We can make it happen

Together

FREE&UNION is the first NGO from Greece to care about Skateboard.

We emphasize the AND in FREE and UNION. Indicating that we see ourselves as the connecting element between the general public, their political representatives and a pool of companies and organizations.

Furthermore all our projects follow clear principles and concepts about sustainability. Based on the Sustainable Economic and Social Development as defined by the United Nations. In other words, for us “SUSTAINABLE” is the key word for all our projects.

We help underserved communities create safe and inclusive public skateparks for our children and youth. Therefore we favor projects that have strong community involvement, grassroots fundraising and a base of support from the skaters, parents and local leaders. After that our effort is that this community has a chance to embrace (or to have access) to the recreational and societal benefits of a public skatepark.

Dimitrios Papadopoulos and Konstantinos Chatzis – skaters and initiators of FREE&UNION decided to establish a nonprofit organization. Whose mission would be to serve this community – children and parents alike.

ABOUT THE SPORTS WE LOVE... WE FACILITATE SAFE LEARNING SPACES

TO ENSURE SAFETY AND HEALTH

When we speak about Skatepark Development we are aware that we actually mean Public Park Development. With integrated high-tech facilities and multiple possibilities for education and recreation safe for the kids and youth. About Greece? Such places are rare. Most importantly it is to change that and move on so that our children have the same opportunities as children in other countries.

ABOUT THE HUMANS... WE HELP TO SHAPE AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES

NOW FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

People all over the world skate and you can find a huge amount of skateparks from Reykjavik to Kabul and from Cape Town to Tokyo. In the United States alone there are millions of skateboarders. As a result, even in the smallest towns and villages you can find local youth working on their technical skills. Skateboarding is big and it’s here to stay.

ENVIRONMENT

We distinguish between Natural Environment and Built Environment whereby both play a vital role for the appropriate development of our public skatepark. Hence we incorporate the idea of a science and technology park (STP). In order to create a place where knowledge can be shared, innovations promoted and research outcomes progressed to viable commercial products. Contributing to the national economic development, stimulating the formation of new high-technology firms and attracting foreign investment and promoting exports.

Sustainability

Here we refer to the ability to exist constantly – a process of people maintaining change in a homeostasis. Balanced environment, in which the conscious use of materials and resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony. In order to enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.

Health & Safety

We point out the importance of environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health, as well as sexual and reproductive health. Education providing individuals, groups, and communities the opportunity to acquire information and the skills needed to make quality health decisions. Furthermore we promote normative safety. Which is achieved when our public skatepark meets applicable standards and practices for design, construction and objective safety measures for children and youth.