6th Round | “Points of Support” Programme

In 2023, the implementation of the sixth cycle of the “Points of Support” programme started; a collaborative initiative of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, the TIMA Charitable Foundation, the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, the A. G. Leventis Foundation, the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, the Costas M. Lemos Foundation, the Social and Cultural Affairs Welfare Foundation – KIKPE, The Hellenic Initiative Canada, the Athina I. Martinou Foundation, as well as the Bodossaki Foundation. The new cycle of the Programme is coordinated by the Bodossaki Foundation.

The goal of the Programme is, on the one hand, to support original small-scale projects that result in maximum social impact that benefits vulnerable social groups and, on the other hand, the reinforcement of infrastructures and capacity building of Greek Civil Society Organisations as a means of bolstering the development and effectiveness of their work.

Out of 150 applications, a total of 38 projects were funded; these projects were implemented by 49 organisations, 11 of which participated as collaborating bodies. The projects had a duration of up to 6 months and fell under one of the following thematic areas:

1. Social Integration of People with Disabilities (John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation)
2. Support for the Elderly (TIMA Charitable Foundation)
3. Prevention and Promotion of Adult Health (Social and Cultural Affairs Welfare Foundation – KIKPE)
4. Children and Health (Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation)
5. Combating Poverty and the Food Crisis (The Hellenic Initiative Canada)
6. Environmental Protection: 

   a. Protection of Flora and Fauna in the Urban and Peri-urban Environment (Α. G. Leventis Foundation)

   b. Protection of Αquatic Εcosystems: Lakes, Rivers and Wetlands (Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation)

   c. Protection of Forest and Other Terrestrial Ecosystems (Costas M. Lemos Foundation)

7. Social Innovation in Small Coastal Local Communities (Athina I. Martinou Foundation)

In addition, the selected organisations took part in free capacity building activities, funded and implemented by Social Dynamo, the NGO hub of the Bodossaki Foundation, aiming to increase the efficiency and sustainability of the organisations, with a focus on learning, professional support and networking.

For the period 2023-2024, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation supported the implementation of the following initiatives:

1. Best Buddies Greece – Staff training and empowerment of people on the autism spectrum in Attica aimed at their integration in the labour market, in collaboration with Tact Hellas Training and Consultation NPO.
2. ALL: Accessible Limitless Living NPO – Vocational strengthening of people with mental and developmental disabilities in Thessaloniki, in collaboration with the Social Cooperative for Collective and Social Benefit “Wellbeing, Culture, Art, Tourism, and Disability”.
3. Heath Route Social Cooperative – Development of career readiness and social entrepreneurship skills for People with Disabilities in the Regional Unit of Magnesia.
4. Equalact Social - Action for Social Equality of People with Disabilities – Development of innovative urban farming practices for the production of products and the employment of People with Disabilities in Attica, in collaboration with the Community Center of the Municipality of Cholargos-Papagos.
5. Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Sports Club Acharnes – Organisation of inclusive training sessions and Wushu – Kung Fu lessons for children with disabilities, in collaboration with special education schools in Attica.
6. Technology without Borders NPO – Training of people without visual impairments on blindness, though a nationwide social media campaign.
7. “ESTIA” Association for the Protection of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – Creation of a gym with specialised exercise equipment for children with disabilities in Ioannina.
8. Off Stream - Innovation and Accessibility in Culture NPO – Educational activities in museums addressed equally to people with and without sensory impairments, in Athens and Thessaloniki, in collaboration with Smiyl – School of Greek Sign Language.

• 119 projects with more than 66,000 beneficiaries in 40 cities across Greece have been funded during the five implementation cycles of the Programme. 

Watch the video of the 6th cycle of the Programme here.

“Our team received funding for the implementation of the project entitled ‘Buddies at work: Inclusion in the Workplace’, through which 8 people on the autism spectrum were empowered, receiving the appropriate preparation for their integration into the work environment and first contact with potential employers. Similarly, 50 employees within the partner company Teleperformance Greece were informed and trained on issues related to autism and better management in the workplace. Without this support we would not have been able to take our first steps in the field of supported employment, which we want and now believe we can further develop.”

