NAOUSSA, Greece – The “WE GREW UP HERE” initiative, implemented by EduQuest and co-funded by the Greek Ministry of Culture, aims to recognize and promote the cultural identity of wider area of Naoussa. Through this action, the community’s social and touristic role is enhanced as a living monument to its refugee heritage.

EduQuest applies Participatory Approaches to record oral histories via interviews, capturing the lived experiences and sustainability practices of older generations. This work bridges generations, serving as a means to reinforce local cohesion and address rural population decline.

Release of the Recording Manual: A Capacity-Building Tool

As part of the “WE GREW UP HERE” framework, the Oral History Recording Manual was developed and is now available. This manual provides simple and clear instructions necessary for conducting oral history interviews.

Its purpose is twofold: to support the current initiative and to function as a capacity-building tool for the wider community. It empowers anyone to record oral histories while adhering to a specific, methodologically sound protocol. EduQuest emphasizes that the manual serves a complementary role and does not replace cultural bodies tasked with the scientific documentation of history.

You can access the Oral History Recording Manual in PDF form HERE. 

Following the successful recording of local stories from the town of Naoussa, which took place in 2024, the non-profit organization EDUQUEST has been approved for funding again this year, with the settlement of Rodochori as its area of implementation. The new project, which will be implemented in 2025, focuses on documenting and recording oral histories of descendants of Pontian refugees who settled in Rodochori, Imathia. Beyond its historical and cultural value, the new initiative aims to contribute to the recognition and promotion of the cultural identity of Rodochori, strengthening the social and tourist role of the settlement as a living monument to refugee and Pontian heritage, intergenerational learning, and the preservation of the knowledge of the elderly.

Along with the recording of local stories, a short handbook on recording local stories will be produced and a digital platform will be developed where the testimonies recorded in the area will be posted. The platform will be hosted on the EDUQUEST website in the form of an interactive map, indicating the area where each oral testimony was recorded.

Preserving intangible cultural heritage is not just a matter of historical memory. It is a tool for cohesion, knowledge transfer, tourism development, and social empowerment. Through this project, we want to create a new movement of local ambassadors who will present authentic stories of our region to visitors and younger generations.

The action is co-funded by the Ministry of Culture as part of the “Creative Greece” program.

Enjoy a brief history of the folklore custom “Boula” (also known as “Genitsaroi & Boules”) of Naoussa, through the memories of former dancer Takis Papakonstantinou, as part of the project “WE GREW UP HERE – Stories of Culture and Sustainable Development.”

Enjoy a brief overview of the history of Naoussa, through the charismatic narration of folklorist Takis Baitsis, as part of the project “WE GREW UP HERE – Stories of Culture and Sustainable Development.”