The Cultural Foundation “Routes of the Olive Trees” participates in the partnership of the Project “Local Actions for Employment in the prefecture of Messinia”.
The Project “Local Actions for Employment in the prefecture of Messinia” addresses unemployed people, young farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs of the region, aiming at providing them with structured services for their social integration and enhancement of their employability.
To this end, the project implements a complete scheme of actions including: Networking, Information & Sensitization, Training, Consulting – Support.
From June 16 to 20, project partners from Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia realized a study visit in Messinia, in the frames of the activity “Institutional Capacity Building”.
The aim of this study visit was to share information and knowledge on the best practices and policies in Europe regarding the Mediterranean Diet, with view to improve the existing legal framework and promote a common Mediterranean legal framework for the protection and safeguard of the traditional Mediterranean products.In the study visit participated representatives and executives from national organizations and decision making actors from 3 Mediterranean countries, concretely: Tunisia – Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, Producers Association, Agronomic Research and Highest Education Institute, Olive Tree Institute / Lebanon – Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Economy & Trade, Health Ministry, Institute of Agronomic Research, Chamber of Commerce Industry & Agriculture of Tripoli and Southern Lebanon, Chamber of Commerce Industry & Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon / Egypt – Ministry of Agriculture, Health Ministry, Arab Academy of Science Technology & Maritime Transport, Egyptian Tourism Federation, Nutrition Institute, Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations.During their visit, the foreign experts took part in different events and scientific activities, including: conference in the Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese, olive oil tasting at the Olive Oil Tasting Panel, visits to enterprises of traditional products transformation, agro food production and standardization units, visit to the local market of Kalamata and agricultural businesses in the municipalities of Oichalia, Trifylia etc.
In the 5 cities that hosted the events (Athens, Nafplio, Tripoli, Sparti and Kalamata), hundreds of visitors had the opportunity to be informed on the Mediterranean Diet and its multiple beneficial effects, by the MedDiet team and the nutrition experts participating in the events.
The Cultural Foundation « Routes of the Olive Tree » has successfully completed a set of information / sensitization events for consumers and stakeholders around the theme of the Mediterranean Diet, in the framework of the project MedDiet and the Mediterranean Cross-Border Cooperation Programme (ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin)
Building the Mediterranean Knowledge System
MED DIET : Mediterranean Diet and Enhancement of traditional foodstuff – Scientific Committee Meeting (Tunis 29-30/11/2013)
The Cultural Foundation « Routes of the Olive tree » participated in the scientific committee meeting for the Project «MED DIET Mediterranean Diet and enhancement of traditional foodstuff» that took place in Tunis. The Foundation was represented by a team of collaborators headed by Mr. Ilias Vlachos, assistant professor at the Agricultural University of Athens and Mrs. Theodora Kolokotroni.
The scientific meeting took place on the occasion of the completion of the MED DIET Guide, containing guidelines for the promotion of the Mediterranean Diet and methodology for their application. The Guide, result of a scientific research in the framework of MED DIET project with the participation of experts from all partner countries (Greece, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia), will be distributed during training courses addressed to selected officers of Greek local authorities, with the aim of sensitizing and encouraging them to contribute in the promotion of the Mediterranean diet and traditional products among all consumers, especially young people.
Greece was represented by the Executive Director of the Cultural Foundation « Routes of the Olive Tree » Mr. George Karampatos and the Ambassador of Italy in Messinia Mrs. Margherita Bovicelli.
In the framework of the Forum, which included information sessions and workshops around the themes International Synergies for the promotion of Mediterranean diet, Mediterranean Diet and enhancement of traditional foodstuff, the Future of Mediterranean Diet etc., animated by experts from the Mediterranean countries, was also held the General Assembly of the Network of Mediterranean Olive Oil Cities RECOMED.
Mr. George Karampatos participated in the Assembly as coordinator of the National Association of Olive Oil cities of Greece and member of the Board of Directors of RECOMED.
Mr. G. Karampatos took also part in the partnership meeting for the project «MED DIET: Mediterranean Diet and enhancement of traditional foodstuff » realized on the occasion of the Forum. The Cultural Foundation is one of the two Greek partners (Cultural Foundation « Routes of the olive tree» and Messinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) of the project which started in January 2013 with the aim of promoting Mediterranean Diet in Greece.
Among others, the Forum was also attended by: Mr. Fiamma Spena Prefect of Imperia ; Mr. Carlo Capacci Mayor of’Imperia; Mr. Nottaio Franco Amadeo President of CCIAA (Chamber of Commerce Industry Agriculture and Small Business) of Imperia ; Mr. Enrico Lupi President of RECOMED and Vice president of the Chamber of Imperia ; Mr. Ferruccio Dardanello President of the Union of Chambers of Italy ; Mrs. Diana Julia Llobet from the Mediterranean Diet Foundation in Spain ; Mrs. Dalenda M’Hamdi Makki Deputy director of promotion and communication at the Chamber of commerce of Tunis etc.
