CYCLADES UNIFIED
Α non-profit organization that emerged through our love for the Cyclades
ABOUT US
Cyclades Unified emerged from our love for the Cyclades and remote areas of Greece. It supports actions related to the cultural identity of the Cyclades, the environment, and intergenerational programs, based on the island of Kimolos, using active education through storytelling as a tool for recording Cycladic memory. It supports the adoption of Agenda 2030 & the Global SDGs, known as the "Sustainable Development Goals", as well as sustainable development through innovative educational approaches for primary and secondary education.
It promotes the integration of all three dimensions of sustainable development – social, environmental, and economic – into all sectoral policies, while promoting the interconnection and coherence of relevant policies and legislative frameworks, including UNESCO's goals for education.
The main objectives of the joint effort of Cyclades Unified AMKE, with the support of municipalities and local authorities based in the Cyclades and mainland Greece, are intertwined with spreading the message of Philanagnosia in the local community; the implementation of actions to preserve tangible and intangible cultural heritage through the use of storytelling, recordings, multimedia, and digital tools. Our vision is to activate the islanders, remote communities in Greece, and volunteers, to form and train small groups in the Cyclades as a potential pilot program for support and exchange of practices.
The main objective remains the promotion of programs and actions aiming at highlighting biodiversity, sensitive ecosystems, the study/recording of the flora and fauna of Polyaigos, the strengthening of communities against the risks of natural disasters, the effects of climate change, and tourism development. We promote international cooperation and social interconnection, strengthening civil society and democratic processes.
Our fascinating story
TIMELINE-
2018
Cyclades Unified ngo’s inception, formation of core team, and organizational structure
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2020
Initiative “Greek children Read & Write” formation of creative writing Club, at CFL Agatha Rodi, publication of 15 children’s books
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2021
• 1st place ECTN Award proposal 2021, in partnership with Europa Nostra, The European
• Travel Commission & NECSTouR, the support of Creative Tourism Network(CTN) and “Via Francigena” Cultural Route of the Council of Europe for Kimolistes ngo and the open air cinema in Kimolos 🔗
• Working on volunteer basis as project manager/communications/networking till present for Kimolistes ngo
• Implementation of research on Kimolian traditions, customs, intangible & tangible cultural heritage through intergenerational approaches, storytelling, recordings, and photos. (The material is protected by the Hellenic Intellectual Property Organization that is supervised by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture)
• Planning of Kimolos & Polyaigos Cultural Heritage - Oral History & Digital Museum -
2022
• Publication of trilingual book “A Young Kimolistas” encapturing the beauty of Kimolos & Polyaigos islands, and the Kimolian legacy
• 1st environmental «Story Telling Waves» workshop on Poseidonia Meadows, on Kimolos island, under the auspices of Hellenic Tourism Organization
BRAVO Sustainability Dialogue Award proposal for Kimolistes ngo,
becoming the Ambassador of Sustainable Development in Greece
• 1st “Bright Start International Conference” on Early Years Excellence in
Practice, Hellenic Cosmos cultural center-Athens “Storytelling inspiration with interactive engagement – Live Demonstration on a rigid heddle loom of Kimolos’ Island -
2023
• 2nd place Best City Award proposal on Culture and Sustainable Development for Kimolos island 🔗
• Advocacy for environmental education with creative writing workshops on Milos, Sikinos, Serifos, Folegandros, Mykonos, Santorini, Cycladic islands
• Development of educational training programs for Primary and Secondary education with free distribution of the book “A young Kimolistas”
• Participation in EduTourism Project, part of the Cooperation Programme Interreg V-A “Greece-Cyprus 2014-2020″, co-funded by the European Union - Certified Trainer on "Thematic Tourism Business Executive" till 7/7/2028
• Project manager of 2year project, Erasmus+ KA2: using storytelling to
promote environmental conservation, youth engagement, intergenerational
connection. Islanders: many islands – one community
• Collaborative writing of two guides for the young people and the small islands of Europe
• Delivery of speech at the European Parliament in Brussels, on Kimolistes volunteer team of Kimolos, the awarded open-air cinema Cine Kalisperitis, and its contribution to sustainable tourism, Invited by the MEP Mr. Kostas Arvanitis - SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance 🔗 -
2024
• Official formation of Cyclades Unified ngo
• 2nd Posidonia Festival presentation on Posidoneia Meadows – Municipality of Rafina-• • • • Pikermi Athens, Greece. Storytelling and creative writing workshops for students
• Associate Member of TIME MACHINE ORGANISATION
• Representing Kimolos & Polyaigos island at the CPF ISLANDERS’ FORUM2024 in Santorini 🔗
• Participation, as member of Kimolistes ngo, in the ACCELERATOR training and advisory program, especially designed for non-profits in Greece - 20 th Bootcamp of HIGGS 🔗 -
2025
• Member of the Anna Lindh Foundation Network
Inclusive member of RESILIAGE project (HORIZON EUROPE) 🔗
• CORE Associated Lab, as the entity of Kimolos cultural heritage with the view to promote Kimolos Medieval Castle
• Selected Mentee for 2025 cycle of GlobalThinkers Mentors from Greece 🔗
• Funded by CPF organization 🔗 on project “Storytelling Kimolos -No Plastic in Kimolos” “Blue Traces” workshops on plastic reuse, method of cyanotype art, casting method process with Mr. Athanasios Athanasias guidance.
• Distribution of 5,000 wheat straws, in promoting plastic reduction on Kimolos island. Creation of Educational Book on environmental practices for primary school of Kimolos
• Cultural exhibition on Kimolian intangible heritage at Espera Suites Kimolos “Cultural Heritage of Kimolos: Tradition, Memory, and Identity" Planning and curation Ms. Iliana Zioga -Museologist
• Explore of the interconnected nature of the SDGS goals, commitment to environmental sustainability, overtourism’s social-cultural delicate balance
• Adoption of principles of effective ecotourism, protection of ecosystems in Kimolos & Polyaigos islands
