International Conference on «Enhancing the Skills and Identity of Cultural Mediators in a multicultural Europe» (ESΙ-CM 2014),
08 & 09 January 2014, Patras, Greece
Andrica Rozi, R&D Executive in training and consulting Olympic Training &
Consulting Ltd
Email: [email protected]
Phone number: +30 26210 40200
Andrica Rozi is an R&D Executive in training and consulting. She has a BA in
European and International Studies from Panteion University of Social & Political
Sciences in Athens, Greece, and speaks five languages. She has been working for
Olympic Training & Consulting Ltd since 2012 and has since participated in the
implementation of EU-funded and national projects in the fields of
Interculturalisation, Entrepreneurship & Adult Training.
Intercultural intermediation moves two steps forward –
Educational facilitation and the registry
OLYMPIC TRAINING AND CONSULTING LTD.
Company Profile
Olympic Training provides Vocational Training to adults either unemployed,
employees or self-employed. We are also active in implementing European programs,
promoting life-long learning, and providing non-formal education and services related
to training and the job market.
Olympic Training was founded in 1995 in Pyrgos, Ileia where still our headquarters
are. We also have branches in three major cities in Western Greece (Patras, Tripolis &
in the island of Zakynthos) as well as in Athens, the Greek capital.
International Conference on «Enhancing the Skills and Identity of Cultural Mediators in a multicultural Europe» (ESΙ-CM 2014),
08 & 09 January 2014, Patras, Greece
Some of our recent projects:
 Development of model patterns for the promotion of Interculturalism
With a budget of 1.5 mil €, the project was implemented in the Region of Western
Greece for 3 years (2005-2008). The direct beneficiaries exceeded 900 migrants.
Olympic Training implemented language training programs for foreign parents. The
aim was to set the basis for better labour inclusion of the second generation of
immigrants now going to school in Greece.
The project included training of 120 immigrant parents regarding the Greek school
system. Additionally, their Greek language skills were improved (European Level A
and B) as well as the contact with school and the board of teachers. Finally,
simultaneous language skills development was possible both for children and parents
in an attempt to prevent the generation gap.
 Learning Community – Immigrants as Educational Facilitators Pave the
Way for Immigrants to Access Lifelong Learning
The project started in October 1st, 2009, and lasted for 36 months, until October 2012.
The aim was to improve the access to lifelong learning (vocational and individual
qualification) for immigrants.
Olympic Training participated in the partnership that was created among
administrations, educational institutions (VET-centers) and NGOs from five countries
(Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands). Project leader was
BGZ Berlin International Cooperation Agency.
Through the actions that took place within the project, we empowered the target
group, helped dismantling the structural barriers, and we supported the personal
development of the participants via strengthening their employability and fostering
their social integration.
While we implemented the project we mainly emphasized on a) anchoring lifelong
learning and awareness-raising at immigrants' level (education policy dimension), b)
social integration and intercultural dialogue (social dimension) and c) support of
knowledge and competences of immigrants as valuable labour resources (economic
dimension).
The outcome was an innovative methodological consulting approach for the
empowerment of migrants. Furthermore many immigrants can now act as trained
multipliers. Curricula and teaching materials were especially developed for the
training of educational facilitators and were given as handouts for their work. Finally,
International Conference on «Enhancing the Skills and Identity of Cultural Mediators in a multicultural Europe» (ESΙ-CM 2014),
08 & 09 January 2014, Patras, Greece
the information was available through the project’s website (www.learningcommunity.eu), leaflets, flyers, and other publications.
 Creating a Register of trained Intercultural Mediators and networking
Intercultural Mediators through an electronic Platform
Partners Olympic Training and the Hellenic Open University worked together for the
creation of the first Register of trained Intercultural Mediators that live and work in
Greece. The project was implemented from January till June 2013 and was financed
by the Greek Ministry of Interior - European Fund for the Integration of Third
Country Nationals in Greece.
There are 128 registered Mediators while the Platform (www.intermediation.gr) has
almost 4,000 visits till today. There are four linguistic versions available (Greek,
English, Albanian & Arabic).
How did the project run?
After thorough research we were able to determine that 586 people had been trained
as Intercultural Mediators. However, when it was time to contact them, we were able
to find only 417, since some of them had participated in more than one training
program, and therefore appeared in more than one list, while for others there was no
correct contact information available.
There were repeated efforts to approach them through a variety of means (telephone,
personal and group email, letters, sms). We were able to inform them, at the
beginning, about the Platform, to encourage them to register, at a later stage, and
finally, to inform them about the development of the project.
Repeated efforts were, also, made to inform organisations and other stakeholders,
such as the Police, hospitals, representatives of migrants, NGOs etc about the creation
of the Platform and to encourage them to find Mediators through it.
However, not everything worked as planned. For example, because of the
immigrants’ living and working conditions, some of them did not or could not have
access to the internet. Although we explained extensively to them the registration
process and we asked them to visit our offices (where possible) some of them treated
the process with reserve.
Moreover, the discontinuity between the training programs, the ambiguity of their
employment status and the frustration from the inability to use their training in the
previous years, were, according to the Intercultural Mediators themselves, the main
reasons that prevented them from an immediate registration to the platform
International Conference on «Enhancing the Skills and Identity of Cultural Mediators in a multicultural Europe» (ESΙ-CM 2014),
08 & 09 January 2014, Patras, Greece
Lastly, personal reasons, such as working full-time in a different field, family
responsibilities, time constraints or other undefined reasons, were mentioned as
causes that prevented some Intercultural Mediators from registering.
Why was the Registry necessary?
Although there had been many training programs in Greece, there was no organized
registration list of all Intercultural Mediators acting and living in the country. This
void was covered by the Platform that was created.
Mediators are now able to find other mediators in their area or with their expertise or
linguistic skills to network with. Most important, Migrants, Authorities and
Stakeholders can now easily find Mediators to employ and contact them directly.
Finally, the general public can now learn about Intercultural Mediation through the
material provided in the Platform and Mediators can also find useful tools to facilitate
their work.