The SOS Children’s Villagescontinuing their hands-on commitment and contribution to empowering vulnerable families and children, launched on Monday, February 19 their new premises of the Child and Family Support Center and the Learning and Pedagogical Support Center of Patrasa project carried out with a donation from the company “Air Windmill Energy SA”, with the aim of supporting even more children and their families in the wider area of Patras.
The renovation of the premises created additional classrooms for education, speech therapy, special education, ensuring even more upgraded and quality support to the local community. With the significant support of its donors and supporters, SOS Children’s Villages continues to provide an even safer and more functional educational environment.
The Deputy Regional Governor of Western Greece spoke at the opening, Bonanos Charalambosthe Assistant Professor of the Department of Social Work of the University of Patras, Dr. Dritsas Ioannis, the General Director of SOS Children’s Villages, George Protopapasthe CEO of “Air Windmill Energy SA”, Apostolos Moscowwho was awarded the “Friend and Benefactor” plaque for the company’s extremely important sponsorship and the Head of the Peloponnese Programs of the SOS Children’s Villages, Katerina Papatheophilou. Among the speeches, that of Mrs. Dionysias, whose children have been supported by the Organization’s program in recent years, stood out, who spoke about her experience at the Centers, provoking the emotion of those present.
The event was also attended by representatives of the Directorate of Social Care of the Region, the Homeless Hostel of the Municipality of Patras, the Social Service of the Karamandanios Children’s Hospital, the Community Center, the Association of Social Workers, as well as representatives of the ASP Promithea Patras, the Metropolitan College, the Association Polytecnon, the Cantelena Choir, the Safety Project Organization, but also volunteers, employees and students of IEK Delta 360th, which lovingly organized and implemented all the activities for the children that framed the celebration.
The General Director of SOS Children’s Villages, Mr. Giorgos Protopapas, stated: “With special joy and feelings of deep emotion, today we celebrate the expansion of the work of SOS Children’s Villages in Patras, for the mental and educational well-being of even more children and their families. This project is the result of the dedication and cooperation of our society and our donors, who offer their selflessness to support our work. A big thank you to our donors and everyone who contributed to this project. Solidarity and mutual support are the cornerstones of our mission and today we honor these values with the delivery of the new spaces.”
The Centers have been operating in Patras since 2017, and are housed in building at 70 Athanasiou Diakou Street, offered by a donation from the late Eleni Digenopoulou Zafiropoulou, providing free services, such as parent counseling, psychological support for children and parents, psychotherapeutic intervention, speech therapy, special education for children with learning difficulties and psychopedagogical activities, and at the same time, they support, not only the school progress, but the general psychosocial development of children in a safe educational environment. Operating costs for 2024 were covered by a donation from The Hellenic Initiative of America, Australia and Canada.
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