Vassiliki Seimeki

Psychologist

Project Manager, Best Buddies Greece

“Through the ‘CoopAbility’ project, people with disabilities were given the opportunity to develop work readiness skills and gain in-depth knowledge of social entrepreneurship. Thirty trained individuals, three good practices, four trainers with disabilities, two inspiring social partners and a freely available training manual. What brought us most joy was the composition of the manual, created with professionalism and care to be accessible to people with intellectual disabilities, special educational needs, and visual impairments.”

Ioannis E. Dovros

Coach, Team Facilitator, Adult Educator

Manager, Heath Route Social Cooperative

“At Off Stream, our vision is the equal participation of People with Disabilities in the experience of Art, Culture, and consequently in all aspects of daily life. The support we received from the Foundation through the ‘Points of Support’ programme enabled us to implement an innovative programme for the inclusion of people with sensory impairments in the museum experience. It helped us develop an original methodology for inclusive audience activities, to share and co-create inclusively, and ultimately to take another step closer to our vision!”

Christina Vlachou & Stella Anastasaki

Co-founders, Off Stream

“With the Foundation’s support through the Programme, ALL: Accessible Limitless Living, in collaboration with the Social Cooperative for Collective and Social Benefit ‘Wellbeing, Culture, Art, Tourism, and Disability’ implemented training activities for employment counsellors on disability issues, as well as self-advocacy and self-empowerment seminars with the participation of individuals with mental and developmental disabilities. The integration of people with disabilities into the labour market and their professional rehabilitation are essential prerequisites for social inclusion. Therefore, strengthening the professional skills of people with disabilities, along with the ongoing training of vocational education providers, should be key priorities in broader policies that promote accessible employment and entrepreneurship.’’

Julia Tapali

Founding Member, ALL: Accessible Limitless Living NPO

“Equalact Social aims to create open community workshops, combining the benefits of urban farming and social entrepreneurship with workshops on psychosocial empowerment, creative expression, and the development of social and professional skills, fostering relationships between beneficiaries, volunteers and the community. Therefore, in 2023 through the Programme, we implemented the initiative ‘Urban Farming as a tool for the social inclusion and employment of People with Disabilities’ in collaboration with the Community Center of the Municipality of Papagos-Cholargos. The initiative focused on developing innovative urban agriculture practices for growing organic vegetables, herbs, and indoor vertical mushroom cultivation. The funding, crucial to the project’s success, sowed the seeds for an inclusive daily life for young adults on the autism spectrum, individuals with Down Syndrome and people with cognitive or learning difficulties. The Programme essentially provided us with the opportunity to change perceptions about how society views and understands disability.”

Katerina Gargaletsiou

Social Worker

President & Co-founder, Equalact Social – Action for Social Equality of People with Disabilities

“Apart from the invaluable financial support it provided for the implementation of the ‘Kung Fu for All’ project, the Programme also strengthened our organisation through targeted training and consulting. We met people who believed in our mission and activities and by placing their trust in us, they paved the way for further collaborations and successful projects.”

Konstantinos Athanasiou

Head Coach, Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Sports Club Acharnes

“Without the ‘Points of Support’ so many people wouldn’t have been informed about blindness. The support we received from the Latsis Foundation focused on an awareness campaign about blindness through videos on TikTok in collaboration with blind influencer Anna Balan. Thanks to this funding, we were able to create dynamic and engaging videos that highlighted the challenges and experiences of people with visual impairments. The invaluable support from the Foundation enabled our team to spread our message, reaching over 4 million views, making our campaign a powerful tool for promoting awareness and driving social change.’’

Gilda Mazaraki

Project Leader, ‘Pop2See’, Technology Without Borders NGO

“Through the Programme, we were able to meet the need for an indoor physical education space for individuals with autism, by equipping the available space at the Association's Creative Activities Center with specialised exercise equipment. We then offered sports programmes and physical education classes tailored to the unique needs of our beneficiaries, with the aim of improving their physical condition, developing gross motor skills and muscle strength for sensory relief, and promoting their socialisation in an inclusive and flexible environment.”

Dimitrios Petrakis

Vice President, “ESTIA” Association for the Protection of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)