Gender Equality

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we organized a meeting bringing into focus real experiences from women who have turned difficulties into consistency, goal and action

The event "Stories That Changed the Way Forward" was an experiential discussion about strength, motherhood, resilience and what it means to move forward, even in adverse conditions. Their stories were told by Katerina Bofiliou together with her mother Georgia Bandouna and Anastasia Pyrgioti, while the discussion was moderated by Melina Taprantzi, founder of Wise Greece, a social enterprise with international recognition.

Paths that inspire us

Katerina Bofiliou and her mother, Georgia Bandouna, shared their journey, built with time, care, and unwavering dedication. From birth and early school years to Katerina's graduation from the Medical School of the University of Athens in 2025, their narrative highlighted what it means to persevere in your goal with daily effort and faith in yourself. Katerina was born with cerebral palsy, as a result of perinatal hypoxia followed by an ischemic attack, but its course proves how discipline and consistency can lead to the achievement of any demanding goal.

An equally important perspective was brought by Anastasia Pyrgioti, Clinical Psychologist (MSc) and boccia athlete, with a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Her own experience sheds light on the real demands of everyday life for people with mobility disabilities in Greece, from the barriers to access to the invisible effort for continuous adaptation. As she emphasized, mental preparation, knowledge of rights and a consistent attitude towards any form of exclusion are necessary conditions for a dignified life and autonomy.

Commitment in practice

For us, Women's Day is not just a date, but a reminder of the responsibility of all of us: to actively support women, to recognize different starting points, inequalities and difficulties, to create environments where every woman can evolve, be heard and move forward with dignity. This event was a collective moment of respect and empowerment with stories that prove what it means to open new paths for yourself and your fellow human beings.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we organized a Krav Maga seminar for our female employees

International Women's Day (8 March) is a reminder of the ongoing effort for gender equality and women's rights. This occasion highlights women's successes in society, work and science, while highlighting the challenges that remain, such as labor inequalities, discrimination and gender-based violence.

According to research from the University of Oregon, self-defense training can prevent attacks and reduce incidents of violence against women by 60%. That's why, on the occasion of International Women's Day, we organized a specialized Krav Maga seminar for our female employees, aiming to equip them with valuable self-defense and empowerment skills.

Empowerment through knowledge and practice

Krav Maga is one of the most practical and effective methods of self-defense, designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of physical condition or martial arts experience. In the specially designed workshop, participants were trained by professional instructors of the International Krav Maga Federation [IKMF], who showed them basic self-defense techniques, how to recognize potential threats, and how to react calmly and effectively to various situations.

Practical training included demarcating space, effectively using physical weapons such as voice and simple defensive strikes, but also dealing with common attacks in an upright position and on the ground. In addition to learning techniques, the seminar also focused on the self-protection mindset, offering our female employees the opportunity to gain more confidence, feel more secure and enhance their physical and mental strength.

Commitment to equality and safety

International Women's Day is not just a day of celebration, but an opportunity to highlight the importance of empowering women in everyday life and in the workplace. Through our internal initiatives, we support the inclusion, equality and personal development of all our employees. After all, we are the first renewables company in Greece who signed the European Diversity Charter of the European Union, through which we are committed to promoting diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace.

At the same time, we organize a series of initiatives that express this commitment, such as special events to raise awareness on equality, as well as our volunteer program, which includes the support of people with disabilities, with the participation of our employees. The Krav Maga seminar It was a dynamic and meaningful experience, empowering our women to feel stronger and more prepared for any situation.

We completed the innovative program Vamvakies Social Green Project that empowered enterpreneurship and created value for the residents of Kozani and the wider region.

The project

The Vamvakies Social Green Project was developed by Principia, in collaboration with Wise Greece and CluBE under the auspices of the Municipality of Kozani, exclusively for the Prefecture of Kozani and the wider region, with the aim of supporting people who are interested in empowerment, entrepreneurship and careers in the food industry. 

The program was divided into 2 sub-projects:  the empowerment of a small group of women farming in the Vamvakies PV plant area and the provision of free educational seminars on various topics for all the residents of Kozani.

An innovative program

The idea was put into practice at the solar plant near Polymylos Kozani, where a small group of women cultivated herbs, both in the open spaces and under the panels.

