Multiplier events in Greece
Knowledge needs to be transferred and make useful for others to be meaningful. With a set of multiplier events, the partner organisations arranged happenings of different kinds in order to spread the results from the Transit project. Ecocity carried out two multiplier events, both with the same structure and content.
Kastoria is a city of 16.500 inhabitants, located in the region of West Macedonia (north Greece), located at 700 meter above sea level on the Cape of Orestiada lake between Vitsi and Grammos mountains. The city is flat with long walks and cycling infrastructure by the lake. Cycling associations are very active. Cycling leisure activities on national and international level are organized annually and mountain cycling is popular among citizens and visitors. Still, citizens do not use bicycle for every day transportation in the city.
Preveza is a city of 20.000 inhabitants, located in the region of Epirus (north-west Greece), built by the side of Ambracian Golf. The city is flat with extended historic center and unique transportation conjunctions (Highways and airdrome). No cycling culture exists.
The project results was presented by Ecocity partners and consultants to municipality and region officials and politicians. The project was also analyzed to representatives of local associations and related services. The digital platform with free access to training tools, methods and materials was illustrated. The opportunity to advance personal skills, to acquire knowledge needed but never delivered till now and the ability to understand perception techniques, to design and develop influencing and mindset-change campaigns excited the attendees and encouraged discussions and questions.
The two events in two different cities with various characteristics summed more than 65 attendees, directly involved with the projects aims. The most important is the fact that expectation of the Transit digital platform was created.
The project definitely inspires adults and offers the projection of change in terms of quality referring to everyday life. Emissions from transportation vehicles are considered as one of the most important factors for the climate crisis the globe is facing. Change of mindsets, habits and behaviors are urgently needed. The project has developed informal learning methods for adults, in order to accomplish this change in an organized, meaningful and practical structure facing adult’s barrier of adverse attitude to change. The municipality leaders, executives and staff, as main target of the project, will get the necessary knowledge, information and examples on how to design and implement relevant campaigns efficiently. As milestones of their local societies are enhanced for a better understanding of their mission and new skills enrich their talents. Moral motives and rewards are their allies for the new tasks and scopes, when assigned.
The project was presented as a short training course (half a day) offered by the municipality to its staff, officials and local associations. Ecocity experts were invited to present the tools to be found on the forthcoming Transit platform. The event introduced the opportunity to discuss circulation and related air pollution problems of the city and to initiate open dialogue with citizens to resolve similar problems. Side events took place as initiatives of the cycling associations with city tours during the week ends before in order to raise awareness about the main forthcoming event.