News

The Region of Crete held the 2nd meeting of the Local Expert Group of the European Project FILO - "Fighting Loneliness", of the European ERASMUS + Program. The purpose of the "FILO" project is to develop an innovative program to enhance professional qualifications in the field of open care services to combat loneliness of people 65+. In this context, the project partners exchange good practices and experiences by making on-site visits to bodies that provide relevant services. The corporate scheme of the project, apart from the Region of Crete, includes the University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam (Netherlands) as lead partner, the Municipality of Rotterdam (Netherlands), the Rochelare Care Company (Belgium), the Municipality of Massa K (Center) Community of Social Action), ENSA - European Social Network of Social Services (Brussels based Italy), the Social Cooperative for Training and Employment in Venice (Italy) & the Municipality of Nacka (Sweden).

At the meeting of the local group of experts that took place in the main building of the Region, the good practices of the Municipality of Marseilles presented by services and collaborating bodies of the Community Center for Social Action were presented. The Region of Crete participated in the previous field visits to Marseilles to highlight these practices. The prospects of utilizing the experience of Marseille in Greece and especially in the Region of Crete were discussed. New training methods and practices were sought to support the 65+ population provided by community services. The ultimate goal of this research is to meet new social needs related to addressing the loneliness of individuals of this age group.

The meeting was attended by executives of the Region of Crete and members of the Project Team, Vlasaki Katerina (Head of the Regional Observatory for Social Inclusion), Kalliopi Markaki (Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Public Health of Rethymno, Rethymno, Peripheral) Social Inclusion Observatory), Apostolaki Katerina (Director of Lifelong Learning, Employment and Trade of the Region of Crete), Sotiropoulou Eleni-Christina (Executive of DAOK and Vocational Training Center of Rethymnon Prefecture). Also participating were the Professor of the TEI of Crete (Department of Social Work) Ms. Papadakaki Maria, Mr. Pasparakis Manolis (Dr. of Psychiatry) and the staff of the Municipality of Heraklion, Ms. Tsamandoura Argyro (Department of Social Development, Social Development, Of Public Health, Gender Equality), Ms. Soulioti Paraskevi ("Help at Home" / Public Benefit Municipal Enterprise of Culture, Environment, Social Welfare of Heraklion (DI.K.E.I.)) & Ms. Goumpeti Elias (KIFI Ag. Municipal Enterprise of Culture, Environment, Social Welfare of Heraklion (DI.K.E.I.).

The project is implemented by the Independent Department of the Regional Observatory for Social Inclusion of the Region of Crete.

More Information about the project: Vlasaki Katerina (avlasaki@crete.gov.gr), Markaki Kalliopi (kmarkaki@crete.gov.gr).