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.
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