synAthina: Athens Public Platform for Civic Engagement
Years: 2015-2018 | Partners: City of Athens, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Athens Development Agency | Team: Amalia Zepou (Vice Mayor), Haris Biskos (Project Manager), Katerina Apostolopoulou (Communication Lead), Christos Karras (Digital Platform Manager), Vassilis Stamogiannis (Community Liaison), Katerina Gkoutziouli (Community Liaison), Eleni Petra (Financial Manager) | Mentoring: ISOS Partners, Innovation Unit | Program Budget: 1’000’000 Euros | Funding: Bloomberg Philanthropies | website: www.synathina.gr
Citizens, policy-makers and private sector representatives come together to build a collaborative, grassroots vision for change in Athens.
synAthina is an online platform to engage members of the community in problem-solving and reform. Citizens and groups can submit ideas such as volunteer activities and improvements for their city and are connected with relevant government representatives, non-governmental organizations, and private businesses to support their efforts. If outdated regulations are impeding the advancement of good ideas, the synAthina project team will work with partners at City Hall to update those regulations, policies, or procedures.
In 2014, the City was awarded US$1.2million through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge for the development of synAthina. synAthina seeks to demonstrate a way of government working more effectively with the community, supporting community activity as part of an agenda for change and connecting government to what is important to citizens.
(Text Originally published by EUROCITIES)
