XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Facts About Violence Against Women

1. 1 in 3 women has experienced physical, psychological, or sexual violence from their spouse or partner.

2. 1 in 5 women are victims of rape or attempted rape.
 
3. 40%-50% of women in the EU have reported some sexual harassment in their workplace.
 
4. 500.000 to 2.000.000 people worldwide–mostly women and children–are victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labor.
 
How Is Violence Against Women Defined?
 
According to the UN's  Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

Accordingly, violence against women encompasses but is not limited to, the following:

(a) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation;

(b) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;

(c) Physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.


Where To Get Help

1. Call The SOS Helpline

The 15900 SOS Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The line is operated by psychologists and social workers who provide immediate assistance in violent incidents and emergencies.

2. Visit A GSGE Consulting Center

The General Secretariat For Gender Equality Consulting Centers aim to:
  • Inform on issues of gender equality, tackling violence and multiple discrimination against women,
  • Provide social, psychological, legal and work support (in a gender perspective),
  • Transfer or escort–as required–women and children to hospices, protection and aid agencies, hospitals, courthouses, etc,
  • Provide legal aid in cooperation with the bar associations.


GSGE Consulting Centers in Athens:

Consulting Center Athens
11, Nikis, Syntagma
Telephone: 210 3317305-6
Email: isotita4@otenet.gr

Consulting Center Polycenter
11-13, Kratinou, Omonoia (2nd floor)
Telephone: 210 5202800
Email: polykentro@isotita.gr


If you or a woman you know is a victim of violence, please speak up and ask for help!
For more infomation about vilolence against women, please visit: www.womensos.gr & http://www.isotita.gr


This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab

 

Would you like to travel to a Cycladic Island soon, but still not so confident due to the corona pandemic? Do not worry! If you’re looking to ‘travel’ from the comfort of your own living room whilst staying safe and practicing your Greek skills, we have the perfect idea for you: why not give the Greek TV series I Aithousa Tou Thronou a try?

This Greek TV series was shot in both Attica (Athens, Lagonisi, and Nea Makri) and the island of Syros, where also the Greek Language and Culture courses of the Omilo school take place. If you're interested in discovering Syros and learning Greek, then click here to learn more about Omilo's language programs in Syros. 

I Aithousa Tou Thronou (en. The Throne Room) is a Greek period drama TV series that was aired between 1998-99 and was based on a novel by the celebrated novelist and academic Tasos Athanasiadis.

It takes place on the Cycladic island of Syros in 1966, right before the Greek military junta ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. The socio-political circumstances in Greece are heating up, but at the same time, people are characterized by a certain innocence as they cannot imagine how things are going to develop; everything feels very distant but also very close. The series follows closely a group of young people, whose lives intersect and eventually get tangled up with each other’s. It examines the topics of love, life, death, God and religion, the eternal clash between good and evil, people’s wants, and social conventions.

The story is set in motion by the arrival of two very young people at the island of Syros: the first one is Loukas Delogis, the son of a powerful local family who studied in Paris and spent some time in Mount Athos afterward, also known as Agion Oros. It is a mountain and peninsula in north-eastern Greece as well as home to twenty monasteries, so Loukas tried to become a monk there but failed, so he decides to return to his homeplace. The other one is Glauki Arhontidi, a young Greek woman who lives in London and whose father became a hero during the Katochi, i.e. the German and Italian occupation of Greece during WWII where he died fighting with the Greek resistance army.

The cast includes well-known Greek actors Aris Lembesopoulos, Maria Nafpliotou, Myrto Alikaki, Alekos Syssovitis, Alekos Alexandrakis, Nikos Rizos, and many more.

You can watch the series online on various Youtube channels, but you need to search a bit for the 26 episodes You can start watching the first episode here.
  
There are no English subtitles for the time being so it would a good exercise for intermediate or advanced Greek learners

Omilo Greek Language and Culture inspires people from all over the world to learn Greek, while exploring Greece. They offer 1- and 2-week courses for adults that combine beautiful course locations, experienced teachers, and a balanced combination of Greek classes with cultural activities. All these make Omilo a place where people enjoy learning modern Greek and have fun.

Besides the courses, Omilo also creates online publications to help adults expand their language skills through Language Books and eBooks for different language levels.

 
Friday, 16 July 2021 23:43

Dialing Up The Heat

As temperatures rise in Greece so do the available options for refreshing outings around the city! 

Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletterFacebookInstagram and LinkedIn.



Photo credit: @GiannisTsou


The Greek government will launch a program to subsidize the purchase of e-vehicles such as electric cars as well as electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and e-bicycles in the framework of a strategy to promote the use of electric cars in the country.

