During 2022-23, the program Here and There (H.A.T.), performing ecologies “run” in Greece and Ireland, with the participation of a total of 22 young people (18-30 years old) from the two countries. It was an original and inclusive Erasmus+ program for the ecology and the climate change, designed and implemented by Kinitiras, in collaboration with the Irish Crooked House Theater Company, based in Newbridge, Ireland, with the aim to raise awareness through the performing arts (Click here for the final report).

This year, Kinitiras organises a new Erasmus+ program in the section of Adult Education.

Kinitiras is an organization that cultivates the idea that everybody has something to offer. Older people carry with them a treasure of memories, experiences, knowledge and competencies. By giving them the chance to express and share them, not only our society becomes richer and more colorful but we also create an antidote to negative stereotyping and ageism.

Maturing Korai is a KA2 small scale Erasmus+ program that gives the opportunity to women 50+ to feel included again in a society that sees aging as a problem. It reintroduces them to the learning process, to meet new methods, new educators and women from other countries through which they will develop their potential to be engaged in the society and to claim their visibility.

For the last 10 years, by creating the group Kinitiras Ω (Omega), Kinitiras has been inspiring older women through the performing arts to develop and be in charge of their lives. Because of the pandemic, humanity has faced isolation, rejection and deep socioeconomic crises. Additionally, older people have faced fear and loneliness to the greatest extend. The project gives the opportunity to women aged 50+, from different socio-economical background to reintroduce themselves through the exploration and development of their performative skills. It will create a diverse space of acceptance and creativity through which they will regain their strength and leadership skills after the pandemic. It will also enable all the participants (learners and practitioners) to overcome social stereotypes and prejudice.

In March 2024, the 3 groups from Greece, Cyprus and Italy will meet for a week in Italy to exchange knowledge and good practices and also to show the work they are already doing in their countries with their coordinators. All participants will then create a manifesto about the aging female body and its place in society.

The three partners, Kinitiras, Fresh Target and Calypso, have a very common approach regarding art making, social awakening and skill strengthening through dance and theatre. Maturing Korai is the beginning for a long term collaboration between the three partner organizations.

A few words for Kinitiras’ partners

Fresh Target Theatre Ensemble is a non-profit theatre organization. Its main field of work can be divided into two strands: The first one concerns the staging of theatre performances in Cyprus and abroad and the other is educational. In this second strand of the work the company hosts theatre professionals from abroad for a weekly stay in Cyprus and holds workshops and seminars both for professionals and amateurs throughout each year. It has also launched the program “Sputnik Actors Lab’ which runs throughout the year giving the opportunity to underprivileged youth who wish to pursue a career in the theatre to participate in acting workshops and classes. The company has also a collaboration with Open University offering work placement to its students in the field of performance and/or theatrical studies. Its Artistic Director also runs weekly meetings with groups of women of varying ages exploring social and political themes within the context of devised theatre techniques.

Calypso’s main aim is to support people in active citizenship and participation. Calypso works in Italy in the field of community development and it cooperates with schools, community hubs, NGOs, libraries, using theatre techniques and processes in order to empower people and groups. Recently Calypso has been working in marginalized contexts, facilitating workshops with non formal tools, to connect people and to support them in sharing thoughts and needs. Calypso organizes site specific performances to enhance green areas in the city, involving people who live in the surroundings.