SPUR Program

Our organization IMEPO participated in the

PROGRAM “SPUR”

Towards a New Spur for EU Democracy Building learn and engagement

New forms of Societal and intercultural engagement and volunteering as a New Spur for civic and democratic participation at EU level

The project was an initiative of Nea Smyrni municipality, a municipality located about 4 km southwest of central Athens, Greece, named so after the city Smyrna (today’s İzmir in Turkey), from where a large number of refugees arrived and settled in the Nea Smyrni area following the 1922 population exchange between Greece and Turkey.

The municipality implemented the project with the support of the “Europe for Citizens” programme of the European Union !

The main goal of “SPUR” program was to highlight and assess both the value of solidarity and volunteering in the current context of economic and humanitarian crisis inside United Europe as well as to improve the conditions for civic and democratic participation of citizens providing them, as a New Spur, New forms of Societal and intercultural engagement for the enhancement of civic and democratic participation at national and European level !

These forms – away from extremist or populist movements and radicalized behaviors and beyond xenophobia, intolerance and any discrimination against the vulnerable or excluded people within EU societies and underprivileged and disadvantaged populations, which often include youngsters and people of non – EU origins :

a): Stabilize the social welfare, health, employment, education, environment, culture, etc. systems, which brutally affected in times of economic recession and poverty,

b): Protect further the fundamental rights, in particular of minorities,

c): Help restore law and civil parity for a decent living,

d): Promote and foster the economy and the development and finally,

e): consolidate the faith, to the principles and values on which the European ideal is founded, in particular of the different types of Eurosceptics, and put forward the achievements of the United Europe and the cost of no Europe creating a new positive narrative for Europe and Europe integration.

Click on “Read More” for information about the four (4) non-formal education events. Also visit the website of the project “SPUR” http://dnsspur.gr/ for the analytical programmes, videos and photos