OLYMPIC TRAINING AND Consulting ltd.

1. OLYMPIC TRAINING AND Consulting ltd.

2. Company Profile We provide: • Vocational Training • Life-long Learning • Non-Formal Education • Services related to training and the job market

3. Branches Patras Athens Zakynthos Pyrgos Tripolis

4. Our Philosophy and Objectives • Act as NAVIGATORS in the Knowledge Society • Promote the concept of change in itself as a dynamic work and life model • Increase the competitiveness of SMEs • Promote the inclusion of socially vulnerable groups • Introduce integrated and innovative education methods

5. Some of our recent projects

6. Development of model patterns for the promotion of Interculturalism • 1.5 mil € budget • 3 years of duration (2005-2008) • Area of Implementation: Region of Western Greece • Over 900 direct beneficiaries

7. Project products (excerpt):

8. Language training for foreign parents • Non-formal education • Aim: To set the basis for better labour inclusion of the second generation of immigrants now going to school in Greece • Design: training of 120 immigrant parents regarding the Greek school system

9. Results • Improvement of Greek language skills (European Level A and B) • Contact with school and board of teachers improved • Simultaneous language skills development for both children and parents • Prevention of the generation gap

10. Other recent project Learning Community – Immigrants as Educational Facilitators Pave the Way for Immigrants to Access Lifelong Learning

11. Project focus Improvement of access to lifelong learning (vocational and individual qualification) for immigrants.

12. Project Summary • Duration: 36 months, started 01.10.2009 • Partnership: Administrations, education institutions (VET-centers) and NGOs from five countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands) • Projectleader: BGZ Berlin International Cooperation Agency

13. Project Partners

14. Objectives (1/2) • improvement of access to lifelong learning • empowerment of the target group • dismantling of structuralbarriers • support of personal development • strengthening of employability and fosteringof social integration of thetarget group

15. Objectives (2/2) • educationpolicydimension: anchoringlifelonglearningandawareness-raisingatimmigrants' level • socialdimension: socialintegrationandinterculturaldialogue • economicdimension: supportofknowledgeandcompetencesofimmigrantsasvaluablelabourresources

16. Products/Outcomes • Innovative methodological consulting approach for theempowerment of migrants • Trained multipliers • Curriculum and teaching materials for the training ofeducational facilitators and handouts for their work • Information (website, leaflets, flyers, publications, etc.)

17. Other recent project Creating a Register of trained Intercultural Mediators and networking InterculturalMediators through an electronic Platform www.intermediation.gr

18. Project Summary • Duration of project: January – June 2013 • Partners: Olympic Training & Consulting Ltd –Hellenic Open University • Financed by: Greek Ministry of Interior - European Fund for the Integration of third country nationals in Greece • Languages: Greek – English – Albanian – Arabic • Registeredusers: 128 • Visits: 626(May 2013) • 1,346 (June 2013) • 3,891 (January 2014)

19. Methodology (1/2) • 586 people had been trained as Intercultural Mediators • We were able to find 417 Some had participated in more than one training program and for others there was no correct contact information available

20. Methodology (2/2) • Repeated efforts to inform the Intercultural Mediators via a variety of approaches (telephone, personal and group email, letters, sms) • They were contacted: • to be informed about the Platform, • to be encouraged to register, • to be informed about the development of the project • Repeated efforts to inform Organisations / Other Stakeholders (Police, Hospitals, representatives of migrants, NGOs etc)

21. Problematics • Some Intercultural Mediators did not/ could not have access to the internet and therefore to the platform • 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 • Personal reasons, such as working full-time in a different field, family responsibilities, time constraints or other undefined reasons, also prevented Intercultural Mediators from registering.

22. Needs – Function – Results (1/2) • Although there had been many training programs in Greece, therewasno organized registration list of all Intercultural Mediators acting and living in the country • The Platform came to cover this void  first official Register • Mediators are now able to find other mediators in their area or with their expertise or linguistic skills networking

23. Needs – Function – Results (2/2) • Migrants and authorities, hospitals, organizations, NGOs etc can find Mediators to employ  easy access to mediators • The general public can now learn about Intercultural Mediation  dissemination • The Platform provides to mediators useful tools that facilitate their work  assistance

24. Contact Information Olympic Training & Consulting Ltd 113 Riga Feraiou str., Pyrgos Ileia, PC 27100, Greece www.olympiakokek.gr www.facebook.com/Olympic.Training www.twitter.com/OlyTraining

25. Thank you for your attention!