Helix - Social Innovation Hub - Ideas in practice
Sotiria Bakalakou, co-founder of the “Helix-Social Innovation Hub”

She is Head of the Economic Department of Secondary Education Directorate of Karditsa and a European projects manager and coordinator, experienced in financial and legal issues for over 15 years. Her area of expertise is informal education with a focus on entrepreneurship and self development.

Sotiria is a PhD candidate in the field of Local Economic Development at the University of Thessaly focusing on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Knowledge sharing. She has an MSc in European Studies from the Athens University of Economics and Business and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki.

She has been elected as Municipal Councilor since 9/2014 in the Municipality of Karditsa and has served as Deputy Mayor of Finance and Economic Development from 09.2014 until 02.2017. She strongly believes that active political participation is the key element to social innovation and growth.

Vasilis Kourkounas, co-founder of the “Helix-Social Innovation Hub”

By actively participating in a series of EU co-funded educational activities and capacity building sessions across Europe since 2015, is highly convinced that non-formal education is the tool through which we can become the change we want to bring. Continuously increasing his interpersonal and social competences, as well as self-management, communication, facilitation and feedback skills, he has a high sense of initiative within the frame of team work.

Through his professional work in both public and private sector and his involvement in local authority level, he has obtained expertise in the field of youth and adult educational and edifying activities design and organisation, as well as in human resources management.

Vasilis holds a diploma degree in Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, from University of Patras, Greece, is an MSc student in Environmental Design at Hellenic Open University and is currently working in the HoReCa equipment business field. From 2014 until 2019 he was an elected municipal councilor at Municipality of Karditsa, engaged as a Deputy Mayor of Digital Strategy, Innovation and Youth Activities from 2017 until 2019.

Cristina Morar, member - project associate

Cristina Morar is an economist and freelancer Project Manager and Grant Writer with expertise in communication, marketing and tourism. Her previous jobs in aviation, tourism, public administration and financial fields offered her the chance to develop personal and professional competencies along with strong organisational, communication and intercultural skills, which allows her to work effectively in multicultural team environments or individually.

Cristina has been participating in EU projects, activities and mobilities for over ten years. Non-formal education helped her increase her skills and competencies, knowledge, values and attitudes, and to be involved in society and contribute to developing communities and individuals.

She holds an MSc degree in Management of Projects of Rural and Regional Development and a double Bachelor’s Diploma in Management and Agrifood/Environmental Economics from the The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania.

Panagiotis Zoulianitis, member - project associate

Panagiotis is a certified teacher and specialist in counseling and guidance from ASPETE, Dept. of Education. His academic background involves a Bachelor in Food Technology, M.Sc. in Food science and Nutrition and M.Sc. in Marketing in the Agro-Food Sector.

He has passed through several working fields such as sales, marketing and tourism from which has been networked with important group of companies, accotiations, educational and social institutes.

He has been participating in several Erasmus projects of all kinds and he has gain plenty of soft and language skills through them.
Last but not least, he has been volunteering as an active member of Erasmus Student Network at the University of Thessaly and teaching the greek language at Princess Alia University College in Jordan.

Partners

Co-operations in local activities and services in the field of youth work:

  • Local Municipalities and their operating Nonprofit Organisations and Public Law Legal Entities
  • An.Ka. SA – Development Agency of Karditsa. Municipal company having as main objective to help develop, manage, maintain, protect and make the best use of natural resources, introduce innovation and entrepreneurship in the productive system (incubator services); introduce and increase the use of renewable energy sources; support and develop new collective structures, contribute in social development and the general development of Karditsa and other areas in Greece.
  • Cooperative Bank of Karditsa
  • Local businesses
  • Educational organisations, university departments and high schools