S Y N T H E S I S

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26 November 2011. Liverpool, UK

Representatives from organisations from 6 countries gathered in Liverpool on 24th and 25th of November for the kick off meeting of the project IGNITE Europe. The project aims to train trainers to develop and support social entrepreneurs. The project is expected to also raise awareness of the field of social entrepreneurship in the partner countries and across Europe. The partnership is comprised of  organisations from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Lithuania, Sweden and UK and is co-funded by the Life Long Learning Programme of the European Union. The project is coordinated by South Sefton Development Trust, UK, while Synthesis Center is the Cypriot partner.

Newsletter 1, January 2012 

7 October 2011

Social Innovation Europe (SIE) has selected Synthesis as its Cyprus partner. Funded by DG Enterprise at the European Commission, and run by a consortium including SIX, Euclid Network and the Danish Technological Institute, SIE has been designed to promote, support and develop social innovation across Europe. The SIE initiative aims to streamline the field of social innovation by bringing innovators together and increasing the capacity to face priority challenges such as ageing and climate change through an events series, reports, and an online hub. 

30 September 2011

With excitement, we hosted a visit by South Sefton Development Trust (SSDT) and the School for Social Entrepreneurs (Liverpool). The visit took place on 18^th-20^th September 2011. South Sefton Development Trust was represented by Cate Murphy (Chief Executive) and Eve Money (Development Manager).  Also on the delegation were  Lynne Jones from Social Enterprise Wise Connections, which works primarily with women in ethical businesses, Cathy Varley (Liverpool SSE Learning Manager) and Hilary Berg, a PR, Marketing and Branding professional who is an expert witness and mentor for the Liverpool SSE. Synthesis was represented by George Isaias, Golfo Kateva, and Irene Antoniou. During the meetings, the participants discussed the situation of Social Entrepreneurship in Cyprus and UK, exchanged views, and agreed on a number of joint actions for closer cooperation for pushing the sector forward at national and European level.

25 September 2011

George Isaias presented on "Employability Skills for Immigrant Communities" during the "Peer Education Conference" held in Montecatini, Italy, on September 23rd 2011. Golfo Kateva also presented on exercises and methodologies in empowering immigrants to enter the labour market. The Conference was held in the framework of the "Peer Education-A Pan Europe Programme."

 Athens, May 30, 2011

Mr. George Isaias was a key note speaker at the Conference "Social Solidarity Economy: Corporate Social Responsibility & Social Entrepreneurship - the challenge of our era." His presentation was titled "Mediterranean Practices of Social Entrepreneurship."

The Conference was organised by Social Cooperative Activities for Minority Groups "EDRA."   

December 23, 2010

October 31, 2010

October 31, 2010

October 7, 2010

Interchangeably called social entrepreneurs, changemakers, or social innovators, more and more people around the world are starting creative new ventures with the intention of tackling social and environmental problems. During the first week of November this year, Connecting Social Innovation 2010 (cosi10) is calling social innovators together at events in cities around the world with the aim of strengthening and moving the sector forward.

Press Release:   English   Greek

September 22, 2010

Read article

September 9, 2010

SYNTHESIS is hosting in Cyprus the global learning event "Connecting Social Innovation 2010" (Cosi10). Cosi10 is a global collaborative event for social entrepreneurs from all sectors and backgrounds which takes place in the first week of November 2010 in more than 10 cities around the world, including Brussels, Paris, and New York. The event in Cyprus is the only one that is offered in the greater Middle East area. It will be held in Nicosia on November 6 & 7. More information including online regisration is available at http://cosi10.com

July 7, 2010

The Peer Education Training Course was a five-day training event addressed to peer educators accross Europe. The event took place in Albena, Bulgaria, between July 1-6, 2010. Thekla Neocleous, Irene Antoniou, and George Isaias were the Cypriot participants. According to one of the participants "the training was outstanding and one of the best ever attended." The Cypriot team's presentation on awareness and communication with the hearing impaired further enriched the training programme.  

The successful training methodolgy is alredy being transfered in Cyprus through the running of social learning circles at the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, in cooperation with a youth and cultural organisation.  The social learning circle will start in September 2010 and will be offered to young people with hearing impairments.

May 27, 2010

George Isaias was an invited speaker at the seminar  "Guidance and Counseling for Migrants and Returnees." His presentation was titled "Guidance and Couseling in view of training and employment: The case of Acta Vista and its potential application to Cyprus."

The seminar was organised by the Public Employment Services of Cyprus, with speakers and participants from Cyprus, Greece, Netherlands, Slovakia,and the UK.

April 27, 2010

Read Press Release.

March 24, 2009

The key findings of the research project "The role of parents in protecting minors from tv violence" were presented at a conference event held in the premises of the University of Cyprus on 21th of March.  The presentation was made by the scientific coordinator of the research, Chrysanthos Chrysanthou, Ph.d.  The project was run for the period 2007 and 2008 and included 50 elementary schools with more than a thousand parents of children 9-12 years of age. The project was funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation and was implemented by Synthesis, the University of Cyprus, and the Frederick University.

October 2, 2009

The project application "Peer Education - a Pan European Programme" has just been approved by the European Commission. The project which is funded by the Leonardo da Vinci programme is expected to commence in November 2009.