H Blue Star Ferries and a group of employees – volunteers of the Attica Group, of which it is a member, visited the island of Fourni for the implementation of the action “Local Ecological Knowledge and Sustainable Development” within the framework of the Responsible and Sustainable Development program “We Sail Together”.
Through a full day program of activities and events, 100 total participants – among them 30 students and 12 teachers from 3 schools of Fourni Corse, representatives from 3 local associations as well as professional producers, residents, scientific advisors and local bodies, shared experiences and knowledge, participating in an innovative model “education within the community”which connects theory with practice and education with the daily lives of islanders.
The program through informative discussions and experiential trainings on the marine ecosystem, traditional practices and natural resource management as well as open events that combined culture, music and dialogue around the sustainable development of the islands, had as its essential objectives:
- Highlighting the relationship of the inhabitants with the land, the sea and the cultural environment of Fourni
- Strengthening environmental education and connecting young people with local ecological knowledge
- Creating a bridge of cooperation between the local community, the educational community and the scientific bodies
The initiative of Blue Star Ferries, a member of the Attica Group, was implemented in collaboration with the Municipality of Fourni Corse, the Institute of Marine Protection “Archipelagos”, the Institute of Organic Agriculture “DIO” and the organization “Procopiou Origins.
The Staff Director of Administration, Transformation & Sustainability and head of the Group’s Responsible and Sustainable Development team, Mr. Panagiotis Papadodimas, said: “Alignment with the principles of sustainable development should not be a formal process, but an action. This is proven by the constant presence and activity of the Attica Group, through the We Sail Together program, which is implemented dynamically from 2021 and includes actions in the Aegean islands where we operate. The aim is to strengthen local communities and their people, protect the environment and contribute to sustainable development. The initiative of Blue Star Ferries in Fournos supports and strengthens the development of ecological thinking in the community, as an invaluable treasure that we must preserve and utilize for the benefit of future generations.”