Implementing Institution
Partner
The project and its objectives
ANIMA – Hellenic Wildlife Care Association and ARCHELON – Association for the Protection of Sea Turtles are working towards the “Creation of a Cooperation Network of Greek Wildlife Care Organizations“.
The project, which is part of the Active citizens fund programme and is funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) funding mechanism, aims to promote closer and more effective cooperation between organisations and institutions involved in wildlife care in Greece. By developing communication and cooperation between organisations, it is expected to address problems such as limited financial resources, limited access to funding, reduced capacity to manage human resources, especially volunteers, and to resolve institutional issues related to Greek wildlife care centres. The wildlife care organizations ARCTUROS, ALKYONI, ANIMA, ARION, ARCHELON, ACTION FOR WILDLIFE, MOm and the cooperating institutions Wildlife Conservation Association of Naxos, Ecological Association TULIPA GOULIMI, Wildlife Rescue Scout Group, Natural History Museum of the University of Crete and Environmental Protection Society of Kastoria are collaborating in this effort.
The project is organizing two workshops. The first one will take place in Paros, where the ALKYONI Care Centre operates, and the second one in Athens, where the implementing institution and the project partner are based. The aim of these workshops is:
- The creation of a communication channel between the organisations and institutions of the network being established.
- The development of a Charter of Cooperation – Code of Conduct that will define the minimum principles that should govern the operation of all members of the network, in relation to the care, welfare and rehabilitation of the wild animals they care for.
- The creation of a Volunteer Recruitment and Management Guide that will help organisations to recruit volunteers, improve their management and support their systematic training.
- The formulation of joint proposals to the State for institutional changes that will facilitate the operation of organisations and institutions involved in wildlife care
After the creation of the network, members visited the Wildlife Care Centres of GREFA in Madrid and of Green Balkans in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. These trips were an additional activity of the project, offering us the opportunity to see modern techniques and methods related to wildlife care and biodiversity conservation in general.
The project “Creation of a Cooperation Network of Greek Wildlife Care Organizations” is part of the Active citizens fund programme, with ANIMA – Hellenic Wildlife Care Association as the implementing institution and ARCHELON – Association for the Protection of Marine Turtles as a partner.
The €13.5 million Active citizens fund programme is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) funding mechanism for the period 2014 – 2021, known as EEA Grants.The programme aims to strengthen and enhance the sustainability of civil society and highlight its role in promoting democratic processes, enhancing citizens’ participation in public life and defending human rights. The Active citizens fund grant for Greece is managed jointly by the Bodossaki Foundation and SolidarityNow. Read more here.
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway signed a Cooperation Agreement with the European Union in 1992, creating the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA Funding Mechanism, better known as EEA Grants, is a financial assistance instrument created by these three countries and available to 15 EU member states, including Greece.
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The Bodossaki Foundation is a public benefit organisation established in 1972 with the aim of continuing the contribution of its founder Prodromos Bodossakis – Athanasiadis to Greek society. Its vision is a society of equal opportunities, with possibilities and prospects for all.
In order to achieve its vision, the Bodossaki Foundation, with transparency, accountability and credibility, finances, designs and implements actions and programmes related to its four strategic pillars: the promotion of education, the upgrading of healthcare, the protection of the environment and the empowerment of Civil Society. Since its creation, it has invested more than €450 million in achieving its objectives.
At the same time, the Bodossaki Foundation also acts today as a catalyst for the creation of a framework of broader giving to Greek society, managing the resources of third parties – Benefactors, international institutions, corporations and other major donors – who wish to fund programmes of significant social impact for critical needs in education, health, environmental protection and the empowerment of Civil Society.
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SolidarityNow (SN) is a non-governmental organization founded in 2013 to respond to the needs and ensure the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, without discrimination. The organisation’s vision is to improve people’s lives and empower them to claim a more just and inclusive society.
The vision is put into practice through three key strategic pillars: a) Safeguarding safety and security; b) Supporting livelihood opportunities and labour market integration; c) Strengthening the independence of civil society and upholding the values of an open society. SolidarityNow has supported more than 320,000 people to date, both through direct project implementation and through donations to support civil society activities.
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Visits to European Wildlife Care Centres
In February and March 2024, members of ANIMA, Action for Wildlife, the Environmental Protection Society of Kastoria and the Wildlife Protection Association of Naxos visited the Wildlife Care Centres of GREFA in Madrid and of Green Balkans in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Grefa and Green Balkans apply rehabilitation techniques in special facilities, implement captive breeding programmes and proceed with enrichment of local populations, mainly of large birds of prey. These practices are of great interest to Greek Wildlife Care Centres, as some of them could be adopted under certain conditions.
