Plea for help to the diaspora

In an extraordinary move the Athens based children's welfare organisation The Smile of the Child is making a plea to Greek-Australians for donations to continue its work providing nation-wide services to children in need.
Neos Kosmos received a letter this week from The Smile of the Child, calling for help from the diaspora in Australia. The letter explained the struggle thousands of children affected by the economic crisis in Greece, as families face mounting financial strain. Increasing demand for its services are stretching the organisation's resources, forcing the organisation to plead with the international Greek community for donations of any amount to ensure disadvantaged children in Greece continue to receive the help they need.
Costas Yannopoulos, director of The Smile of the Child said he has seen an increase in cases of neglect, abuse, bullying in schools and children coming into Greece as refugees.
"Like any family, our priority is to the health of the children. We have support centres that not only help the children but the whole family."
In 2011 alone, The Smile of the Child housed 284 Greek and refugee children in their 11 homes across Greece, supported 4,465 children and their families through their welfare centres and responded to countless emergency calls among the many other services the nation-wide organisation provide, either directly or by supporting other institutions such as hospitals and schools.
The director commended the Greek people's dedication to helping the needy in a time of hardship, if only through 2 euro donations through the organisations natonal hotline. "Every small donation can make a difference," he said.
"In February 2011, we only had 1.5 months financial life left," he said. "But the public's response to our cry of anguish was amazing, even in a time of hardship, people are continuing to make donations."
Plans are underway to use donations to open two new children's homes next year. The new homes, set to house children facing neglect, abuse and poverty, will be located in Aigio and Agrinio.
The Smile of the Child's call for help to Greek communities in Australia and around the world is a mark of the significance of the relationship between Greek people and the diaspora. Greek-Australian community groups such as the Hellenic Democratic Initiative and the Greek Ambassadors group has actively campaigned to raise funds and resources to those in need in Greece. Australian Ambassador to Greece Jenny Bloomfield has also taken an interest in the cause, donating aid as well as help raise the organisation's profile in Australia.
For every euro donated to The Smile of the Child, 10 cents goes towards administrative costs and 90 cents goes towards the organisation's nation-wide services. For more information on how to donate and to see where donations are going, head to The Smile of the Child's website: http://www.hamogelo.gr/.