The Corfiot Initiative NGO was formed in Corfu on March 2011.
It is a non profit organization
founded by caring members of the public sensitive to the needs of the island and its people by volunteering
their time to the cause of Corfu. Although the
current economic crisis is proving to be one of the most difficult times in Greece's
modern history the members of The
Corfiot Initiative NGO have completed twenty volunteer actions with great
success and continue to:
1) Perform volunteer actions that have an environmental character to
protect, care and help keep clean the environment such as the cleaning of
beaches, forests, historical monuments and recycling as well as the education
of children in schools in how to recycle and help the environment.
2) Perform volunteer actions that have a cultural character in the
preserving of and saving of the islands' cultural inheritance and local history
such as the historic old town of Corfu
which is listed by UNESCO.
3) Perform volunteer actions that have a social character to support
and help families, children and people in need of clothing, food and shelter.
To help other charity groups those are in need. To encourage others and similar
groups that wish to offer their help.
We believe that people have a lot to offer,
there are many people that would like to make a change but do not know how or
where to begin, they need to be made aware that they are not alone and that
through a volunteer network they can offer whatever help they can and whenever
they can.
ACTIONS
1) 15/05/2011 : Supporting
the Smile Of The Child. This was a fun
filled day for children which involved them taking part in organized games, art
with real artists, making cakes and various crafts. There was also a jumble
sale which involved exchanging items. It was a successful day with over 300
tickets sold, many parents also donated money to the piggy bank provided by the
charity and brought along many items from home to donate to the charity. After
visiting the Smile Of The Child a
shopping list was formed with things the children desperately needed, all
proceeds were used to purchase and donate the items on the list to the Smile Of
The Child such as bed linen, food and toiletries.
2) 22/5/2011 : In
conjunction with the movement “Save The Mediterranean” we volunteered and
nominated the beach
of Vitalades in the South
of Corfu to be cleaned. 70 large refuse bags and 3 wheelie bins of rubbish were
gathered.
3) 20/4/2011: We
joined forces with another volunteer group and successfully cleaned the 7
Island Ionian Marbles in the Spianada from the dreadful graffiti.
4) 23/9/2011 – 26/9/2011: A large
collection of donated clothes, toys, school equipment and food was accumulated
at our base and was given to the orphanage of Corfu, old peoples home of Corfu,
Smile Of The Child and families in need.
5) 29/11/2011 : We
handed out leaflets to all the shops in Corfu Town
to raise awareness with regards to recycling and rubbish. They were also given
questionnaires to ascertain what they know about recycling and to make us aware
of their problems with rubbish and keeping the town clean. This volunteer
action has been repeated 3 times and is awaiting the outcome.
6) A
DOUBLE ACTION for the world wide day of voluntering :
a)
4/12/2011: The repeat of cleaning the Ionian
Marbles of yet more graffiti and the planting of shrubs behind the marbles to
help avoid further graffiti.
b)
4/12/2011 :We carried on with the passing out of
leaflets to the shops. We set up a small stand and with the help of the local
scouts raised awareness to passers by.
7)
14/12/2011 : Our members, a dentist, a pediatrician
and dietitian, donated there time and services to people in need.
8) 15/1/2012
: Together with the help of other volunteer groups
we joined forces and went out in teams to paint over all graffiti in the old
town of Corfu.
The beauty of the Old
Town was restored for a
while.
9)
25/1/2012 : The members of the Corfiot Initiative
NGO cleared and cleaned a historic underground tunnel and its entrance at the
Laiki Agora – Old Market.
10) A repeat of the collection of clothes, shoes, books and food for
the orphanage, various charities and families in need!
11) The ongoing help to Smile Of The Child
12)
7/4/2012 : The cleaning of the marbles and band
stand in the upper Spianada together with cleaning and repainting the wheelie
bins of all the Spianada in preparation for Easter celebrations.
13)
8/3/2012- 12/4/2012 : Again many donated clothes,
shoes, books etc given to us by our members and the public were donated to the
orphanage, old peoples home, Smile Of The Child and families in need.
14)
29/4/2012 : In conjunction with the national
campaign “Lets Do It”, our volunteers cleaned the area of Vlacherena at Kanoni,
painted the wheelie bins, planted trees, took away dangerous and rusted old
pipes and posts, cleaned the sign posts and graffiti on the walls. 54 refuse
bags were collected and some very large objects.
15) 11/5/2012: “Learning How To Recycle” was launched which
was a project of awareness starting at the 13th Junior School of
Corfu. With the aid of leaflets, a short video and speakers from our group we
informed the pupils about how to dispose of and recycle rubbish and caring for
the environment. It proved very successful and also impressed the teachers as
well as the 101 pupils.
16)
13/5/2012 : In conjunction with MedSos this time
the island of Vidos was nominated and volunteers
gathered on the island. In the space of 4 hours, 59 refuse bags had been
collected and various other large objects.
17)
22/5/2012 :
“Learning How To Recycle” was conducted at the 7th Junior
School of Corfu – 263 pupils were present for the seminar.
18)
2/6/2012 : We were alerted to the desperate need of
cleaning the beach
of Issos.
Volunteers gathered on one of the longest beaches of Corfu
and gathered a record total of 115 large refuse bags.
19)
1/07/2012 – 31/08/2012 : A pilot scheme was
introduced and put in to effect in conjunction with the Corfu Fire Department
and volunteers from the public. This involved volunteers observing from look
out posts around Corfu for any signs of
potential fires.
20)
24/7/2012 : For
the 4th time the collection of clothing, shoes, toys and books donated by our
members and members of the public which amounted to around 700 items were
delivered to the Red Cross, Smile Of The Child, Old Peoples Home and to the
Church of Kouramades to give to the local families in need.
Actions waiting to be performed:
Formation of a blood donor bank
Help to new families
Cleaning and landscaping a public park by
the prison
Cleaning and landscaping certain parts of
Mon Repos
Support and action to the cause of
preserving and improving the condition of the old fortifications and
underground tunnel network of Corfu.
