The Bodossaki Foundation is joining forces with Eurolife FFH to support the work and students of the Stemnitsa Public Vocational Training Institute, particularly through funding two new specialisations: a) Skilled Worker in Handmade Jewellery & Jewellery Design and b) Mountain Guide.
The grant from Eurolife FFH will finance the purchase of new equipment and the upgrade of the Institute’s workshops. Initiatives are ongoing to improve the Institute’s teaching programme and outreach, and to support the introduction of the new specialisations.
Skilled Worker in Handmade Jewellery & Jewellery Design
Stemnitsa in Arcadia is an area of Greece where the art of silversmithing has seen particular development in recent years. The Silversmithing School, established in the 1970s, is today housed in the Vocational Training Institute, producing graduates who are outstanding craftsmen and the inheritors of a great tradition. The aim of the new programme is both to revive Stemnitsa’s place as a centre of silversmithing and to support technical education in Greece by providing quality vocational training and opportunities for aspiring silversmiths.
Mountain Guide
The picturesque and imposing Arcadian village of Stemnitsa, in the mountainous region of Gortynia, is perched like an amphitheatre on the western slopes of Mount Mainalo, amid verdant natural scenery. Stemnitsa’s traditional architecture and impressive vistas, nestled between the fir-clad Mainalo forest and the Lousios gorge, make it an ideal destination for touring and hiking. The Institute has therefore created the specialisation of Mountain Guide, which seeks to take advantage of the natural features of the area.
More specifically, the grant covers:
- Provision of tools, raw materials, computers, special design tools, and specialised equipment permitting digital jewellery design and large-scale / 3D prints
- Organisation of annual seminars on specialist techniques used in silversmithing
- Provision of additional hours of practical training for students on a weekly basis throughout the academic year
- Creation of a new website, videos and improved communications materials for the Institute
- Participation of the Institute in jewellery exhibitions in Greece
- Provision of workshops for the new specialisation of Mountain Guide
- Support for students of both specialisations through the provision of individual equipment and monthly vouchers redeemable in local shops, thereby supporting the local economy
