Today was the first day with the children. Wow, what an experience. It was awesome to realize how many of them actually remembered us and were laughing as they arrived. They loved the music, the shaving cream and just our touch. We worked with a few new children who didn't work with us before and weren't 100% sure about us crazy Americans!
Many of you may remember Fasula (she was in many of the original pictures with me from 4 years ago), I wish I could describe the way her face lit up when Joanne started the music. She practically jumped out of her seat.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Our Program Advances
We have had an amazing first few days here in Greece. After the warm reception we received from the town we got right down to business. We started by meeting with the staff from the orphanage. We planned our days and determined which children we are going to work with. We are actually running two programs because there are so many of us. This is allowing us to maximize our time by working both at the community center and at the orphanage (KEPEP). The town all knows why we are here and are treating us very well.
The Bishop authorized some great improvements to the community center. The entire center was painted (inside and outside!) and the whole center had new tile added as well as an air conditioner.
We also learned of some awesome news! They are starting two new programs here in town. The first is a transitional program for the adults at KEPEP who are higher functioning. This is a program where for six months they will transition to an assisted living facility outside of the orphanage located here in town.
The other program is the most exciting...we learned yesterday that they are opening a special day school in September for 5-8 children with special needs at the community center we are working at. This program will carry through the work we have started and will be offered throughout the year. We were so excited to hear the progress they had made towards these efforts.
Yesterday Joanne and I were on a local talk show discussing what we were here doing. We learned that every Tuesday our project will be highlighted on this talk show and a news crew will be coming to film a day at our program to air on their show.
There has been a lot of attention paid to the work we are doing and the community is really starting to move our project forward. It is amazing to see how the seed we planted is growing!
The Bishop authorized some great improvements to the community center. The entire center was painted (inside and outside!) and the whole center had new tile added as well as an air conditioner.
We also learned of some awesome news! They are starting two new programs here in town. The first is a transitional program for the adults at KEPEP who are higher functioning. This is a program where for six months they will transition to an assisted living facility outside of the orphanage located here in town.
The other program is the most exciting...we learned yesterday that they are opening a special day school in September for 5-8 children with special needs at the community center we are working at. This program will carry through the work we have started and will be offered throughout the year. We were so excited to hear the progress they had made towards these efforts.
Yesterday Joanne and I were on a local talk show discussing what we were here doing. We learned that every Tuesday our project will be highlighted on this talk show and a news crew will be coming to film a day at our program to air on their show.
There has been a lot of attention paid to the work we are doing and the community is really starting to move our project forward. It is amazing to see how the seed we planted is growing!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Well, we arrived tonight. After over 30 hours we finally made it to town. (With all our bags and boxes - even though I left my luggage and box in the middle of the airport. I blame it on the language barrier when the announced not to leave your luggage unattended!) We were greeted with a reception at the airport. The president, treasurer, secretary and PR secretary for the AHEPA of Serres was there, as well as the Minister of Health and Human Services. From there we drove another 2 hours to town. We went up to KEPEP and had even more of a warm welcome - 3 TV stations were there to film us and interview us! I drew the short straw and should be on Greek TV tonight. Tomorrow Joanne and I will be on a talk show discussing our project and why we are here. We will go up to KEPEP tomorrow morning prior to the TV show to sit with the children and have them start getting acquainted with us again. On Wednesday we will start to bring them down to the community center.
I will post more information tomorrow - we are heading back to the hotel now after a VERY long day!
I will post more information tomorrow - we are heading back to the hotel now after a VERY long day!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Project Dates
We are scheduled to leave Phoenix on Sunday, May 27 and will arrive in Greece on Monday, May 28. We will spend a few weeks at the orphanage and will return home on June 20.
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.
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.
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