Greek America Corps 2017
Summer 2017 With The HOME Project in Athens
Our 2017 program in Athens, Greece marked the Greek American Foundation’s inaugural Greek America Corps program (formerly known as Service Learning). The model we began in 2017 is a follows: a month-long experience volunteering with refugee children in a structured environment and in partnership with a respected Greek non-profit organization.
For our first program, we sent 10 volunteers to spent most of July supporting the mission of The HOME Project, a non-profit founded in 2017 to address the needs of unaccompanied refugee and child migrants in Greece by bringing them into shelters where they receive support, protection and social integration services.
The nine Americans and one Canadian were selected from dozens of applicants we received and carefully screened, given the sensitivity of the project.
The volunteers came from throughout North America, including places such as New York, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Connecticut, Ohio, Baltimore and Toronto.
Over the course of the month, the team participated in various projects, tending to both the physical needs of the shelters, as well as the emotional well-being of the children living inside them.
Simple activities like beach excursions, soccer matches and visits to museums turned into life-changing moments for both our volunteers and the refugee children, who were able to connect and share personal experiences, as well as their hopes and dreams.
Our volunteers also organized excursions to Delphi, Sounion and other sites outside of Athens where the children were able to leave the city center and experience more of the country they now call home.
The personal connections helped humanize the refugee crisis from front page news stories to something real and tangible that our volunteers were able to take home with them to Columbus, Houston, New York, Baltimore, Chicago — and other cities where they came from — to share with their own family and friends.
One of the highlights of the program was an invitation for the volunteers to meet the United States Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt at the Embassy and share their experiences with him.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos; Dr. Marie Bountrogianni and the Chang School at Ryerson University; Patricia Lambrecht; and our travel sponsors, Pro Travel International, for their generous support of our 2017 program.
Testimonials
Vasiliki, 21, Chicago, ILGetting to know these kids on a personal level and building such close friendships with them right off the bat super easily has been an amazing experience… I’m very privileged and honored to have had this experience for sure, and I’m super grateful — beyond grateful. I don’t think ‘grateful’ can put into words how much of an honor it is to have done this.
Stefanos, 23, Houston, TXI learned a lot from these kids. I learned that you can have nothing and still be very happy. I learned that not all is bad in this life, even coming from war-torn countries and countries with civil war you can still be happy and live a fulfilling life.
Maria, 21, Columbus, OHI think I learned from each individual that was here with us… just each person I’ve encountered here in Greece I’ve learned something from them — whether it’s about patience, just smiling at random strangers, kindness, just how to love people better in general.
Constantine, 23, Chicago, ILThis program was instrumental in my personal growth and transformation. The support network of the Greek America Foundation staff and my peers was essential. I will always be indebted to them.
Zoe, 19, Phoenix, AZThe beginning was tough at first because we were just getting started, but once we started to get connections with these kids it was so amazing. I’ve gained lifelong connections with them. They’re not even really kids — they’re teenagers. Especially the past day where we had to leave them, it was one of the hardest things that I’ve had to do.
Paul, 24, Chicago, ILTo see these kids go through these hardships and to see them with their head up and positive is a really nice positive reinforcement, and I’m just so happy to be involved with this program and I’m going to come back and try to help again.
Evgenia, 20, Queens, NYI wanted to work with these kids in order to help them feel as though they do have agency, they do have a self, and most importantly they do have a voice, and their voice matters and what they say matters. [I wanted] to remind them that there is someone somewhere in the world who cares about them and cares what they have to say.
Daniel, 21, Detroit, MII find fulfillment in making connections with kids. I think the Service Learning program is very special. I’m Greek, my dad is from Greece and I’m very interested in understanding both native Greeks’ and refugees’ perspectives and experiences together in this crisis.
Katerina, 18, Toronto, CAMy experience with the kids has been life-changing. I’ve formed bonds with these kids through the weekend activities and seeing them every day. Frankly, I feel like these kids are my equals and friends. I will never forget this experience.
Why this program?
Offering young adults in our community the opportunity to transform themselves while serving others — and supporting Greece — is a pivotal ideal of the Greek America Foundation.
Since we launched our first summer volunteer program in 2017, dozens of students and young professionals have had life-changing experiences offering their time and talents to humanitarian causes in Greece
Our goal is to continue this program for years to come in order to ensure that more young people have such life-enriching opportunities — and to continue spreading values of philanthropy, volunteerism and service.
