General information

Kavala is situated on the coast of Northern Greece, nearly two hours by road to the East of Thessaloniki. It is a city with a long history, dominated by a medieval castle substantially reconstructed by Suleyman the Great. Historically the city’s economy was dominated by textiles, fishing and the port but all have now either disappeared or have been sharply reduced. Today more than two thirds of the local economy is dominated by services and tourism and most businesses are very small (fiften have only two employees). According to the most recent demographic statistics the city is inhabited by 145,000 people. The city has experienced an influx of immigration (refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Kurdish areas of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The city is characterized by well-developed welfare services(elderly day care, kindergarten, short term training and work programs for unemployed, therapeutic drug counseling center)

Challenges

1. High Unemployment rate (24% by mid 2012) 2. Lack of social housing 3. Integration and legalization of first generation diverse communities 4. To develop a new kind cooperation with citizens (mobilizing citizens instead of utilizing a traditional municipality/ user relationship, develop of volunteers movement)

Coordination groups

The Municipality of Kavala joined TOGETHER project in its second phase of implementation. The affirmation behind this participation was that as historic welfare state is re-evaluated and traditional services with very little or no16 engagement with citizens are under threat, a growing need for new types of services arise. 1. Educational establishments including preschools and kindergartens 2. Associations/ Non-governmental organizations working in the field of family and childrenwelfare 3. Local public care authorities- elderly home 4. Social welfare-Municipal organizations 5. Therapy center for dependent individuals 6. Volunteers

Local Social cohesion action plan (Pilot actions)

Establish a local set up group

Preventive health care services against winter flue

Social pharmacy

The project brings together three key local actors- the Council, the medical professions- for instance doctors and pharmacists and over 150 volunteers. The Council has provided the premises a vacant shop. The pills and tablets come from the unused medicines that many people have in their homes. The professionals check the medicines, organize their storage and give medical as well as pharmaceutical advice to citizens. Finally the volunteers help to collect the medicines, manage the shop and provide administrative support. From a traditional welfare system towards an approach of coresponsiblity However, the city’s participation in the URBACT Together Territories of Coresponsiblity has helped to stimulate a more two way process between the municipality and the citizens. For example, in March 2012 the city opened a Social Pharmacy. The first for the city was to establish Local Support Group drawing on different elements within the society

Sources:

- URBACT Territories of Coresponsibility Lead Expert’s Report on Meeting Kavala (August 2011) - URBACT Territories of Coresponsibility Local Action Plan of Co-Responsibility in Kavala