form social and cultural life. Based on our last year’s experience we have decided that this year the aim of the workcamp will be to raise intercultural awareness of the local population and support cultural interaction between locals and immigrants. Volunteers will work for the organisation of a five-day intercultural festival. Volunteers will not only participate in the practical works of the festival (construction etc) but also on the content as they will have the opportunity to organise activities and workshops to be incorporated in the program. The local partner, hosting the project, decides on the priorities and the co-ordination of the work. Volunteers will work 5 hours per day, 6 days per week. C.i.A. is not responsible for any changes in the work.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be hosted at a public school. Toilets, showers and cooking facilities are provided. Participants will prepare meals themselves, in shifts.

FREE TIME: Sunday and afternoon visits, to the most important sites of the area. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to see some of the cultural events organised in different parts of the area. Camp-leaders will organise free time activities in co-operation with the volunteers and the local partner. C.i.A does not cover free time activities expenses.

TERMINAL: Athens airport.



C.i.A 03 Pentalofo Kozani 04/8 - 20/8 Reno/Fest 18+ 15 Vols
Situated in one of the most beautiful mountainous areas of Greece, in the top of a hill with a majestic view, Pentalofo is a small village, 86 Km away from KOZANI town in the North East of Greece. The area has a great tradition in stone masonry and a great architectural heritage. Volunteers will have the chance to visit some of the most important monuments, such as churches, monasteries and traditional houses. Rivers, lakes, forests with rare species of animals and plants (e.g. bears) are forming a spectacular environment. Although in the past the prefecture was among the richest areas of Greece, the last decades is facing enormous social and economical difficulties (unemployment, immigration etc). Nowadays efforts are made to realise a new sustainable local development process and the work camps are included in this effort. It is the 3rd year that community of Pentalofo hosts international volunteers.

LOCATION: Pentalofo is a small village 86 km from KOZANI town, on the Northeast part of Greece.

WORK: Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn the local technique on constructing stone paths and they will help at the renovation of old and the construction new stone paths. Volunteers will also help in the practical preparation of local festivals with traditional music and they will have the opportunity to organise some activities in order to present the intercultural dimension and volunteer spirit. The local partner, hosting the project, decides on the priorities and the co-ordination of the work. Volunteers will work 5 hours per day, 6 days per week. C.i.A. is not responsible for any changes in the work.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be hosted at a public school. Toilets, showers and cooking facilities are provided. Participants will prepare meals themselves, in shifts.

FREE TIME: Sunday and afternoon visits, to the most important sites of the area. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to see some of the cultural events organised in different parts of the area. Camp-leaders will organise free time activities in co-operation with the volunteers and the local partner. C.i.A does not cover free time activities expenses.

TERMINAL: Thessaloniki airport, Kozani airport.