For example, community celebrations organized by families, friends, and local residents, open to people of all ages and backgrounds; music, dance, and film festivals - family and arts festivals in general; conferences, such as those for youth or women; and educational camps organized by citizens themselves who are interested in the moral and social education of children, junior youth, youth and adults.
In Greece, dozens of family festivals and educational camps are held each year. So far, they have taken place in Attica, Thessaloniki, Achaea, Volos, Rhodes, Ilia and Corfu.
The program of such festivals and camps focuses on the moral and social education of participants usually through the following activities:
Artistic expression (through music, painting, theatre, etc.). For example, children colour beautiful drawings that they can give as gifts to their parents.
Discussions on values. Participants think and discuss how they can apply values (such as generosity, kindness, love for the environment and others) in their daily lives, and consider the impact of such behaviour—both on themselves and on others.
Team Sports and Games. These help participants build friendships and communicate in a safe environment.
Community Service Activities. For example, cleaning up areas, tree planting, etc.
These collective efforts are accompanied by individual initiatives, such as home visits, daily interactions and so on, where citizens try to continue discussing and applying the values in their daily lives. In practice, then, the concepts of the institute help citizens change their lives and the life of their society. They take charge of their own personal and collective development.
The result that is gradually emerging from these efforts are vibrant, outward-looking communities, with activities open to all, where everyone can express their thoughts and talents, across neighborhoods and villages; as these communities grow, they promote the material and moral progress of their local society. They are shaping a new, deeply transformative model of collective life.