The platform for submitting applications opened on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

The subsidy for individuals reaches 30 percent on the retail price of a vehicle (pre-tax) Additional subsidy was offered for the purchase of a home charger or the withdrawal of an old car.

The subsidy covers only the purchase of e-vehicles and not plug-in hybrid cars.

Skrekas said the program has four goals, renewal of car fleet, developing of smart charging infrastructure, reducing CO2 emissions, and saving funds for citizens.

To read this article in full and analytically view the subsidies for individuals and businesses, please visit: keeptalkinggreece.com
The Platonic Academy, or simply, ”The Academy,” was a famous school in ancient Athens founded by Plato in 387 BC, located on the northwestern outskirts of Athens, outside the city walls. The site acquired its name from the legendary hero Academos.

Plato is the one figure who must receive the credit for giving birth to this unique institution. He firs acquired the land on which the Academy was eventually built, and began holding informal gatherings there to discuss philosophical issues with some of his friends.

The gatherings included thinkers such as Theaetetus of Sunium, Archytas of Tarentum, Leodamas of Thasos, and Neoclides. These meetings and discussions continued for years but it was not until Eudoxus of Cnidos arrived in the mid-380’s BC that Akademeia was recognized as a formal Academy.

The Platonic Academy is considered the world’s first university

The Platonic Academy was not an educational institution as we know it in modern times, but because it had the characteristics of a school and covered a wide variety of topics such as philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, politics, physics and more, it is considered to be the first university in the entire world.

The garden which Plato decided to use for his discussions had also been used previously by many Athenian groups, both civil and religious, with the Akademeia hosting a nighttime torchlight race from altars in Athens to the altar of Prometheus in its gardens.

The road that led to the University was also lined with the gravestones of many Athenians, and funeral games took place there, along with a Dionysian procession from the city of Athens to the site and then back into the city.

The teaching methods used by Plato, including both lectures and seminars, focused on his instructions, in addition to dialogue between teachers and students.

The Academy was free

It is worth mentioning that during Plato’s leadership of the Academy, its members did not pay any fees, and following his death, the Academy continued its operation for nearly 200 years.

In the year 86 BC, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a Roman general and statesman who held the role of consul twice and revived Rome’s dictatorship, laid siege to the city of Athens and conquered it. The Academy was destroyed and razed to the ground.

Tragically, the magnitude of the destruction was so massive that the school never reopened. Still, the legacy of The Academy has stayed alive throughout the millennia, giving us vital knowledge and insights even today about the world in which we live.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
Mark your calendars for a weekend filled with joy, color, and tradition as Athens gears up for the grand celebration of Apokrias from March 16th to 18th. Organized by the Municipality of Athens, through the Culture, Sports, & Youth Organization of the City of Athens, this three-day extravaganza promises unforgettable experiences for locals and visitors alike.



Saturday, March 16th:

The carnival spirit continues with a diverse array of events for all ages across Athens:
  • 11:00: Athens Art Gallery: Collage with Confetti. Children aged 4 to 6 can create paper war collages in the Art Gallery.

  • 11:00: St. George's Square, Kipseli: "I'm carnival, I'm playing, I'm tumbling." Children's educational experiential program.

  • 11:00: Gennaiou Kolokotroni & Matrozou: Children's Apokries Celebration. Music, dancing, contests, and theatrical performances await.

  • 11:30: Kallidromiou Street: Musical Tour of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens.

  • 12:00: Filopappou-Troon-Dorieon-Merkouri Square: Carnival Route with the percussion ensemble Bloco Swingueira with dance and rhythms from Brazil.

  • 12:00: Papadiamanti Square - Halepa - Agios Andreas Lamprini Square: Carnival route of the revival of lesbian skating with the participation of the Lesvos Farmers' Union "Agios Dimitrios" and the Cultural Association of Traditional Dances and Cultural Activities "O Molyvos."

Sunday, March 17th:
  • 11:30: Zappeio (courtyard area): Halloween children's celebration. Carnival rhythms with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens.

  • 17:30: Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Square: Revival of Plakiotiki Carnival. Action of the Professional Chamber of Athens with the support of OPANDA. Carnival parade from Syntagma Square to Monastiraki Square.

Clean Monday, March 18th:

The traditional Koulouma celebration takes place on the Hill of Filopappos:
  • 11:00: Filopappou Hill: Musical Tour of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens.

  • 12:00: Filopappou Hill: Concert by the band "Charisma" and Isidoros Pateros.

