WHAT IS NOW - WHAT TO DO
The problems are following a pattern and after all these months of
organised solidarity and the energy that evolved from it, we have to step
forward with new and solid structures. Let us find a way to connect our
activism and the daily struggles more effectivly. Now, more than ever, we
have to invite everyone to join us.
In Thessaloniki a strong movement of solidarity can already be found.
Many people are already actively involved in self-organized solidarity
structure. The other side is a huge need for supporting each other.
Thessaloniki and Greece in general have become a symbol for those, who
are not incorporated in the system anymore and are forced to stay behind.
Thus it is even more important to support and evolve already existing
structures in order to build a sustainable perspective with all those who
are affected.
AND WHAT EXACTLY
The idea of this free and open workshop is to believe in one's own skills instead of counting on this present system and with this to organize and produce in community the needs of the daily life. We try together, after making an overview about the products, resources and services available, we want to manage them collectively and see what can be redistributed. With this project we start an attempt to show a persective to all affected people in the society, to combine forces and to face the struggles together.
We are talking about daily support but also about the creation of a perspective, in which the open workshop tries to orientate on following points:
Meetingpoint
Workshop/school
Fabric/atelier
Collective/cooperative/union
Solidarity network
Meetingpoint
First we unterstand this workshop as a free social space, where people can meet, spend some time together and where they have the possibility to talk about their needs and cares. An open meal for example can be a good opportunity to exchange and to organize the daily life.
Workshop/school
Education is a central part of work in social and solidarity sructures. We want to learn from each other and arouse interests and strengths. In times where economic misfortune is assessed by politics and economics as individual fail, we should strengthen self-confidence and redefine the idea of work and performance. Everybody is invited to participate at their own terms. It gives us the opportunity to offer open courses and workshops, from which new communities can be created. These workshops and the newly learned skills can be a possibility for people to manage their own life and to supply themselves and their families with the products of the daily needs.
Fabric/atelier
As a collective we try to get an overview about the things we need in the daily life. Especially for things that have to be bought expensivly, we can try to make the life for everybody cheaper with organizing and producing things ourselves. This workshop and the way of selforganization should be orientated according to the human and his wishes and needs in respect of the ecological aspects.
Collectives/ cooperatives/ unions
Thessaloniki is full of social and political initiatives, that always put human in the focus. There is a lot to learn from them and cooperations are a central aspect in the social space with each other. So we can try to bring a cultural, economic and social input to Thessaloniki.
Solidarity Network
We want to answer to the struggles combatively. The construction of proper structures and social spaces is not intended to remove our social responsibility. Progress in all parts of life will continue to be claimed. Whether it is to preserve housing in risk to be confiscated by courts and other institutions, or to make improvements in work, education and culture. It should be a place where we organize and strengthen our solidarity.
This place itself is a small shop in the centre of Thessaloniki. Usually it opens in the late morning and stays open the whole day until evening for everyone who shares our wish for a non-hierarchical community without discrimination.