Mayor: Vasilios Tsiakos
The City of Karditsa due to its key geographical location in the wider region of Thessaly, was historically a significant crossroad and a passage for various peoples and cultures. This fact contributed to the development of a multitude of customs coming from many groups of people with different cultural roots who left their own mark over time.
This historical past makes even more pressing the responsibility of the City of Karditsa to develop actions and strategic planning which encourage and support multiculturalism and inclusion, while combatting discrimination against people of different cultures and backgrounds. To this aim, until today, varied initiatives have been planned by the Municipality of Karditsa.
Through targeted interventions and strategic planning, Karditsa integrates the values of multiculturalism, inclusion and equal treatment of people, regardless of their culture, racial or ethnic origin.
General Population
55,979
*ELSTAT (2021 Census)
See below Social Services and Programs by the Municipality of Karditsa.
The Intercultural Center “Stavrodromi” (Crossroads) opened its doors on April 12, 2019 in the Municipal Market of Karditsa, with the aim to support the refugee and migrant communities, and bring them closer to the Greek, local community. Young and old visitors of the Center,, have the opportunity to take part in educational, cultural and entertainment activities, while the Center also supports refugees and migrants to access social services. In addition, the center provides a space where asylum seekers and Greek local residents have the opportunity to interact, plan and implement their own actions and events.
The Center was established with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ESTIA Program and the funding of the European Union Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
The Development Agency of Karditsa AN.KA. SA coordinates the activities of the Intercultural Center together with citizen organizations and other local bodies, as well as with the support and funding of the European Union.
The Center has the capacity to host classes and educational activities, an IT and skills development laboratory and a specially designed space for supporting families as well as a child-friendly space.
The “Crossroads” of cultures, is a meeting place open to all those interested in getting to know the world through its people and is looking forward to welcoming new participants and supporters.
MORE (Greek)The Social Grocery store and the Social Pharmacy of the Municipality of Karditsa are funded by the “Regional Operational Program of Thessaly 2014-2020” (Priority Axis “Development and utilization of human resources – active social integration”). Both programmes aim to support people living in extreme poverty.
The products of the Social Grocery come mainly from initiatives of the project team, sponsorships and donations, suppliers, organizations, schools but also from everyday people who want to contribute. The items provided by the Social Grocery to the beneficiaries include food and groceries, personal hygiene items, toys and entertainment items such as books, cd – dvd. The Social Grocery also manages the laundry bank. These are clothes that are placed in recycling bins around the city in the framework of cooperation of the Municipality of Karditsa with the company East West Greece (Clothing Recycling).
The Social Pharmacy is a social structure that provides beneficiaries with free medicines, health supplies and parapharmaceutical products mainly through sponsorships and donations made by pharmaceutical companies, private pharmacies and citizens.
