ONNED Visit to the Foundation for the Protection & Rehabilitation of Children & Youth with Mental Retardation “The Virgin” |

The Foundation for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Children & Youth with Mental Retardation “The Virgin” was visited by the President of ONNED Pavlos Marinakis and members of the Executive Office in the context of contacts with bodies and organizations of social solidarity carried out by the Organization.

The President of the Erotokritos Neophytos Foundation, the General Manager Giannis Papakonstantinou and the member of the Board of Directors Panagi Karella were guided to the premises of the Foundation, talking to them about their activities, but also the help they offer to children and young people, both in diagnostics part, as well as part of their integration into society.

The president of the Foundation and pres. Mayor of Psychiko, Erotokritos Neophytos said during the visit: “The institution makes the first diagnosis of the condition of children from an early age and carries out the early intervention trying to include children in kindergarten. “Creative employment is one of our main priorities, as young people from 14 to 30 years old learn to practice in various specializations and then we help them find a job”.

The Foundation is under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor, while its resources come from EOPYY hospitalizations, NSRF programs, private sponsorships and a grant from the Attica Region. The President of the Foundation stressed the originality of the “Theotokos” programs, both in the area of ​​early intervention, diagnostic and therapeutic, but also innovative pre-vocational and vocational training programs. There are many different creative employment programs for children from 2 years old and for young people up to 30 years old such as cooking, gardening etc. At the moment 75 people are at work, under the supervision of a mobile unit of occupational therapists.

Both the General Manager of the Giannis Papakonstantinou Foundation and the member of the Board of Directors Panagis Karellas stressed the need for the participation of the bodies in decision making, but also the problems they faced due to the pandemic. For this purpose, “TO DIKTYO” was created with Mr. Erotokritos Neophytos as President by relevant bodies representing the 3rd pillar of service providers for the disabled, so that together with ESAmeA and POSGAMEA they participate effectively in the dialogue and in the Disability Action Plan.

ONED President Pavlos Marinakis said: “Social solidarity and the strengthening of social policy and welfare is one of the main priorities of the Government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, something that is proven in everyday life and in legislative work. For our part as ONED for the past two years we have been visiting and constantly highlighting structures and bodies that stand by the side of our most vulnerable fellow human beings. We need to understand that in civil society and in opportunities we are all equal. Because it is a truly progressive policy that reduces inequalities and offers equal opportunities for all. “No one should be ‘invisible’, no one should be left behind.”

The visit was attended by the Organizational Secretary of ONED Orpheas Georgiou, the Head of Family Policy and Gender Equality Katerina Karavioti and the Head of Local Government Michalis Nikas.