  • 11:00: Kapaps Park: Traditional feast with music, dances, and Lenten dishes from the Cultural Association of Ano Ampelokipi, supported by OPANDA.

With such a diverse array of events, there's something for everyone to enjoy during this festive weekend in Athens.
 
Friday, 06 February 2015 14:59

Athens Strollers

The Athens Strollers walk around Athens every other weekend and invite Greek and non-Greek nationals, alike. The Athens Strollers are a hiking club, unique in 2 respects: we walk in nature, near and around Athens, which makes our venues quickly accessible; and we walk either on a Saturday or a Sunday. The length of the walks differs, sometimes it is just 2-3 hours, sometime 5-6 hours. Families with children from 6 years and up are warmly welcomed.

There is no charge for being a member or participating in a walk.

You just sign up on the mailing list and will receive invitations. The only expense is your transportation to/from the walking venue and the tavern meal after the walk should you desire to stay for the meal. 

The club started over 10 years ago. All necessary information is posted  on the club's dedicated website: www.athens-strollers.gr. Here you will find detailed instructions on how to get to each walk start, the degree of difficulty, necessary equipment etc. Each walk concludes with an (optional) meal at a nearby taverna.

 

Wednesday, 18 February 2015 12:12

Greece Offers More Than Just Sandy Beaches

When you think about Greece it is easy to think of just golden sandy beaches and beautiful blue oceans. However, Greece has a lot more to offer, particularly to outdoor enthusiasts who like getting off-the-beaten track, according to Grecian Plato Balomenakis who thinks that more people should explore wild Greece. “My friends and I like to climb the rocky hills, but visitors seem to prefer walking,” he says.

 “In Crete the Samaria Canyon is always very popular particularly in the Spring when the wild flowers are everywhere.”

The Samaria Canyon is in fact home to over 450 species of flower. By law, not a single flower may be removed from the canyon; this ensures the delicate ecosystem is maintained for the enjoyment of future generations.

To read more, please visit blog.visitgreece.gr

Greek households will be able to offset electricity cost by installing photovoltaic systems and provide electricity both to themselves and to the power grid, according to a decision signed last week by Deputy Environment, Greece ‘s Energy and Climate Change Minister Assimakis Papageorgiou.

The offsetting system, known as “net metering,” allows households and companies who produce their own electricity through photovoltaics to share it with the local utility company that then credits them for it against the cost of electricity it provides to them.

A meter will measure both the energy consumed by the producer — e.g. a household — and that provided to the utility grid. For a household, the bill issued every four months will factor in incoming and outgoing energy; if the incoming energy is greater, the household pays the difference, if it is the lesser of the two, the household will be credited for the next four-month cycle. A final statement will be issued at the end of the year, after which any surplus will not be carried over.

Installations will not have to be on roofs only, and self-producing energy consumers will pay a fee only for the electric energy they consume from the power grid or the system.

To read more, please visit greekreporter.com

By A. Makris

Thursday, 04 February 2016 07:00

Top Restaurants In Athens

New restaurants and cafes pop up every day in Athens, it can be hard to decide where to go. Here, our friends at Greece by a Greek provide us with their top choices of restaurants that offer not only gourmet dishes, but also an experience to remember. 

1) Eleas Gi - Meaning: Earth’s Olive Oil – A travel in time experience
 
Where: Olimpionikon 4, Kifissia, North Athens
Website: http://www.eleasgi.gr/en
Why: Classy atmosphere – delicious, premium quality food – great views.
What:  Authentic Greek cuisine cooked with extra virgin olive oil – 2 menus to choose, 14 or 24 different tastes – more than tasty and very well presented dishes – excellent value for money.

2) Funky Gourmet - Creative dinner over 17 molecular courses

Where: 13 Paramithias st. & Salaminos, Keramikos
Website: http://www.funkygourmet.com/en/photos
Why: Creative cuisine with a twist, presentation and imagination – beautiful  and chic surroundings – unique experience – great service.
What:  Amusing avant-garde cuisine – unbelievable flavors’ combinations – exquisite and delightful presentation of dishes.

3) Galazia Hytra - Part of the Astir Palace Complex

Where: 40 Apollonos Street, Astir Palace Complex, Vouliagmeni
Website: http://www.westinathens.com/en/galazia-hytra
Why:  Unforgettable sunset views of the Saronic Gulf – creative Greek cuisine – palatable experience.
What:  Creative and unique recipes – fascinating flavors and aromas – fresh local Greek ingredients – Greek wine – pricey but it is worth it.

To read more, please visit: Greece by a Greek





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