Έργο Πολιτών / Citizen in Deed - Volunteering in Greece and abroad

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Low serotonin linked to SIDS
Sudden infant death syndrome is the leading cause of death in the U.S. in babies between the ages of one month and a yearBabies who died from sudden infant death syndrome show lower amounts of the brain chemical serotonin, says a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Levels of serotonin, which regulate a baby's sleep, heart rate and breathing, were 26 percent lower in the brainstems of babies who died of SIDS than in those of babies who died of other causes, the study says. Researchers believe a low level of serotonin may be the fundamental abnormality in babies who die from SIDS. In the brainstem, serotonin acts as an alarm system, waking up a baby when breathing is disrupted. Babies without it can be unaware that they are not breathing enough oxygen, causing them to die in their sleep.To avoid this risk, doctors recommend that parents make sure that babies can breathe uninhibited during sleep: Place babies on their backs to avoid their rolling over, don't over-bundle the baby, and don't leave loose bedding or stuffed toys in the crib.

''Victor Hugo'' gives his name to all French cultural centers
Victor Hugo was a French poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, statesman and human rights activistBased on the model of the German Goethe Institute and the Spanish Institute Cervantes, France decided to name all the French cultural centers and institutes, all over the world, “Victor Hugo”. According to local officers, their goal is “the best possible boost of the French cultural activities abroad”. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, head of the plan, aims at making the French cultural investments more coherent. In 160 countries, France has 135 centers and institutes, which cooperate with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as a network of 1000 centers of learning the French language.

''Artificial pancreas'' for children with type 1 diabetes
The study provides a stepping stone for testing the system at home Scientists in Cambridge have shown that an artificial pancreas can be used to regulate blood sugar in children with Type 1 diabetes. A trial found that combining a real time sensor measuring glucose levels with a pump that delivers insulin can boost overnight blood sugar control. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life threatening condition, in which the pancreas does not produce insulin - the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. In total, 17 children and teenagers with Type 1 diabetes took part in the study over 54 nights in hospital. Testing was done in different circumstances - for example on nights when the children went to bed after eating a large evening meal or having done early evening exercise - both of which can increase the risk of low blood sugar episodes known as hypoglycaemic attacks or hypos . The Lancet study showed the device significantly cut the risk of blood sugar levels dropping dangerously low. Overall, the results showed the artificial pancreas kept blood glucose levels in the normal range for 60% of the time, compared with 40% for the continuous pump. And the artificial pancreas halved the time that blood glucose levels fell below 3.9mmol/l - the level considered as mild hypoglycaemia. Experts said the results were an important step forward .

Indian village beats dementia
Τhe elders of this Indian village have years of hard work in the fields, but their minds are still sharpBallabgarh in northern India has unusually low levels of Alzheimer's disease, while more than 820,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, a number that is expected to double by 2051. In fact, scientists believe recorded rates of the condition in this small community are lower than anywhere else in the world.Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh spent several years studying over-55s in this area. Therefore, they tested people to see whether fewer of them carried the APO4E gene, which predisposes people to Alzheimer's disease. They did not. When compared to people living in a community in Pennsylvania, US, they found almost exactly the same proportion carried the gene. But in contrast with lives in Pennsylvania and other parts of the world, the people of Ballabgarh are unusually healthy. It is a farming community, so most of them are very physically active and most eat a low-fat, vegetarian diet. Obesity is virtually unheard of. Life in this fertile farming community is also low in stress, and family support is still strong. Cholesterol levels are much lower. Scientists believe that is what is protecting the community. Life in Ballabgarh could not be more different from the complicated, stressful existence many of us lead in the rest of the world. But perhaps this community has something to teach us.

New plan for the protection of Asopos River to be presented
The impacts of the pollution in Asopos river to the drinking water, the aquifer area, the food-chain and health, are considered rather important by the citizens of Thiva, Oinofyta, Schimatari and other areasThe Greek Minister for the Environment Tina Birbili presents on Monday, February 8, the action plan for the preservation of Asopos river. The chronic environmental problems of the area were revealed in 2007, when hexatomic chromium was found in the aquifer area. The measures of the Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change to handle the environmental hazards in the area of Asopos are based on the following four sectors:• Preservation of public health• Restrain of pollution• Territorial settlement for the informal industrial area of Oinofyta-Schimatari• Institutional entrenchment for the effective implementation of measures“The experience of our effort to restore the ecological balance in the area could help us handle the environmental hazards in other areas, like in Messapia of Evvoia”, highlights the Ministry.

Violence towards the elderly in rise reports Life Line Hellas
Violence against elderly people has recently been recognized as a fact by World Health Organization and European UnionThe NGO Life Line Hellas reports the tragic situation that elderly people are experiencing in Greece, due to the eruption of violence and criminality. According to data of the organization, the cases of assault against elderly people have increased from 421 in 2008 to 563 in 2009 (increase by 33.73%), while 387 incidents were reported in 2007, and 278 in 2006. The incidents include cases where the victims ended up dead under conditions of neglect. As highlighted by the Chairman of Life Line Hellas Mr. Gerasimos Kourouklis, “The cases of assault would have been prevented, if the elderly people had the red button. It is sure that our social workers and volunteers would have managed to notify their relatives, neighbors and the police or other corporations earlier. Our goal for 2010 is to give 2.500 elderly people the chance to obtain the red button, in order to restrain the cases on assault, abuse and neglect, as well as to help them feel safer in their own home”.