More news about Greek America Corps
Help Us Fund Our Animal Welfare Volunteer Mission in Karpathos & Kasos
As part of our Greek America Corps summer 2020 volunteer programs, we are leading a group of volunteers to serve on Karpathos and Kasos, two of the most remote islands in the Aegean. Both of these islands are plagued by a persistent animal welfare problem due to overpopulation, lack of a well-designed veterinary care program […]
New, Innovative Volunteer Program Launched
The Greek America Foundation is proud to launch an innovative new program called Greek America Corps that seeks to instill in participants the values of volunteering, charity and service. Following successful volunteer missions in 2017 and 2019, which saw more than two dozen young people from the United States and Canada traveling to Greece for […]
Volunteers Leave Parting Gift As They Depart Chios
This past summer, 16 North American volunteers had a life-changing experience offering their time and talents to unaccompanied refugee minors during our summer service program. During the month of July, our volunteers worked diligently alongside a dedicated team of professions from the Greek non-profit organization METAdrasi, which — among numerous other activities — is dedicated to […]
Trans-Atlantic Love From Long-Time Supporter
During our recent summer volunteer program, 16 young adult volunteers from North America spent the month of July supporting refugee minors on the Greek island of Chios. Throughout the month, we shared periodic updates via social media posts, inspiring dozens of people to comment, share, donate — and engage. One of those generous supporters was […]
Volunteers Conclude Life-Changing Experience on Chios Island
This summer, on the island of Chios, 16 young adult volunteers from the U.S. and Canada had a transformative experience participating in the Greek America Foundation’s summer Service Learning program. During the month of July, our volunteers worked diligently alongside a dedicated team of professionals from the Greek non-governmental organization METAdrasi, which — among numerous other […]
Volunteers’ Fundraising Campaign to Help Unaccompanied Minors
For the past month, the Greek America Foundation’s 16 dedicated volunteers have offered their time and talents to support unaccompanied refugee children on the island of Chios. This team of young people from throughout the United States and Canada has been working alongside a dedicated team of professionals from the Greek non-profit METAdrasi, which is dedicated […]
Volunteers Experience History, Culture While Serving
During their latest weekend excursion, the Greek America Foundation’s 16 volunteers from the US and Canada took some time off from their work on Chios island and traveled to Izmir, Turkey. The trip to the once-Greek city formerly known as Smyrna provided a unique experience for the volunteers, who were taken on a guided tour […]
2019 Volunteers: More Than an Average Day on Chios
Today may seem like just another average day, but for the Greek America Foundation’s volunteers, who are on the Greek island of Chios serving unaccompanied refugee minors — it’s more than that. While some volunteers are at a school — operated by our partner charity METAdrasi — offering basic education to the children… Others have […]
Volunteers Embark on Chios Journey That Aims to Serve Humanity
By Gregory C. Pappas, Founder What are the qualities of an individual who has decided to give up a month of his or her time during summer vacation — and instead of sunbathing on a swanky beach or visiting a far-flung Greek Island — visiting one of the most decrepit places on the planet and […]
Greek America Foundation Announces Strompolos Family Gift for Service Learning Program
The Greek America Foundation is thrilled to announce that a recent donation from George and Kristin Strompolos will support four scholarships for our summer 2019 Service Learning program. Two of these scholarships are earmarked specifically for young people from Colorado’s Greek American community, where George Strompolos was raised. Service Learning is an initiative of the […]
2019 Summer Volunteer Program on Chios Island
The Greek America Foundation is proud to partner with METAdrasi on the Greek island of Chios for our 2019 Summer Service Learning Program which aims to engage North American college students and young professionals in volunteer programs in Greece. Our 2019 program includes a month-long experience volunteering with vulnerable groups, including refugee children and unaccompanied […]
In His Own Words: Darden Livesay Describes a Day With The HOME Project
This summer, the Greek America Foundation sent ten North American students to spend several weeks in Athens volunteering at shelters of The Home Project, a non-profit organization founded to protect and care for unaccompanied refugee minors — children who have arrived in Greece from various conflict zones throughout the world and who are alone without […]
2017 Summer Service Learning Program: A Life Changing Experience
This summer, 10 North American students were sent by the Greek America Foundation to spend several weeks in Athens, volunteering at shelters of The Home Project, an organization founded to protect and care for unaccompanied refugee minors — children who have arrived in Greece from various conflict zones throughout the world and who are alone […]
Service Learning Program Volunteers Meet U.S. Ambassador in Athens
The Greek America Foundation’s Service Learning program volunteers visited United States Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 to discuss their work with unaccompanied refugee minors as well as other contemporary issues facing Greece. The nine American and one Canadian students have now spent a week and a half volunteering at shelters […]
2017 Summer Service Learning in Athens for College Students
Service Learning is a new initiative of the Greek America Foundation aiming to engage North American university students with volunteer programs in Greece. Our program fulfills a dual purpose. First, students are immersed into contemporary Greek life, while simultaneously volunteering for important humanitarian relief programs and helping to make a lasting impact on contemporary problems […]