The youth chapter of AHEPA raised over $500 at a Sausage sizzle last Saturday, taking their fundraising total to $2680.70 for the children of Greece. The sausage sizzle, held at Templestowe Safeway, raised money for the Greek charity Ark of the World (‘Kivotos tou Kosmou’) has been run by Fr Antonios Papanikolaou.
“AHEPA has chosen to give back to Greece in the time of the crisis that’s why all of us youth got together, as the auspices of our organisation is to get together to do good deeds for the community and to give back to Greece,” Jiannis Tsaousis, President of the youth chapter, AHEPA, told Neos Kosmos who says it’s “imperative they help and empathise with the children, the innocent victims of the Greek crisis.
“Ark of the World is such a great organisation, it’s run by a priest in Athens, and it’s been awarded by the UN and the president of Greece: it’s fully transparent and that’s why we got together to give something back to Greece who needs us.”
The charity has been under the helm of Fr Antonios Papanikolaou for around 15 years, and he supports and takes under his wings 300 destitute children from 6 to 18 years of age in need of home, hope, care and family.
Ark of the World houses these children from all backgrounds, of which many are refugees from Eastern Europe and the Middle East alongside Greek children in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic environment. Even the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Her Excellency Mrs Jenny Bloomfield, has shown her appreciation and encouragement through an official visit on behalf of the Australian Government.
Mr Tsaousis says that the diaspora play an integral role in helping Greece, and the aims of the youth chapter of AHEPA is to mobilise and globalise the youth of the diaspora to do all they can to help Greece too.
“Our first priority is to continue to grow and get more members so we can promote awareness for issues facing Greece, raising awareness about cultural and issues like the crisis.”
One such way they are doing this is organising a business mentoring breakfast, to connect the Greek Australian youth at university and recent graduates with the Greek Australian business people. He says this has dual purposes in helping Greece; there’s the fundraising purpose of the event, but also getting cross-generational cooperation mobilised.
Achilleas Youth is open to Hellenes and Philhellenes alike, between the ages of 16 – 30 years. To join, you can visit achilleasyouth.webs.com/join, email achilleasyouth@ahepa.org.au or call Jiannis Tsaousis (President) on mobile: 0413 235 602.