D-WISE Welcome’s New Member: Diaplous

09 Sep 2024

Partial Cover Documentary Diaplous Tales of Hope

Earlier this year, D-WISE welcomed a new member Diaplous.

As one of the first Social Cooperative of Limited Liability (KoiSPE) established in Greece, Diaplous officially acquired its legal status in early 2004. Bringing together a team of mental health professionals, individuals facing psychosocial challenges, supportive friends, and legal entities to embark on its journey.

Employing an average of 75 to 85 people in both full-time and part-time positions, their mission is to develop and maintain viable business activities in the Social Solidarity Economy sector. Diaplous’ activities aim to improve the conditions of the social employment integration of people with psychosocial difficulties, in a working environment that promotes their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. These activities include the cultivation of products and agriculture (beekeeping), grass clearing and gardening, and cleaning services.

Operating under the category of KoiSPE in Greece allows the organization to undertake diverse initiatives such as food production, service provision, and promotion of cultural and educational activities. Their initiatives span from producing award-winning olive oil, recognized with a Bronze Quality Award at the 2020 Berlin Global Olive Oil Awards, to creating a short documentary titled "Tales of Hope". Since its premiere in 2014, this documentary has been featured in multiple film festivals across Europe, showcasing the journey of five employees dealing with psychosocial challenges who strove to reclaim their lives within a Greek social cooperative.

D-WISE Country Visit to Greece
On the first week of April a D-WISE delegation visited Diaplous to learn about the context of the social economy in Greece, as well as the opportunities that social cooperatives such as Diaplous offer to persons with mental health issues and other disadvantaged groups.

The schedule of the mission included visiting Diaplous’ headquarters in Athens and their premises on the grounds of the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica (in Haidari), where they focus on the production of agricultural products, such as their awarded extra virgin olive oil and the provision of grass clearing services.