The power of a flower

EYES: Youth Employability and Social value

Area

Social

Actor

Location

Athens, Greece

General Description of the project

We are the Power of a Flower. A special group of people who until yesterday were categorized as disabled. Today we are shedding that label. We focus on our abilities, our talents. Through our work we are emancipated, gaining autonomy and an active role in society. The flower shop of “Power of a Flower” operates at the airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, at the arrivals.

Ten young women work in the shop. There, at the counter, they weave bouquets of flowers from the enterprise’s farm and present them to the travelers. The plantations of the Power of a Flower’s estates are located in Marathon and Spata. It all started at the Marathon estate where the first flowers were grown and the idea of inclusion in the project began to take shape. It was there that the first young people were recruited and trained, who are now training the new team members.

On the farms exclusively organic farming methods are used. In this way the plantations contribute to a sustainable management of the environment. Seasonal Greek plants and flowers, such as lavender, carnation, hydrangea, mint, eucalyptus, chrysanthemum, gerbera, etc. are cultivated, produced and then distributed. “Athens International Airport” (AIA) has recently granted the enterprise an estate in Spata. There a new cultivation is being set up, giving the opportunity to hire more workers with special needs and increase production.

Their work at “Power of a Flower” serves as a first passport for people working there. As valuable members of the team they learn to work together, build relationships, set personal goals, conquer their autonomy and they get paid. They want to be part of the solution and their actions to have a strong footprint, to send the most positive message for a more just society where no person should feel marginalized, limited, invisible.

Objectives

The enterprise's goal is to change the old, outdated perception and make it clear to everyone that people with special needs can and should work and socialize. Also, they aspire to raise awareness, inspire, empower, spread their message, start a public dialogue, build bridges, not walls.

Social motivation

Grupal dimension and territorial reach

-The people who work at The Power of a Flower are occupied with floristry, flower arranging, all fields work, delivering bouquets to our subscribers, communicating with them and selling the shop. The older members of the group teach and help the newer ones. The board consists of entrepreneurs, business consultants, agronomist, and psychologist-psychoanalytic therapist for children, adolescents and parents. ● -Local territorial reach

Transferability and replicability and contribution in terms as “what can we learn about this good
practice?”

Synergies and collaborations can be achieved between Social Enterprises and public bodies and/or commercial organizations to support the activities and impact of social initiatives. In these cases, the profit can be bilateral and apart from financial revenues for both sides, more benefits might occur, such as publicity, positive societal and environmental impact, training opportunities and enhancement of employees’ skills, trained staff from vulnerable or disadvantaged population groups and/or groups of people with disabilities etc.

To which SDG contributes

SDG 8. Decent work and economic growth SDG 10. Reduce inequalities SDG 12. Responsible consumption and production

Items

Website

https://www.thepowerofaflower.gr/

Email

info@flower-power.gr

Phone