K.EL.A.L.P.
An initiative of CulturePolis
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News
This page lists news of the Center and its collaborators
CulturePolis and K.EL.A.L.P. at the 53rd International Cairo Book Fair
The non-profit organization CulturePolis, based in Corfu, has been active since 2006 in Greece, Europe and the Mediterranean Basin in the field of culture, sustainability and innovation and founded in 2020 the “Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture – K.EL.A.L.P.”, supports the presence of Greece as a country of honour at the 53rd International Cairo Book Fair.
The exhibition will feature the author and translator Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi, who, together with K.EL.A.L.P.'s collaborator, the Hellenist and translator Dr. Khaled Raouf, were recently awarded the international "Life Achievement" prize of the Sheikh Hamad Awards (Qatar) - one of the most prestigious awards in the Arab world, for all their work and their contribution to International Understanding.
The exhibition will share information material about CulturePolis, K.EL.A.L.P. and its activities in the Arab world with the aim of promoting partnerships with publishers and experts in the field of books and literacy from Egypt and other Arab countries.
Learn more about K.EL.A.L.P. of CulturePolis:
Persa Koumoutsi: The author, translator and director of K.EL.A.L.P. won an international award from Qatar
The Sheikh Hamad (Qatar) International Award for Translation and International Understanding, in the "Life Achievement" category - one of the most prestigious awards in the Arab world - is given to the Cairo-based author and translator Persa Koumoutsi for her work and contribution to intercultural dialogue.
Read more in the article by Sofia Papadopoulou at iefimerida
Great distinction for the collaborators of K.EL.A.L.P./CulturePolis, Persa Koumoutsi & Dr. Khaled Raouf!
CulturePolis and the specialized Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture - K.EL.A.L.P., which operates under its auspices, are particularly pleased to announce that the Life Achievement Award of the Sheikh Hamad Award (Qatar) for 2021 - one of the largest and most prestigious in the Arab world, has been awarded for the Greek language jointly to Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi, author and translator of Arabic literature and director of the K.EL.A.L.P. and to K.EL.A.L.P.' s collaborator, author and translator of Greek literature into Arabic, Dr. Khaled Raouf, for all their work and their contribution to international understanding.
The management and staff of CulturePolis / K.EL.A.L.P. express their warmest congratulations to the two outstanding collaborators for this great distinction and will support any new effort to promote Greek and Arabic language and culture.
We also express our thanks to the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and especially to its President, Mr. Nikos Koukis, for his active support of these nominations.
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The Director and Content Coordinator of K.EL.A.L.P. / CulturePolis, Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi, represents Greece and the Greek language at the Life Achievement Award
The Director and Content Coordinator of K.EL.A.L.P. / CulturePolis, Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi, represents Greece and the Greek language at the conference accompanying the Qatar International Awards for Language (as a means of intercultural dialogue, cultural relations) and International Understanding.
Monday December 20, 2021, at 13:30 (Greek time zone)
Online (registration is required)
The team of K.EL.A.L.P. / CulturePolis wishes good luck to Mrs. Koumoutsi!
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"Historical and Cultural Routes in the Mediterranean" of the approved by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports project under the general title
"One thousand and one ... lit-gatherings
Monday, December 13, 2021 at 18:00 p.m. (Greek time zone)
On Monday, December 13, 2021, at 18:00 p.m. (Greek time), the third and last event of the project titled "A thousand and one ... lit-gatherings", that is approved and partially subsidized by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports will take place online.
The project, proposed by CulturePolis / Κ.ΕL.Α.L.P, aims at promoting the Greek literal and artistic creation as a means of intercultural dialogue in the region of the Southeastern Mediterranean and mainly in the Arab world.
The event is titled "Historical and Cultural Routes in the Mediterranean" and will include a short presentation and discussion by (5) five participants from different fields of creation, who they will 'travel' through modern Greek history and will talk about the two-way cultural relations between our country and other Mediterranean countries as they are presented in their work
The event will take place with parallel translation in two languages, while visual material of their work will be projected.
Participants:
Theodoros Grigoriadis, writer
Dr. Alexandros Kazamias, political science lecturer, researcher
Costas Konstantatos, musician, artist
Dr. Maria Papadima, translator, translation expert
Costas Ferris, movie director, writer
See the biographies of the participants HERE
Stay tuned!
The event "Hosting the ‘Other’ in our Stories" by K.EL.Α.L.P./CulturePolis at the 18th International Thessaloniki Book Fair
The work of Greek writers is rich and comprehensive; a source of expression of human feelings, thoughts and concerns for today's society. However, the accessibility of contemporary Greek Literature to foreign readers is a critical issue.
