The Equal Society was founded in February 2010 and since then is an active member of Civil Society with actions "Against Social Exclusion, Discrimination and Poverty".
The goal of the organization with the slogan "Close to Man", is to support and inform citizens on issues of equality and non-discrimination in all areas of social life.
Through open dialogue processes, social interventions, national and European initiatives, the Equal Society promotes social inclusion and respect for human rights. Consistent with its statutory purpose, in order to create a more solidarity society, the Organization has highlighted substantial reintegration and support actions for vulnerable social groups. The multidisciplinary approach to creating an "Equal Opportunity Society" includes information and awareness-raising activities, educational initiatives, employment actions, street work, advocacy actions, human rights advocacy projects, legal aid for victims of gender-based disability and the promotion of gender equality.
EDUCATION:
Scholarship Program: We offer full-time scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies to young people who do not have the financial means to continue their studies. To date, the program has offered more than 520 scholarships.
E-Gnosis Program: Training in new technologies and English, offering the opportunity to vulnerable groups to obtain recognized certificates. To date, more than 17,000 people have been trained and certified.
SOCIAL WELFARE
People Structures Meals: In partnership with the Municipality of Athens in Attica and the Holy Diocese of Lefkada & Ithaca and the Municipality of Lefkada in the Region of Lefkada, we created two Social Meals "People Meals". Our structures to date have offered more than 950,000 portions of food. At the same time, they are multifaceted areas of social reintegration developing activities such as psychosocial support, "Window to Employment", the first homeless theater group "Walkabout" in Greece, Equal Cinema in collaboration with FeelGood Entertainment, book presentations, creative workshops and scholarships education for children from financially weak families.
Social Pharmacies: In Lefkada and Corfu we operate two social pharmacies serving 400 of our fellow human beings who face the spectrum of homelessness and poverty.
Open Day Center for the Homeless: The Open Day Center of the Organization offers the possibility to more than 500 people to serve their daily needs and to receive psychosocial support and professional counseling.
Social Housing: In collaboration with the Archdiocese of Athens and the Child's Smile, the initiative provided housing to 35 homeless people living in the Attica area. Their housing rehabilitation was accompanied by actions of providing psychological support and professional counseling. In addition, from 2022, Equal Society, in collaboration with the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands and the Municipality of South Corfu, provides services to 15 households aimed at ensuring their access to housing, their work (re)integration, their psychosocial empowerment and the connection with social services and structures.
Social Clinic: In Corfu, medical and nursing staff offer daily primary medical care to our homeless and needy fellow citizens.
Street Work actions to support the homeless population in Athens, Corfu and Lefkada
RTS +: In collaboration with KETHEA we developed an innovative initiative aimed at the integration of drug addicts through adventurous sports
RePOWER: In collaboration with the Hellenic Paralympic Committee, we ensure the integration of refugees with disabilities in Greek society through Paralympic Sports.
STEADY: Through this project we highlighted the value of sports for the social integration of young refugees with disabilities in the host countries.
STEP UP: We established a network of organizations that aims to highlight artistic and cultural activities as tools to facilitate the social inclusion of vulnerable groups.
ART & INCLUSION: We promoted good practices and trained professionals on the role of the arts in the social inclusion of people with disabilities and people with mental disorders.
ROM: Establishment of the first observatory to defend the rights of Roma communities.
Legal Advice: We provide legal assistance to our homeless, needy and socially excluded fellow citizens.
INTEGRATION IN EMPLOYMENT
Equal Society Counseling Center: More than 840 people have been served by the Equal Society Counseling Center in the job search process.
Open Gate: zhteitai.gr is a job search and education platform that stands close to our most vulnerable fellow citizens. The visitors of the community centers and the social structures of the country through zhteitai.gr will now be able to have direct access to ads, training programs and information about their rights in order to be reintegrated into the social and professional whole.
Lefkada Social & Solidarity Economy Support Center: We provided consulting services for the support and development of social entrepreneurs.
RESEARCH - STUDIES
Social Value Greece Network: An initiative that concerns the development of a pan-Hellenic network for measuring the social return on investment (Social Value Greece) and the establishment of methods of control and evaluation of organizations as part of their daily lives. More than 50 Non-Governmental Organizations, social enterprises and companies have been evaluated.
CULTURE - ARTS
Walkabout Homeless Theater Group: It is an innovative educational tool and a means of raising public awareness on the issues of vulnerable social groups.
NETWORKS & ADVOCACY
Equal Society is an official member of FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organizations Working with the Homeless), the Hellenic Network for Combating Poverty, the Hellenic Network for Combating Homelessness, the National Register of Greek & Foreign Organizations active in international affairs protection, immigration and social integration of the First Reception Register, is a certified provider of primary social care services and is a member of the National Register of Social and Solidarity Economy.
DISTINCTIONS
Equal Society has received the following awards:
· "ISLANDS OF QUALITY" AWARD 2013 by the President of the Hellenic Republic
· BRAVO SUSTAINABILITY AWARD 2015
· BRAVO SUSTAINABILITY AWARD 2019