At the same time, the women were supported by a team of advisors and trainers, with the aim of becoming micro-entrepreneurs, marketing these original products and earning a substantial income.

From the materials of the crops in Vamvakies, we created the MYROLAND series of products, which consists of the following: spices for chicken, spices for pork, a Mediterranean mixture of herbs, as well as herbal drinks with the flavor of melomakarono, tsoureki, banoffee and paliouri.

This is the first time in Europe that a series of products from the land of a solar park has been launched on the market.

The educational program

Educational programs were organized and made available to all Kozani residents in order to promote and enhance entrepreneurship. The seminars took place online once a month and were supported by a large team of experienced trainers who flank the participants in every stage of their business career.

The participants were able to develop their knowledge of the nutrition sector and connect with mentors who could help them in every professional step. They also received training in very important entrepreneurship issues such as the preparation of a business plan, the production and promotion of products, effective communication, developing a network of customers and partners, digital marketing and much more.

The Vamvakies Social Green Project was honored for its Innovation and Social Impact with the Bravo Sustainability Award in the Society and Partnerships category and with the Gold Hellenic Responsible Business Award in the Decent Work & Economic Growth category.

Our Creating Shared Value (CSV) initiatives are fully in line with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Vamvakies Social Green Project is aligned with Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth).

February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. As part of our commitment to this cause, we opened our doors to a group of young women and showed them the many professional opportunities offered by the flourishing energy sector.

The energy sector remains one of the professional fields with the lowest level of participation by women. Bridging the gender gap is crucial, as women are key drivers of innovation and sustainable, inclusive growth. Despite the significant steps taken in recent years, with the number of women among students at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level steadily increasing, research shows that women continue to be under-represented in the technology sector, accounting for only 25% of jobs and only 3% of positions of responsibility and leadership.

For this reason, we are encouraging women to start careers in the energy sector. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11) is an opportunity for us to open our doors to women who want to get a glimpse of a professional future in the energy sector. And that is why we welcomed a group of beneficiaries of the EXELIXI ZOIS program. These girls, who have either just finished school or are taking their first career steps, were given a tour of our company's facilities. They also got to to talk to our executives and female engineers about the great professional opportunities offered by the energy and technology sector, which is enjoying dynamic growth in Greece.

State-of-the-art technology

We operate the most modern Control & Monitoring Room in Greece and we are applying new  technologies with revolutionary sustainable practices in our projects. We are a company that not only combines renewable energy with the implementation of innovative solutions, but also provides our employees with continuous training in new technologies.

This helps explain why we offer practical support for the work of EXELIXI ZOIS, and empower the residents of gated child protection facilities in their first steps as active, self-reliant and self-sufficient members of society. The young women who came to see us had the opportunity to visit the offices and Control & Motoring Room. Our executives then shared useful tips on how to handle a job interview, which nowadays largely determines whether a candidate is hired or not.

Personal experiences

During the session, female employees shared their experiences in the energy sector and talked about the difficulties and challenges they faced during their careers, as well as the unconditional support they received from the company.

In the discussion that followed, we focused on the challenges posed by the rapid technological evolution for energy companies, as well as the stereotypes that women who want to work in technology and energy – two areas still considered to be predominantly male – have to face.

We need more women in the energy and technology sector

Our company has undertaken several initiatives to empower women and encourage their development in positions of responsibility, creating an equal and inclusive work environment. One such initiative is "Her Community" in which all our female colleagues freely discuss and organize workshops with special guests on issues of concern to them. Another initiative is the "Women engineers at schools" program, which entails our female executives talking to schoolgirls about the challenges and opportunities of engineering as a profession. This is in order to show that women can also be excellent engineers and to encourage more girls to choose this career.

At the same time, we will continue to support the work of EXELIXI ZOIS by covering part of the female students' expenses for the coming academic year. We are placing a strong emphasis on technology and innovation, while also remaining committed to equality and removing barriers to the participation of more women in the sector. In actual fact, we are first RES company in Greece to have signed the EU Diversity Charter.

We demonstrate every day our commitment to a sustainability model based on initiatives and targeted actions with a significant impact on people's lives and especially on the future of young people. Our actions for the Creation of Shared Value (CSV) are fully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with this initiative being part of SDG 4 - Quality Education and SDG 5 - Gender Equality.