This project has a double objective: raise awareness on nutrition and promote the local agricultural products and traditional gastronomy.
As an outcome, all sectors of local economy and Small & Medium Enterprises will benefit from a series of actions focusing on Messinia and its products, which will address the large public, nutrition and tourism operators and public decision makers.
The project is financed by the European Commission through theENPI CBCMED program . Over 3 years, it will implicate over 15.000 consumers and 5.000 schoolchildren in 6 Mediterranean countries/regions. Greece is represented by the region of Messinia through the Cultural Foundation “Routes of the Olive Tree” and the Messinian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
In the framework of the project the following actions have been scheduled:
A mass promotional campaign in all the Mediterranean countries.
The principles of the Mediterranean Diet will be presented at eight international events with leaflets, brochures and other promotional tools.
A bimonthly newsletter will update on the progress of the action and a multilingual website connected to the biggest social networks will inform the consumers.
A Public Knowledge System and a digital library with studies on the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, a list of traditional products and good practices.
Seminars at 120 schools in the partner countries; 1.200 teachers and 5.000 primary and secondary school children will participate in 120 pilot actions (tasting laboratories, visits to farms and factories, school vegetable gardens, contests of idea, promotion of Mediterranean products at school canteens etc.)
An educational initiative on nutrition will involve 15.000 consumers in 45 pilot actions (cooking courses, MedDiet ideas contest, tasting laboratories)
Experimentation for the creation of the « MedDiet quality label». This tool will enable the Chambers and the commercial unions in the partner countries to encourage SMEs and restaurants to offer true Mediterranean dishes.The restaurants willing to promote and valorize the genuine Mediterranean diet will become more extrovert and 300 among them will participate in pilot actions for training, services and promotion of the «MedDiet quality label».
90 public officers from Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia will visit Greece, Italy and Spain, in order to study the best EU practices, policies, measures and initiatives for the protection of local foodstuff and wines.
A Euromediterranean Agreement for the promotion and protection of the Mediterranean Diet will integrate the public knowledge system with the digital library, the legal framework analysis and the promotion initiatives.
The Project «Local Collective Action for the Employment and Social Integration of Vulnerable Groups in the Regional Unit of Messinia» is financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) in the framework of Action 3 «Local actions for social integration of vulnerable groups» / Intervention 1 «Prevention and elimination of social exclusion of vulnerable population groups» / Thematic Priority Axe «Full integration of manpower in an equal opportunity society » / Operational Programme «Development of Man power 2007-2013». The objective of the Project is the professional integration of 100 people from vulnerable social groups through multiple support (consultancy, training, contact with businesses etc.) The expected outcomes of the Project are:
60 beneficiaries hired by businesses active in the construction, retail and services sectors.
20 beneficiaries assisted to create businesses in the retail trade and food sector.
20 beneficiaries assisted to create two (2) social cooperative associations Sub-actions:
Direct contact of the beneficiaries with businesses.
Vocational Training of beneficiaries, depending on their individual needs:
1. Quality services in tourism – alternative tourism 2. Office automation with PC use 3. Basic principles on organization, management and running of small & medium enterprise 4. Modern methods of production, standardization and distribution of agro-food products, emphasizing on organic agriculture 5. Development of social entrepreneurship
Consultancy to the beneficiaries in order to support them in their professional integration
Drawing up business plans for the creation of new business and consultancy.
On 17th and 18th July 2012, was held at the Pavillon “Al-Andalus” of the Science Park of Granada (Spain), the final conference of the European project “Euroempleo”, for international promotion and inter-regional cooperation in rural areas.
On this occasion, the Cultural Foundation “The Routes of the Olive Tree”, project partner for Greece, intervened to make a overview of employment and the exemplary participation of women along the “Routes of the Olive Tree” (especially concerning tourism and gastronomy) and the example of ‘good practice’ and innovation in rural areas through the graphic-design studio “Zografistiki“, created by Stavroula Cheila in the city of Kalamata where are the headquarters of the “Routes of the Olive Tree” network..
The Cultural Foundation “Routes of the Olive Tree” participes in Euroempleo, an european program aimed at promoting transnational and inter-regional cooperation actions in relation to employment.
The “Routes of the Olive Tree” has been selected as expert, through the European Social Fund and the Andalusian Employment Service, to support researches for joint solutions between institutions from European areas (Portugal, Slovenia, Greece, Luxembourg and Italy) and to favour the interchange of information, experience, products or beneficiaries.
Through this project, an European Network have been created for the purpose of interchanging experiences and best practices in the area of women’s employment and cultural tourism in rural areas.
As partner for Greece, the Cultural Foundation “The Routes of the Olive Tree” organized several meetings with enterprises where the women have an important role, located in some municipalities of Messinia (Peloponnese) related with the Route of the Olive Tree, in the framework of the visit of the spanish leader of the project. This meetings took place from 17th to 20th of April 2012, all around Messinia, in order to highlight innovative initiatives, enterprises and “best practices” from women, in rural areas of the region.
The results of the survey will published during summer 2012.
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