“Shedia” Social Enterprise

The Social Cooperative Enterprise for Collective and Social Benefit (“shedia SCE) was founded in 2017. The mission of the cooperative is:

1) Sustainable development
2) The provision of social services of general interest.

The actions initiated by “shedia SCE” include, among others:

a) The creation, coordination and operation of training workshops, where people experiencing poverty and social exclusion (homeless, long-term unemployed e.tc.) will be trained in the upcycling (recycling) and transformation of unsold copies of “shedia” street paper, as well as other recyclable materials, into utility products/ goods, which, in turn, will be available for retail sale and/ or wholesale.

b) The creation, organisation, function and coordination of training workshops and seminars, where people (school students and anyone interested) will be trained in the upcycling and transformation of unsold copies of “shedia”, as well as other recyclable materials, into utility products/ goods, thus strengthening environmental consciousness and proposing solutions to the environmental challenges we are faced with as a society.

c) The creation, function and coordination of spaces, which will be used for training purposes (hosting workshops for upcycling paper and other materials), in order to avoid their being discarded in the trash and to train citizens in matters concerning the proper use of goods that would otherwise be considered “waste”, therefore contributing to increased environmental awareness, in particular when it comes to disposing goods. These spaces will be also used as hot spots, where these products will be made and sold, as showrooms, as well as catering spaces (coffee shops e.tc.), creating new prospects, training and job opportunities for people who experience homelessness, poverty and social exclusion.

d) Services of Vocational Guidance and other support services for the social and occupational reintegration  of people who experience homelessness, poverty and social exclusion.

The statute of “Shedia” social enterprise:

Information

  Kolokotroni 56, 10560 Athens
210 331 6849

  Opening Hours:

Monday – Sunday: 08:30 a.m. till very late.
 

For reservations please call 210 331 6849 or contact us using our email info@shediart.gr.

The members of the “Shedia” Social Enterprise

Christos Alefantis, Editor In Chief, Shedia street-paper

Chris Alefantis was born in Melbourne, Australia, where his parents immigrated in the mid-50s. He is a journalist of 30 years, the founder and Editor in Chief of “shedia”, Greece’s street paper. “Shedia” -as all street papers worldwide- is a social enterprise and self-help model that provides an innovative solution to urban homelessness and unemployment. It offers people a dignified way to earn their own living and support themselves and their families. In addition to employment, “shedia” aims to offer its vendors on-going social support and training opportunities. In 2006, Chris founded the “Kick Out Poverty” campaign in Greece, incorporating the Greek Homeless Football Club. It is an initiative which uses sport -and in particular, football- as a way to energize and empower homeless people and support them in their quest to rebuild their lives. The applied social innovation hub “Shedia home” (www.shediahome.gr), in central Athens, incorporating a café-bar-restaurant, as well as the “Shediart” upcycling gift shop and workshops is one of the latest social projects that Chris and his team are very proud of. “Being socially useful in a sustainable way” is his goal and vision.

Aimilia Douka, treasurer

“Having worked for companies in Greece and abroad, I have many years’ experience in forming and implementing social responsibility programs. I have been volunteering in the “A Goal Against Poverty” campaign and the Greek homeless team since their beginnings, in 2007. Street paper “shedia”’s maiden voyage in Athens’ streets in February 2013 finds her on…the bridge. Holding the position of “communication & social program manager”, she participates in planning communicative actions, organising informative & fundraising events, managing the social supporters of the actions of “shedia”, as well as in developing a volunteer network and collaborations with other bodies”.

Katrin Kretschmer, member

Katrin studied sports science, psychology and pedagogy, is a founder of the national homeless football program in Germany and coordinated national and regional homeless football activities for  many years. She worked as a project manager for social and sport programs in Kiel / Germany – in a district where the child poverty percentage surpassed 61%. Among others, Katrin also served as the coordinator of a pan-European Lifelong Learning Programme, in which ten countries participated, in order to share best practice and form social programs that emphasise on sports, and more particularly football. She dedicated herself in creating educational, environmental and inclusive programs for people that experience poverty and social exclusion.

Sergios Milis, member

“I was born in Athens in 1973. I grew up in the city centre, where I continue to live. I studied to become a Surveying Engineer in the National Technical University of Athens. I graduated in 1997. I worked as a surveyor until about 2011. Since 2007, I have been volunteering in the “A Goal Against Poverty” campaign and the National Homeless Football Team. Since 2012 I have been working for “shedia” street paper, which is published by the Non-Profit Organization NGO DIOGENIS, as the vendor network manager. I am married and I have two children”.