The cycle of events "One thousand and one...lit-gatherings" is part of the activities of CulturePolis in the context of the homonymous project approved and subsidized by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports and is coordinated by the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture - K.EL.A.L.P. of CulturePolis.
The idea was born from the need to promote Greek literature as a means of intercultural dialogue in the region of the Southeastern Mediterranean and mainly the Arab countries. Through three different events, 12 selected authors will be introduced to the Greek-speaking and Arabic-speaking public and will highlight their work as a means of dialogue and understanding of the "other".
The event entitled "Hosting the ‘Other’ in Our Stories", is organized in the frame of the 18th International TBF of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and aims to highlight the intercultural character of contemporary Greek children's and adolescent literature through the works of four (4) writers, selected after an open call for expressions of interest.
Participant writers:
Stefanos Ganotis
Anna Kontoleon
Marietta Kontou
Argyro Pipini
See the biographies of the authors HERE
The event is coordinated by writer, literary translator and Director of K.EL.A.L.P., Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi and will take place online with a parallel translation of speeches into Arabic by Dr. Khaled Raouf.
Translation of excerpts: Khaled Raouf, Mohamed Abbas, Farah Tepserani and Persa Koumoutsi.
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The Director and Content Coordinator of K.EL.A.L.P. / CulturePolis, Mrs Persa Koumoutsi, guest of Zayed University (UAE)
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The Center for Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture - K.EL.A.L.P. of CulturePolis is delighted to announce to you the online lecture of its Director and Content Coordinator, Mrs Persa Koumoutsi, author and translator of Arabic literature, at the University of Zayed (UAE) on the subject of "History as a Source of Inspiration in Literature: Arabic and Greek Literature of the Diaspora (From 1900-Today)".
The lecture will take place online in English, via the ZOOM platform, on November 9, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. (Greek time).
Click HERE to join the lecture
The team of K.EL.A.L.P. / CulturePolis wishes good luck to Mrs Koumoutsi!
«Φιλοξενώντας τον Άλλο στις Αφηγήσεις μας», Έργο: Χίλιες και μια…συναντήσεις - ΥΠΠΟΑ | Πρόσκληση Εκδήλωσης Ενδιαφέροντος
Το Κέντρο Ελληνικής και Αραβικής Λογοτεχνίας και Πολιτισμού - Κ.Ελ.Α.Λ.Π., που λειτουργεί ως αυτόνομη πρωτοβουλία της αστικής μη κερδοσκοπικής εταιρίας CulturePolis, απευθύνει πρόσκληση προς νέους συγγραφείς, λογοτέχνες και δημιουργούς για την συμμετοχή τους στην εκδήλωση «Φιλοξενώντας τον Άλλο στις Αφηγήσεις μας».
Τέσσερις (4) νέοι συγγραφείς ή/και νεο-εμφανιζόμενοι θα επιλεγούν μέσω ανοικτής πρόσκλησης και θα μιλήσουν για τα έργα τους και τον διαπολιτισμικό χαρακτήρα της σύγχρονης ελληνικής παιδικής και εφηβικής λογοτεχνίας.
Η εκδήλωση θα πραγματοποιηθεί μεταξύ 25 - 28 Νοεμβρίου 2021 με υβριδικό τρόπο και θα φιλοξενηθεί από την 18η Διεθνή Έκθεση Βιβλίου Θεσσαλονίκης, που διοργανώνει το Ελληνικό Ίδρυμα Πολιτισμού.
Μπορείτε να δηλώσετε συμμετοχή στην ακόλουθη διεύθυνση: https://forms.gle/s5pXSzdVy3hrfF8t9
Προθεσμία υποβολής εκδήλωσης ενδιαφέροντος μέχρι Δευτέρα 1η Νοεμβρίου 2021, ώρα 17:00 μ.μ.
Η εκδήλωση υλοποιείται στο πλαίσιο του εγκεκριμένου έργου "Χίλιες και μια...συναντήσεις" από το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού της Ελλάδας
Events of the project “"One thousand and one…lit-gatherings"” - Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports
In the framework of the new project titled "One thousand and one… lit-gatherings" approved and supported by the Ηellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture - K.EL.A.L.P., which aims at promoting the intercultural dialogue in the region of the Southeastern Mediterranean, will be hosting on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 at 18:00 p.m. (Greek time), the first (online) event, titled, "A city, through a narrative" in which emblematic cities of the Mediterranean Basin, such as Athens, Salonica, Nicosia and Cairo will be highlighted through the narratives and the artistic view of the participants.
