The Rural Tourism Cluster epaithros+ expresses its particular pride for the awarding of its member, Cooperative Community “Apo Kinou”, which won the 1st prize of HackSocial Crete 2025. This distinction recognizes the systematic and collective work of the CooperativeCommunity, which through natural and organic cultivation practices, collaborations with small producers and direct distribution of products without intermediaries, contributes substantially to the empowerment of local communities.
The following is the Press Release as published by the Regional Mechanism for Support and Development of Social Entrepreneurship in the Region of Crete, PANETAIK S.A., member of the epaithros+ Cluster.
The three winners of the Social Hackathon awards
The HackSocial Crete 2025 training program, which took place on December 6 & 7, 2025, within the framework of the Regional Mechanism for Support and Development of Social Entrepreneurship in the Region of Crete, at the Polycenter of Heraklion, was successfully completed.
This is a participatory learning and design process, where existing and newly established social enterprises collaborated to create new or improved products/services, which will enhance their financial sustainability and increase their social impact. Through well-known methodologies such as lean design, design thinking, user experience design, pitching as well as tools specifically designed for such projects, the participants gained experience and knowledge on how a product/service is led from idea to implementation so that they can apply it in the future.
The seven participating teams selected from a total of twenty-one applications to participate in HACKSOCIAL 2025 were Cultural Memory Co. S.Ep. (Chania), Oikanos Co. S.Ep. (Heraklion), Filagrios Co. S.Ep. (Rethymno), Museum of School Life Co. S.Ep. (Chania), Apo Koinou Co. S.Ep. (Heraklion), Pemptousia Co. S.Ep. (Chania) and HUMANI.T.I Co. S.Ep. (Heraklion).
The pitching of the social enterprises and the final awards took place before a jury on Sunday 07.12.2025 in the afternoon.
The 1st prize was awarded to the Cooperative Society based in Heraklion, Apo Koinou, by the Deputy Regional Governor for Environment, Nikolaos Xylouris.
The organizational structure of APO KOINOU, with its decentralized, participatory, horizontal and direct democratic procedures, ensures that every member of the community, whether an employee, a volunteer or a friend of the project, has an equal say and participation. This equality cultivates a sense of responsibility, cooperation and trust, constituting a small example of democracy in practice.
Their activity focuses on the cultivation and production of agricultural products using natural or organic methods, without pesticides or genetically modified organisms, with respect for the natural cycles of the seasons. Their collaborations with small producers and organic farmers, with cooperatives and small businesses that share the same values, strengthen local communities and support vulnerable social groups, such as smallholder farmers. They produce and distribute products without intermediaries and dependencies on large commercial networks, thus contributing to a fair, domestic and sustainable development. The members cultivate their fields, scattered in various areas of the Cretan countryside, with organic and traditional methods. The harvest is transported to the Co.S.Ep. packaging plant, from where it is either distributed directly to homes in the form of baskets, or processed into high quality products, with nutritional value and a special taste identity.
Among its products, the unique wild mustard, sour apple ketchup, hot pepper sauce and pumpkin chutney stand out. These products are available in Greece and abroad, with the aim of continuously improving and increasing production.
Their innovation is not based on technological superiority or uncritical development, but on a return to the essence, on solidarity, dialogue, collectivity, respect for man and nature, simplicity and ultimately self-sufficiency. They propose a model of social innovation that restores value to human relationships and community life, where production, consumption and organization are based on trust, cooperation and hard work.
The 2nd prize was awarded to the Cooperative Enterprise Cultural Memory based in Chania by the President of Regional Development Company of Crete and Regional Councilor, Efstratios Flemetakis.
Cultural Memory is a Social Cooperative Enterprise, based in Askifou Sfakion in Crete, which deals with the research, promotion and promotion of historical and cultural heritage. Its goal is to connect communities with their past, through public history, documentation, digital tools and educational actions. In this context, the action “Memory Trail in the Martyr Villages of Eastern Selino” is being developed, which highlights the memory of the villages of Moni, Koustogerako and Livada, which were destroyed during the German Occupation. The project includes a thematic trail with signs, period photographs, testimonies and QR codes, as well as a digital documentation platform in collaboration with the War and Historical Museum of Sougia. The action will be enriched with educational programs, walks and commemorative events.
The 3rd prize was awarded to the Heraklion-based Cooperative HUMANI.T.I, by the Special Advisor on Innovation of the Region, Antonis Papaderakis.
VetAlert, an application that will be supported by HUMANI.TY., creates multiple social and environmental benefits, as it addresses an existing and frequent problem: citizens do not know how to react when they encounter injured animals, resulting in delays that often-cost lives.
It will offer
- Improving the living conditions of injured animals and reducing unnecessary losses as it will allow immediate assessment and guidance for their handling. For domesticated or stray animals, it will offer 24-hour direct access to veterinary care.
- Reducing inequalities in access to care as it will enable everyone —regardless of economic, geographical or social status— to have immediate access to guidance and the closest available professionals.
- Strengthening local development & partnerships through the synergy of local veterinary clinics, the interconnection of professionals, organizations and citizens, contributing to the creation of a solidarity care network.
- Environmental protection as the rescue of wildlife —turtles, birds, hedgehogs, endangered species— is directly linked to the preservation of biodiversity.
VetAlert will function as a “digital rescue guide”, reducing the environmental footprint of human interventions.
The members of the jury expressed their great satisfaction with the entire organization, as well as with the proposals of the participants, emphasizing that the implementation of such innovative projects that utilize technology to address the challenges of modern society, and lead it to positive changes with a social impact, is a source of inspiration.
Source: panetaik.gr