Impressions from Project Resound workshops
Indeed, what happened during the Project Resound workshops, that took place in our area with the collaboration of the Ec(h)o consortium? What are the conclusions and the outcome of this effort? For a fortnight, our region welcomed volunteers from all over the world, who came with the aim to contribute to the creation of a strategy for the promotion of sustainable tourism in Poros, Troizinia and Methana. Talented people of various specialties from nine US States, Venezuela, Kenya, Uganda, Hungary, Bulgaria, Britain, Norway, Cyprus and seven other countries visited us and blended with the local community. So, let’s see the impressions from Project Resound workshops, which took place under the aegis of the Municipalities of Poros and Troizinia-Methana, but also of the Prefecture of Attica.
Young Poros participant Daphne Papathimiopoulou tells us about her impressions from the Project Resound workshops: “My participation in Project Resound was a unique experience. What impressed me most was the way the team worked; a way quite similar to the one we use in my school. Data collection, analysis, brainstorming, approaching the subject through creativity were some of the tools used during the project. This whole process gave me knowledge and experience, which I think will be useful in the future. Finally, I was very happy to make new acquaintances, with people from different countries.”
“The best journeys are those that answer questions you never thought to ask”
The first group got to know the natural landscape, our products, visited businesses, attended cultural events and talked to locals, so that they could answer questions such as: What are our strengths? How can we promote them? How can we attract a different kind of tourist, who wants to stay longer, immerse in local life and culture and have an overall authentic Greek experience? What obstacles do we need to overcome and how can we do it? The first week ended with the presentation of the conclusions and a strategy proposal for the area.
Hungarian Zoltan Monori writes: “I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of the Project Resound team, where I met incredible people, ate the best food and helped the local community.”
The second cycle
The second week began with a new group of people, who approached the area in the same way as the first, and at the same time worked on last week’s proposal, improving and developing it.
US designer Victoria Schloenbach says: “I have so many memories with the Project Resound team. I learned so much through you and the incredible community members we worked with.”
The team delved into the strategy, branding ideas and logos, the promotion and consequently the implementation plan. At the same time, the third group, which worked remotely, started its work, in order to contribute to the consolidation of our area as a sustainable tourism destination.
Christine Everdell, from Norway, says: “The Project Resound team has been hard at work and has even made time for a little fun! Over the last few days, we have been welcomed into an extraordinarily vibrant community where our hosts have become family. We are so excited to present about alternative tourism to members of the community tonight.”
And she continues: “Amazing evenings here with Live-Bio and Project Resound, eating amazing food from Odyssey Poros and learning traditional Greek dancing.”
A breath of change
The work continued with a meeting of co-creation and brainstorming with local representatives. The meeting sparked many interesting ideas and led to the final presentation of the proposal. A proposal that may take us out of our comfort zone, but it has generated excitement and will help us come together as a community.
Young local participant Spyros Giovas states: “Taking part in Project Resound caused a huge paradigm shift in my thinking regarding the local region and tourism in general. After hearing and interacting with the project’s members and their proposals, I realized that my perfect home was not so perfect after all and is in dire need of help and change. It was an enlightening experience and I cannot wait to see it make positive changes in the region.”
The final step
The project planning began in 2017 and it took more than 1,170 hours of volunteer work to get to the stage of realizing the workshops. More than 1,788 hours of volunteering in the field were needed to complete the workshops. These hours of work have brought us to the final step, which is the implementation plan.
The journey towards implementing the ideas that have emerged is a difficult and long one, but the impressions from Project Resound workshops have created the belief that the result will be something special and unique for the area. And we’re not alone. We have talented and committed partners on our side. The Project Resound team, as well as their local partners, the Ec(h)o consortium. Katheti, as a member of Ec(h)o, supports the project, because it believes that combining research on local needs with the international experience of a specialized advisory organization will lead to the successful development of sustainable tourism in our area.
The text was based on posts on the Live-bio Facebook page.