The event will take place online with a simultaneous translation of excerpts and speeches in two languages: Greek and Arabic.
Participants:
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Isidoros Zourgos (novelist),
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Vassilis Vafeas (director),
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Emilios Solomou (novelist) and
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Tareq Imam (novelist).
Χίλιες και μια…συναντήσεις, ΥΠΠΟΑ | Πρόσκληση Εκδήλωσης Ενδιαφέροντος
Το Κέντρο Ελληνικής και Αραβικής Λογοτεχνίας και Πολιτισμού (Κ.Ελ.Α.Λ.Π.), που λειτουργεί ως αυτόνομη πρωτοβουλία της αστικής μη κερδοσκοπικής εταιρίας CulturePolis, απευθύνει πρόσκληση σε συγγραφείς, λογοτέχνες και δημιουργούς για τη συμμετοχή τους ως εισηγητές στις στοχευμένες συναντήσεις που προβλέπονται στο εγκεκριμένο έργο από το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού: “Χίλιες και μια…συναντήσεις”, Οκτώβριος – Δεκέμβριος 2021.
Οnline presentation of the book of the distinguished Lebanese author Hoda Barakat
In the framework of the new events of the period (2021-2022), the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture in collaboration with Kedros Publications invites you on Friday 17/9 at 12.30 (Greek time) to an online presentation of the book of the distinguished Lebanese author Hoda Barakat, titled "Night Mail" which won the grand prize of the Arabic Novel 2019, while it was on the shortlist for Man Booker International of the same year.
Hoda Barakat will converse with the translator of the book and Director of K.El.A.L.P. Ms. Persa Koumoutsi.
The meeting will be held in Greek and Arabic.
Παρουσίαση στο ελληνικό κοινό της υποψηφιότητας της Ελληνικής γλώσσας για τα Διεθνή Bραβεία Sheik Hamad
Τρίτη 13 Ιουλίου 2021,16.00 ώρα Ελλάδας
Ανακοίνωση για την 7η περίοδο των βραβείων Sheikh Hamad για τη μετάφραση και τη διεθνή κατανόηση, 2021
Δείτε το Δελτίο Τύπου ΕΔΩ
Νέες εκδόσεις σε μετάφραση από τα αραβικά
Οι εν λόγω συγγραφείς θα προσκληθούν στα πλαίσια του νέου κύκλου εκδηλώσεων του Κ.Ελ.Α.Λ.Π.
Informational Leaflet Κ.ΕL.Α.L.P.
available in Greek and English
CulturePolis and the “Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.Α.L.P.)”, founded in 2020, celebrate the International Book Day and strengthen their actions in the field of books by promoting mutual understanding of the Other through literature and the arts.
The actions and events of K.EL.A.L.P. expand significantly and will include, in addition to the established meetings of Greek and Arab writers under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tributes to world writers from both cultures, presentations of emblematic places such as those imprinted in the Greek and Arabic literature of the Diaspora as well as interviews with personalities, which will contribute greatly to the dissemination of intercultural dialogue on both sides of the Mediterranean.
The recent signing of a Cooperation Agreement with the Hellenic Foundation for Culture is part of the same framework, while these initiatives are supported by two emblematic European projects of the ERASMUS + Adult Education programme, led by CulturePolis:
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TOGETHER-TOwards a cultural understandinG of thE oTHER - see. HERE and
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READ-IN-CLUB - READ-INg for CuLtUres across Borders - see HERE
The program of events for the second half of 2021 will be announced soon. Stay tuned!
More about recent events HERE
International Book Day
CulturePolis and the Hellenic Foundation for Culture signed a Cooperation Agreement opening a new chapter of cultural exchanges – An Important collaboration that opens new roads
We are already cooperating in the framework of the European project READ-IN-CLUB which has just been approved and is funded by the ERASMUS + program. We thank the HFC and its president N. Koukis for the trust in CulturePolis and K.EL.A.L.P.
In the historic office of the Bodosaki house where the services of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture are housed, the President of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture Mr. Nikos Koukis and the Founder and President of CulturePolis Dr. Vasileios Laopodis met and signed a two-year Cooperation Agreement (Momerandum of Understanding) institutionalizing the framework of partnership in matters of cultural interest.
The partnership of the two bodies concerns their multilevel cooperation with emphasis on research, study, design, project implementation, initiatives and innovative applications in Greece and abroad.
