Beyond European Projects
Kapnikos Stathmos as home of civil society
From solidarity economy to public dialogue and community culture—Kapnikos is where citizens respond to challenges with collective action.
Kapnikos Stathmos Katerini is more than a venue and more than a collection of projects. It is a living home of civil society: a place where citizens organize themselves, respond to real challenges, and build practical solutions without waiting for “someone else” to do it. Throughout the years, the activities hosted, initiated and executed here are grassroots answers to social, environmental, cultural, and civic democratic needs—rooted in the local community, but often extending far beyond it.
Solidarity Economy and Community Logistics
A characteristic example of civil society self-organization is Without Intermediaries (“Potato Movement”) —a community-run model that connects producers and household consumers directly. By coordinating pre-orders, distribution points, and volunteer support, the initiative grants fairness and transparency in access to essential high-quality goods like olive oil or legumes and reinforces trust between farmers and the community – while showcasing that an economy without the price mark up from intermediaries’ commission is possible.
Kapnikos as a Learning Space for Groups and Schools
Kapnikos Stathmos functions as a practical learning environment for visitors and groups from Greece and abroad. We host schools, international groups, universities, and training teams for workshops, guided visits, presentations, and hands-on learning on site. In this role, Kapnikos becomes a “teaching ground” where groups can understand how civil society initiatives are built in practice—through participation, shared responsibility, and thought-out methodology.
Scientific, Academic, and Research-Oriented Activities
Kapnikos is also used as a space for scientific and educational events that connect social practice with contemporary theory. This includes public lectures, symposia, student workshops, and participation in social research. These formats create a bridge between real community initiatives and academic perspectives on topics such as public space, civic participation, transparency, social movements, and the social and solidarity economy. It fulfills the active role as meeting point for sophisticated theory and lived praxis.
Culture and Creative Expression
Civil society is not only about urgent needs—it is also about culture, knowledge, and public life. Kapnikos frequently hosts initiatives that keep the space open, inclusive, and creative. The Alternative Library works through a simple exchange principle (“take a book, leave a book”) and is also used for presentations, exhibitions and open discussions. The Storytelling Competition invites people of different ages to submit texts and supports the publication and sharing of selected works. Alongside these, Kapnikos regularly hosts cultural events and festivals, including theatre, open air cinema and storytelling formats that bring together local groups, children, families, as well as international visitors. In this way, the space remains active as a place of encounter, learning, and expression, strengthening community ties beyond the framework of social support.
Refugee Support
Kapnikos has also served as a point of stability and inclusion in periods of increased refugee needs, combining practical solidarity responses with community-based educational and creative activities for children and young people. Our engagement over the past decade includes the organization and support of refugee camps, educational opportunities for migrant children and the active support and inclusion of displaced communities into our open community. This work reflects a wider principle of Kapnikos: support is not separated from community life—people are included, not managed like numbers or goods.
Civic Participation and Public Dialogue
Kapnikos Stathmos also functions as a meeting point where citizens and local collectives can organize, coordinate, and prepare public initiatives. This includes assemblies, preparation meetings, practical support for public events, and open discussions on democratic accountability, justice, transparency, public goods, as well as citizens’ rights.
We believe the role of the civil society is to speak up where necessary and make our voices heard – whether it concerns local companies that pollute our air and water by ignoring legal standards, the demand for truth and accountability after the Tempi train tragedy in 2023, or the opposition to wars that violate international law, from Ukraine to Palestine.
Animal Support and Local Cooperation
Civil society responses also extend to issues that affect everyday life in the city, including animal welfare. In cooperation with local actors and following public consultation on the management of stray animals, Kapnikos became the base for a Food and Medicine Bank for Stray Animals. The aim is to cover urgent needs—especially in times of increased pressure—and to support registered volunteers who care for stray animals in specific areas. The initiative shows how citizen proposals can turn into concrete structures, combining public cooperation with grassroots organization and long-term responsibility.