Greek artist Yiannis Ploutarhos made the fleeting trip to Melbourne on Tuesday to officially open Agapi Care’s new facility in Clayton on Tuesday.

Located in Clayton South, Kakosaios House – named after the singer – will be a permanent home for people with disabilities and children with special needs.

The new facility may not have happened had it not been for the generous financial support of the greek singer who donated $150,000 to the Agapi Care foundation, from proceedings from his Australian tour.

Father Haralambos Pyrelis gave the official blessing of the facility and also blessed the board of Agapi Care, families, other supporters and donors, present there.

Greek Australian University of Melbourne (MuNGA) students together with the Monash Hellenic Students’ Society presented a donation of $700, for monies raised by a football match they had organised.

Kakosaios House will be able to accommodate six inmates said Chairman of Agapi Care, Sam Grivas.

The treasurer of Agapi Care, Con Kyritsis told Neos Kosmos that the furnishing of the space will begin immediately.

During his speech, Mr Grivas thanked Ploutarhos for his continuing support both financially and physically, and said that the Board will endeavour to open more facilities so Agapi Care would be able to aid those in need.

“We are determined , as part of our ability to grow with the aim of ‘agapi’ to share more love and care to the children of our community and their families” said Mr. Grivas.

In Ploutarhos’ speech, he said that this facility or “home” as he called it, was in honour of his parents and thanked Agapi Care for giving him the opportunity to make a “life long dream come true”.

Asked by Neos Kosmos how he felt on the day, Ploutarhos said that it was emotional to see a vision that he’s had for many years become a reality, adding it was impossible to put all his emotions into words.

He said when people cooperate through their spirit and care, they can “acheive unimaginable things – magical things happen through human decency.

“For me today, the fulfillment of this vision is the expression of a deep gratitude to the people who loved me; a gift for others for all this love shown me all these years. “

Ploutarhos said the most important achievement was watching the community unite, and come together and through his support he just “planted the seed”. He used the metophor of the seed to explain to efuture of the facility and the work Agapi Care do. He said you need to irrigate, nurse and protect the seed from weeds and weather conditions so that “it can grow and become independent and strong”.

“I’ve witness how many great things can happen when people come together especially in an era were we don’t often see this happening.

“We Greeks must be united because we have had a very bad past resulting from civil conflicts.”

Ploutarhos said he will not rest on his laurels and continue his philanthropic work.

“I’ve started a personal crusade and I want to do everything possible as a human being to help,” he said.

Agapi Care’s annual dance will take place on Saturday night at Stars International Reception, at Preston. For tickets call (03) 9416 9768.

 

*In this Saturday’s English edition of Neos Kosmos, Ploutarhos speaks openly about the accusations that he’s affiliated with Golden Dawn in Greece.