The two sides pledged to help achieve common goals and more specifically to co-operate in conducting research and studies at national, European and international level.
It was also decided to explore new thematic areas of common interest, as well as to undertake actions and initiatives in the field of literature and the book in general, as well as the dissemination of literacy, as well as the organization of education and training activities in the specialization of both sides.
One of the primary purposes of this collaboration is the promotion of Greek culture through the Branches of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture around the world, in its various forms utilizing national policies.
Particular emphasis was given to the joint participation in partnerships for the elaboration of proposals and implementation of projects co-financed by Greek, EU and international programs and sources, which can relate to topics such as arts, culture and innovation, new technologies, cultural and creative industry and the digital transformation.
3rd Meeting of Greek and Arab Poets
The Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.A.L.P) of CulturePolis, continuing its meetings between Greek and Arab poets in 2021 (see HERE the video of the two previous events titled "The Mediterranean and its History" and "From another place") is pleased to announce the upcoming event on "Women in Greek and Arabic Poetry" which will be held online on 17 March 2021 at 19:00 (Greek time). Through the readings of the poems in two languages and the discussion that we will follow, we shall try to explore the common elements and special features in both poetic voices, concerning the subject. The 3rd meeting will also be held in two languages Greek and Arabic with parallel translations. The event is designed and coordinated by the Director of K.EL.A.L.P. Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi, author and translator of Arabic literature. The analytical program will be announced soon.
Stay tuned!
2nd Meeting of Greek and Arab Poets
After the success of the 1st meeting of Greek and Arab poets in two languages, on the theme of "The Mediterranean and its History'', (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WNIOMwOXGo&feature=emb), the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (Κ.Ε.L.A.L.P), is pleased to announce the second meeting of poets which is going to be held with the title "From another place". Participants, are Greek and Arab poets who write or have written poetry in their mother tongue while living far from their birthplaces. Through the readings of their poems and the discussion that we will follow, we shall try to tackle the special features of Diasporic poetry, the dominant motifs, the style, the prevalent elements detected in both cultures, as well as the issue of identity and etc. The meeting will be conducted in two languages, with parallel translation and will take place on Friday, January 29 at 6.30 pm. The program of the event will be announced soon.
Stay tuned!
Director of K.EL.AL.P., Mrs Persa Koumoutsi, writer and translator of Arabic language & literature
K.EL.A.L.P. Festive Newsletter 2020
Announcement for the Online Event of the 1st Meeting of Greek and Arab Poets (27.11.2020)
Dear participants,
The Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.A.L.P.), which was created recently and it operates as an independent initiative under the auspices of the nonprofit organization CulturePolis, would like to kindly thank you for your participation in the “1st online Meeting of Greek and Arab Poets” on the subject of the Mediterranean and its History.
This event took place in the context of the 17th Thessaloniki International Book Fair and was co-organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture.
Your interest exceeded all expectations, so for those who were not able to access the live event, they can now watch it in video recording on the official website of the Thessaloniki International Book Fair HERE and on the official Youtube channel of K.EL.A.L.P. HERE
The program of the next meetings of Greek and Arab poets will be announced on the website of K.EL.A.L.P. and on our social media. To stay tuned to the Center's activities and receive news from us you can subscribe to our newsletter HERE
For any additional information you can get in contact with the Secretariat of K.EL.A.L.P.– tel: +30 6980824389, email: kelalp@culturepolis.org
For more information at the following links:
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Official Website of K.EL.A.L.P.: https://culturepolisngo.wixsite.com/kelalp?lang=en
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Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kelalp.center
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Official Website of CulturePolis: https://culturepolis.org/en/
Persa Koumoutsi,
K.EL.A.L.P. Coordinator
The Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.A.L.P.) at the Thessaloniki International Book Fair
In the context of the 17th Thessaloniki International Book Fair, the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.A.L.P.), which was created recently and it will operate as an independent initiative under the umbrella of the nonprofit organization CulturePolis, has the pleasure to announce you the 1st Meeting of Greek and Arab Poets, which will be held online on Friday 27 November 2020, time 13:00-15:00 via the ZOOM platform https://zoom.us/j/98191171768 / Webinar ID: 981 9117 1768 and the official website of the Thessaloniki International Book Fair HERE on the subject of the Mediterranean and its History, as reflected in the two poetic voices. Participants will speak in their native language and their poems will be read in both languages while there will be translation of speeches and poems into Greek and Arabic (Persa Koumoutsi, Khaled Raouf ).
Event Coordination: Persa Koumoutsi, author and translator of Arabic literature, content coordinator of K.EL.A.L.P.
