Project Greece History

During the summer of 2004, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Greece to visit an institution that houses children and young adults with disabilities. That trip led me to recruit a team of volunteers to travel back to Sidirokastro, Greece. During the summer of 2005 our team of volunteers developed and implemented a community day program where children and young adults from Agios Nektarios experienced the love and attention they need and deserve. We are excited to share that we are preparing to return to Sidirokastro to work with these disabled children and young adults during the summer of 2007.

Some of these children have been abandoned by their families and placed in institutions; others are there because the parents lack the resources to care for them. When I first started traveling to Sidirokastro three years ago, there were NO on-going programs, not even for education or recreation. There is such minimal human contact; the children don’t let you go when you hold them. We understand that we cannot swiftly change the government’s support for the disabled in Greece, but we can develop a program whereby (even if it is just for a short time each summer) children and residents of this institution will experience the love and attention they need and deserve. One of the most exciting pieces of news that has come from our work came to us just a few weeks ago. We recently learned from our host family that the Minister of Education is working to assign two teachers to work with the children and young adults at this institution. This development tells us that the work we do is making a difference in this community and we are committed to continuing our work.

The community of Sidirokastro has invited to travel back to Greece and help those involved with these children and young adults better understand their potential and needs, and to make their lives better. We are thrilled with the opportunity to do such a project with this population and to instruct the caretakers in these state sponsored institutions. We will continue to set the groundwork for others to continue.

Our team represents volunteer special education teachers, physical therapists, music therapists, and occupational therapists. We have developed and delivered a program that allows children and young adults to participate in a fun-loving program that will provide them with experience arts and crafts, music therapy, sensory motor activities, and active games.

To learn more about our project call us, email us, or visit our website at http://www.projectgreece.org/. Our website includes information about our project as well as a short video from our previous visits.