T
he initiative’snamesays it all. RepowerGreece, agrassroots
movement that hasgathereda followingof 40,000volunteers, is
thinking locallyandactingglobally. Thegroup refuses toaccept the
negativestereotypesand falseperceptionsspreadaround theworldasGreece
continues to facechallengesduringacripplingeconomiccrisis. Itsgoal is to
inject anewsenseof hopeworldwide, starting from itsbase inAthens.
“We’vechangedAthensandGreece itself. Thenegativeperceptionsabout
Greecehavehadaprofoundlydepressingeffect onour peopleandyouth. The
best thing thathascomeabout fromRepowerGreece is thatGreeks themselves
are realising there ispotential here. There ishope,”explainsAlexandros
Costopoulos (pictured), apublicaffairsexecutivewhospearheaded the
non-profit campaign threeyearsago. “Therewasademiseof our credibility,
asapeopleandasprofessionals.Wewerebeingdefinedbymistakesand the
vested interestsof others.Wecouldn’t accept that soweorganisedourselves,
tookactionand inspireda following.Weshouldbedefinedbypositive things.”
Coinedasan international publicdiplomacycampaign, volunteersutilise
socialmedia topublicisepositiveproof pointsandstories frombusiness,
educationandculture. Stories that exemplifyhowGreeceand theGreek
peoplearemore thanwhat theworldmayhavewitnessed throughmedia
reportssurrounding thecrisis: protests, violence, disorganisationandunrest.
RepowerGreece’seffortshaveevengrabbed theattentionof large
corporatesponsors. Donations, alongwithanarmyof volunteers, havehelped
thegrouporganiseglobal events that involve theparticipationof leading
universities, academic institutions, internationalmedia, community
organisationsand think tanksacross theworld. RepowerGreece’s leaders
discusscomment andopinion fromaround theglobeand takeacritical look
at newscoverage. Then theycreatecampaigns that present thepositive.
Thecampaignshavebrought together executives frommultinationalsand
small organisations, theysay, for the first time in thecountry’shistory. The
collaborationhasstimulated freshand innovative ideas, and thepositivepress
coverage, increasedsolidarityandcommunity involvement prove that abig
budget isn’t alwaysnecessary toeffect change, but simplypeople’s time,
commitment anddedication.
Last year, theorganisation’sUSAcademicDiscussionSeriespacked
audiencesat 14Americancampuses includingHarvard, Georgetown, Yale
andColumbiaUniversities. Volunteers returned toAthenswithnew ideas,
researchand reports that theypresented toGreekpolicymakers. As thecrisis
continues, theRepowerGreece initiativehascontinued toevolvewithastrong
focuson thecountry’syouth. EventsatAthenianschools ratehighon the
group’spriority list thesedays.
“Itmaysound likea romanticgoal towant toachieveabetter future for our
kidsbut it’s the truth. Their creativemindsetswill bewhatwill trulypropel
Greece forward,” saysCostopoulos. “Insomewaysour effort isamarathon
butwearemanaging tospreadamessage thatmeanssomething.Now,
peoplecan lookbackandsayGreecehas reacted inaconstructive, positive
wayduring thecrisis.”
may2014
24
FLYto
athens
threetimesweekly.
brusselsairlines.com
the big idea
words
Marissa Tejada
MARCOGAROFALO, BABISLOUIZIDIS
Power to thepeople
RepowerGreeceengages
youngpeople, corporations,
universitiesandcommunity
groups toexploreandpromote
apositiveviewof thecountry