Introductory Statement: Yiorgos Chouliaras, president of the Hellenic Authors' Society and poet.
Participating Poets:
Kyriakos Charalambides (Cyprus)
Tassoula Karageorgiou (Greece)
Alla Khaled (Egypt),
Nouri al Jarrah (Syria)
To view the participants' CVs press HERE
The event is co-organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.A.L.P.)/CulturePolis.
We thank the Thessaloniki International Book Fair for the hospitality!
We are waiting to welcome you!
Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (Κ.ΕL.A.L.P.)
Launch Announcement
We are very pleased to announce the official launch of the activities of the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.A.L.P.- https://culturepolisngo.wixsite.com/kelalp?lang=en), the new autonomous initiative created under the umbrella of the private, non-profit organisation CulturePolis, with the aim of strengthening an open effort to analyze and study the two cultures for a better understanding of "what unites us, rather than those that separate us."
The new website of K.EL.A.L.P. aspires to be an important forum for those dealing with issues of interest to the Center.
K.EL.A.L.P. has planned actions to inform and raise awareness of experts and the general public on Greek and Arabic literature, culture, poetry, language and related initiatives in Greece and neighbouring countries, as well as relevant research, studies, analyzes, discussions and dialogue through targeted actions and programs.
K.EL.A.L.P. will also contribute significantly to the activities of the project “TOGETHER - Towards a cultural understanding of the other ", which has just been approved by the ERASMUS + Adult Education program, led by CulturePolis and other partners from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Georgia and Lebanon.
The first action of the Center for the new programming period 2020-2021 will take place on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 18:00 in the form of an online meeting from Corfu, on the topic:
"The Role of Literary Translation in Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and the Understanding of the 'Other': The Case of Arabic Literature"
with the main speaker the author and translator of Arabic literature Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi (https://culturepolisngo.wixsite.com/persa-koumoutsi?lang=en). The event is organized in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting of the Ionian University. A salutation speech will be given by Dr. Vasileios Laopodis, Founder and President of CulturePolis/ K.EL.AL.P., Prof. Sotiris Livas, President of the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting of the Ionian University and Mr. Nikos Koukis, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture – view announcement HERE.
The team of K.EL.A.L.P. welcomes you to this new "journey" of exploring the Arabic culture and its relations with the Greek culture. New announcements will be followed about the forthcoming actions of the Center.
Online Event of the Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture (K.EL.A.L.P.) in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpretation (DFLTI) of the Ionian University
Corfu, 30 September 2020
Extract from the foreword of the event
Persa Koumoutsi writes
The need for dialogue and for an "opening" towards a socially, politically, culturally, and religiously different culture, has always been a matter of major importance that concerned human history. Every culture is connected to the core of the society in which it is developed. Nevertheless, no culture can evolve without communicating with others.
CulturePolis - KELALP: 1st Corfu Digital Reading Club
CulturePolis in collaboration with the Corfu Reading Club carried out with great success on July 3, 2020, at 20.00 in the hall of the Corfu Medical-Surgical Society, the 1st pilot implementation of the new CulturePolis initiative "Digital Reading Club" - ΨΗ.Λ.Α 'with the physical presence of the members of the Club, the executives of CulturePolis in Corfu and other specialised associates from Greece and abroad that were invited to attend though internet.
This event in Corfu was part of the pilot actions that aim at creating a digital network, which will bring the members of the Reading Clubs in Greece together and in the next phase members of Reading clubs in the Arab world and in the wider region of south-eastern Europe-Mediterranean with the help of translators and digital tools. All with the aim of a better understanding the "Other" through literature/culture.This activity is the first to be done under the auspices of the newly established "Center of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture" - K.EL.A.L.P.: https://culturepolisngo.wixsite.com/kelalp.
The invited key speaker was Mrs. Persa Koumoutsi, a distinguished author and translator of Arabic literature (https://culturepolisngo.wixsite.com/persa-koumoutsi) also a collaborator of CulturePolis and coordinator of K.EL.A.L.P.,
presented her rich work in translation stressing out the importance of literature for the better understanding of the "Other" and discussed with members of the Club on this subject.
Anyone interested can watch the video of the event HERE:
We thank all the participants of the event and we hope from the coming Fall on, to be able to announce the full program of meetings of the "Digital Reading Club" of CulturePolis / K.EL.A.L.P., which will be open to anyone interested.
V.Laopodis Meeting with ICBSS as the Focal Point for Southern & Western Greece of the Anna Lindh Foundation Greek Network
