Green Village Empowering Communities Action

Hylates Ltd, Cyprus, 1st

– 10th

April 2011

Introduction:

Hylates Forestry Consultants and Heritage Training Ltd organised at Lefkara village in Cyprus an action for empowering of the

local Communities. The action was organised in close cooperation with our partners from Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd

(UK), and from Satul Verde (Romania). Participants from these countries were actively involved throughout the action.

Participants from Devetaki Plateau, our partner in Bulgaria also attended.

The action took place between 1st and 10th of April 2011, and it involved a variety of activities, while the central theme and final

event was a fashion show incorporating the creation of costumes and design items made from recycled/reused material with

the incorporation of locally made traditional Lefkara lace and other knitting techniques from the other participating countries.

The event included a week of preparation with the participation of the local school and the local authorities, as well as

individuals from Lefkara and the nearby villages, who taught the participants on different techniques, especially Lefkara lace

making. The participants from the other countries showed also their own techniques to local people. The final event which

organised at the Lefkara hotel, attracted hundreds of people and it was a huge success. Apart from that even, the participants

had the chance to visit several places of cultural interest in the villages and the surrounding countryside.

Exchange of Skills and Knowledge (WP2):

The participants worked together for about a week at the former old peoples' home of Lefkara, where skills were exchanged

between them. The contribution of local lace makers was invaluable, and we are very grateful to them for their help and

support. They devote many hours and show great patience in teaching their techniques. The skills of our partners especially

from Romania were also of very high value, as with their knowledge they guided the participants during all the stages of the

creation of the costumes.

The models showing their own creations at

Lefkara hotel event

.

(1) – Knitting of parts of the costumes (2) – Special knitting from recycled fabrics (3) – Preparation of costumes

(4) – Hair making of the models (5) – Make-up of the models . (6) - Model wearing a self-made costume

(7) – Local school children presenting their costumes (8) – Romanian participant with her costume (9) – Participant from UK

Engaging Communities (WP1):

The action itself was about local people and was implemented with their active participation, which otherwise it could not be

done. All the ages were involved, from local school children to elderly persons from Lefkara and other surround Communities.

Local school was actively involved in an organised way, and the students as well as the teachers participated during all the

duration of the action, from the organisation and preparation to the final event. Local lace makers were also very actively

involved by teaching the participants on their special techniques that make Lefkara lace so famous worldwide. Local Authorities

supported very actively the whole project for example by allowing the team to use the former old people's home as their

working place. Local businesses such as the Lefkara hotel devoted great effort and practically supported the project by hosting

the final event. A documentary was filmed to disseminate the knowledge to the communities and to individuals.

Learning By Doing (WP3):

The partners in Green Village program that send participants to this action were UK, Romania and Bulgaria. The trainers did

excellent work, both local people and people from other participating Countries. Participants from UK in the Leonardo da Vinci

TICATEC program (Training In Contemporary Application of Traditional European Crafts) attended the whole of the action as part

of their training with great success.

Eco-Check (WP6):

Every effort was undertaken to reduce the environmental impact of the event. Almost all the material used for the fashion show

was from reused fabrics that were recycled and put back together with the incorporation of traditional lace. Travel distances

were minimized as the event and the action generally was within the community. Natural light was used most times to save

energy. The whole concept passed a clear message to the participants for environmental awareness, recycling, reusing,

conserving energy etc.

Monitoring and Evaluation (WP5):

The action was a great success, and the participants had the chance to practically work and see the outcome of their efforts.

Every effort was undertaken to have a full programme, which although short was very productive. Questioners were given to the

participants to evaluate the action. The feedback we orally got from local people and from many other participants all over the

island was really positive and encouraging. Local hotel would like to repeat a similar event at Lefkara, indicating the success of

the event.

People attending the event outside Lefkara hotel