Dramatic rise in cancer deaths reported by WHO
Smoking is considered by WHO as the ''single largest preventable cause of cancer''Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. Each year, over 12 million people are diagnosed with cancer and 7.6 million die of the disease. Therefore, the World Health Organizations (WHO) warns that the global deaths from cancer will rise to 17 million by 2030 if no “urgent action” is taken soon. “There is a universal fear of cancer. But with the appropriate action, some cancers can be averted or cured,” said Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, where close to 3.7 million individuals — 2.2 million men and 1.5 million women — have developed cancer in 2008, while 2.6 million others died of this disease. WHO describes cancer as a “major killer” in the developed and developing nations, accounting for one in eight deaths worldwide — more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. But, according to WHO, more than 30 percent of all cancer cases can be avoided through simple measures: - Stop tobacco use and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. - Limit alcohol consumption. - Avoid excessive sun exposure. - Maintain a healthy weight, through eating healthily and exercising regularly. - Protect against cancer-causing infections.

Haitian victims find a new homeland in Africa
The idea of “establishing a new homeland” for Haitians, proposed the African Union.If a proposal under consideration by the African Union this week were to bear fruit, Haitians made homeless by the earthquake could start afresh in a new homeland in Africa. African Union (AU) President Jean Ping yesterday announced that the idea of resettling displaced Haitians in Africa would be part of the AU's formal agenda during its annual summit this week. According to Mr Ping, Haiti's history as a creation of the slave trade and the world's first black republic creates a special obligation for African Union members.It would not be the first time that a new African state has been created to house the descendants of slaves from the new world. In 1847, the American Colonisation Society, an unlikely coalition of abolitionists and slave owners, created Liberia with the same aim in mind. Thousands of former slaves and their descendants eventually made the journey from the US to west Africa. Little care was taken to protect the rights of the tribes already living in the territory, however, and Liberian society has been divided between settler and indigenous communities ever since – indigenous Liberians were only given the vote in 1963. It is out of a sense of duty and memory and solidarity that we can further the proposal ... to create in Africa the conditions for the return of Haitians, said Mr Ping. The idea of a new Haitian homeland in Africa was originally suggested by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade last month, and now appears to be gathering momentum. As a first step, Mr Wade has asked African vernments to naturalise any Haitians who wish to emigrate to their country, and to encourage African families to adopt Haitian children orphaned in the earthquake.

Journey to the wild life
The Athens International Airport invites everyone to make “a journey to the wild life”.The NGO ARKTOUROS and Athens International Airport organize the photo exhibition “a Journey to the wild life”, which hosts photos of bears and wolves living in greek forests, who are protected by trained dogs. The photos are taken by volunteers and researchers members of ARKTOUROS.The exhibition opened yesterday, February 4, and will be hosted for three months at the Athens International Airport’s Environmental Information Centre (Departures, entrance 3). Both travelers and visitors would be able to see the exhibition during day and night.For further information: www.aia.gr (http://www.aia.gr), www.arcturos.gr (http://www.arcturos.gr)

Hitler’s book to be republished
After 65 years after World War II, Germans republish Adolf Hitler’s work.Adolf Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, is to be published in Germany for the first time since 1945, the Munich-based Institute of Contemporary History (IfZ) announced on Wednesday. Hitler's propagandistic work, the title of which translates as My Struggle, has been banned from publication since World War II. Historian Edith Raim of the IfZ said the book can be published again from 2015, when the copyright expires 70 years after Hitler's death. The institute plans to produce an annotated version of Mein Kampf, with academic references to the text which was first published in two volumes, in 1925 and 1926.

Parents don’t realize their kids are overweight

New hope for “vegetative” patients
Scientists were astonished when they saw that the patient was able to correctly answer their questions. Scientists have been able to reach into the mind of a brain-damaged man and communicate with his thoughts. The research, carried out in the UK and Belgium, involved a new brain scanning method. Awareness was detected in three other patients previously diagnosed as being in a vegetative state. Patients in a vegetative state are awake, not in a coma, but have no awareness because of severe brain damage. The study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that scans can detect signs of awareness in patients thought to be closed off from the world. This is a continuation of research published three years ago. But this time scientists went further using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which shows brain activity in real time. This happened with one patient - a Belgian man injured in a traffic accident seven years ago - they asked a series of questions. He was able to communicate yes and no using just his thoughts. The team told him to use motor imagery like a tennis match to indicate yes and spatial imagery like thinking about roaming the streets for a no . The patient responded accurately to five out of six autobiographical questions posed by the scientists. Dr Adrian Owen who co-authored the report said This opens the way to involving such patients in their future treatment decisions. You could ask if patients were in pain and if so prescribe painkillers and you could go on to ask them about their emotional state.

Trikala City: “Smart” homes for patients with dementia
The “smart” homes feature sensors, which notify the tele-care centre and the patient’s relatives in case of emergency. In the framework of the program ISISEMD (Intelligent System for Independent living and Self-care of seniors with cognitive problems or Mild Dementia), the Municipality of Trikala announced the creation and operation of ten “smart” homes for volunteer patients with mild dementia.The announcement took place during the first day of the 4th meeting of the European program, hosted by the Municipality of Trikkaion, aiming at the upgrade of the existing health and care services, using new technologies.The “smart” homes will feature sensors, which will notify the tele-care centre and the patient’s relatives in case of a problem, due to memory issues.The general goal of the program ISISEMD is the development and clinical testing of electronic health applications for the support of patients with cognitive problems, aiming at improving the health and quality of life of them and their families, as well as saving funds for health services.

A joint proposal on Litter Handling in Attica
According to four environment organizations, their plan costs 119 million €. In the swirl of the economic crisis, four environmental organizations in Greece, the Ecological Recycling Society, Greenpeace Hellas, WWF Hellas and the Mediterranean SOS Network, submit an integrated suggestion entitled “Integrated Litter Handling Plan in Attica Province”. Aim of the plan is to plan and implement institutional measures as well as to establish the necessary structures. The plan is based on the four following sections Provision – Reuse - Compost making - Litter Recycling, while, according to its inspirers, it will create 2.370 direct and 1.420 indirect job vacancies.As highlighted by the representatives of the Ecological Recycling Society, Greenpeace Hellas, WWF Hellas and the Mediterranean SOS Network, the plan suggests the creation of thirteen compost-making units, 25 recycling centres and the establishment of a National Organization for Alternative Handling of Packages & Other Products.At the same time, it foresees the imposition of municipal rates, through the system “I pay as much as I throw away”, the payment of the garbage by Self-government Organizations to send them at the landfills as well as a four-year program for domestic compost-making.According to the organizations, this is a realistic proposal, which could be realise during the next five years, costing 119 million €, a considerably low budget.

''We Are the World” remake for Haiti victims
The song '’We Are the World” has been re-made 25 years on from the original to raise money for Haiti.More than 75 of the biggest stars in the music industry gathered Monday to re-record the 1985 charity anthem “We Are the World,” designed to benefit recovery efforts after the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12. The new version was recorded in the same Hollywood studio where the original was cut 25 years ago. Singers Pink, Natalie Cole, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Brian Wilson and others stood shoulder-to-shoulder to raise money for Haiti victims. Quincy Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, was alongside Lionel Richie who wrote the original song with Michael Jackson. Richie said: “This one, the enthusiasm, I’ve never seen anything like it,” while Crash director Paul Haggis, who was on hand to shoot a new video, said “The eyes of the world are finally on Haiti. We cannot allow it to be forgotten again.” “We Are the World — 25 for Haiti” will premiere this month during coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on NBC.

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Volunteering in Greece and abroad

Volunteerism Programs in Cameroon

United Action for Children is a child and youth centered organisation operating in the South West Province of Cameroon.
Its mission is to develop a caring and sustaining society for children and young people through innovative programmes such as:

Sports for Development Programme that mobilises children and young people living in rural areas channel their energy towards productive initiatives and live a healthy life through sports.
Health campaigns and environmental sanitation through sports.
Elementary education programme for orphans and vulnerable children and operation of a nursery/primary school with an enrolment of 615 children.
Vocational Training Centre in woodwork, painting, electricity, cookery, sewing and computer for rural based and street children with a current enrolment of 125 young people.
The work of international volunteers has been fundamental to United Action for Children’s (UAC’s) success. Previous volunteers have come from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, the United States, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, Belgium and Canada.
Some of the highlights and benefits of working as a volunteer for UAC include
Working with an open and flexible organisation that allows you to rise to your full potential;
Using your skills to assist others in a practical way;
Discovering a new culture and country;
Meeting amazing people and developing lasting friendships;
Gaining practical development experience;
Having access to important resources (internet, vehicles) that facilitate your projects;
Achieving personal growth;
Enjoying world-class scenery and beautiful nearby beaches

For further information contact with Kristine Randall, international volunteer coordinator ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ).

Volunteering Opportunities in Kenya

“Volunteers in Community Development Kenya” (VICDK) is a charitable non profit organization, initiated in 2006, that offers both technical and non-technical support to deprived communities and organizations.
Its objective is to stimulate local development initiatives for vulnerable people in desperate situations. VICDK aims to promote individual, community, and environmental and sociological empowerment by educating using an inclusive, multicultural mentality. The organization addresses all races, religions and sexes equally, and tries to strengthen the human bond through creating friendship and understanding of each other.
Every year VICDK deploys development personnel, technical, non-technical, volunteers recruited from regions all over the world, into local communities, in a variety of different projects, and programmes which will be specifically designed to develop specialist and non-specialist tasks for enhancing self-confidence, self-reliance, pride and dignity. Also this year VICDK needs volunteers. For more info all interested may visit: www.vicdkenya.com

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