By Costas Yannopoulos
How “The Smile of the Child” started and where it stands today
“The Smile of the Child” is the vision of my 10-year-old son! Andreas fell ill in 1995. During the hard course that followed he expressed his main concern in his diary which was that all children should have what he generously had from his family: love, affection, interest and respect: everything that all children actually need.
Since Andreas left us I am trying to bring his vision for all children into a reality. By then I was a respected business person in the informatics market running my own companies, but I decided that it is not time for business anymore. My sole concern was how to fulfill my son’s vision and bring hope to children and families in need. My former colleagues from the sector were actually the first people who shared with me this cause. Day by day more and more people, volunteers and supporters were joining our struggle to ensure more smiles for children.
The letter that started the legacy
This struggle was not an easy process. We had to learn the procedures, the legal frameworks and state mechanisms in child protection and overcome problems and all sort of obstacles. We even had to deal with the common belief in Greece that “everyone is a crook and we couldn’t be an exception”. Surely these comments are hurting you, but hopefully the results of your work and most importantly the recognition and trust of people is the best answer to those who have this shortsighted stance.
We are not rich by money. However, we are rich in feelings and we know that ensuring the smile to the face of every child is worth more than anything in this world. For instance, when you are bringing the smile of a child back to its face, this is our biggest reward.
Similarly when we are giving practical solutions to children at risk reuniting them with their families is really important. And when there is not such a possibility we are offering a new family such as the one of “The Smile of the Child”. It’s vital for children to know that some people are standing next to them as a family. And this is the reason why we established our Homes for children and how our organisation developed step by step.
After almost 20 years of relentless work and learning process “The Smile of the Child” has become today an adult, but continues with the same inexhaustible energy, new goals, and positive attitude of a teenager that no obstacle is insurmountable especially when it comes to protecting children.
However, as good willingness and passion is not always sufficient, throughout all these years our driving forces were complemented with expertise and the knowledge necessary in order to provide children and families with efficient and high quality services. Thanks to our staff, our volunteers, citizens and sponsors we managed to establish a trustworthy organization, highly recognized in Greece and abroad for its services and broad scope of actions.
“The Smile of the Child” has developed three main pillars of work: in welfare, in health and in direct intervention. These pillars include essentially a wide range of actions that are implemented nationwide, 24 hours a day and are provided for free to all children and families across Greece.
The impact of the economic crisis, the rising needs for children and families and the resulting new challenges for “The Smile of the Child”
The economic crisis has provoked inevitable societal implications. Thousands of children today face serious problems: poverty, malnutrition, no access to health services, delinquency and so much more!
It is important to understand the real extent of the problem. According to recent reports Greece has seen the biggest percentage increases in child poverty since 2008. Today, approximately 1 in 3 children in Greece are faced with the threat of poverty and social exclusion i.e. 686.000 children which make 35% of children’s population in the country.
The statistics are not only numbers. Behind these figures are children and families that need our help and support. As an organization dealing with a harsh reality on the ground our main concern is to cover the different needs in education, welfare, and health, as well as with the serious problems of child abuse, neglect, violence within the family environment and bullying.
Amidst the economic crisis, people and companies are not able so support us the way they want. However, despite the financial difficulties we have decided to continue our services and maintain the high quality of our actions. Our aim is not to provide philanthropic support, but practical and effective solutions that will bring the positive change in the lives of children and families in the long run.
As a result and thanks to our supporters we managed to achieve what seemed to be inevitable: From 2011 until today we increased by 40.000 the number of supported children and families. More specifically, we supported 23.202 children in 2011 and 41.897 children in 2012. In 2013 this figure rose to 63.299 children. Only in the first semester of 2014 we provided services and support to more than 60.000 children and families.
Crisis impact on “The Smile of the Child” and ways of overcoming the financial difficulties
“The Smile of the Child” does not essentially receive any public funding and our work is solely implemented thanks to the financial and in-kind support from citizens and companies. As a result of this crisis we are also running as mentioned before a particularly difficult period in terms of our financial results and needs that we should cover.
Even people who were hitherto supporting us have found themselves in a situation where they themselves and their families need our help and support now. Thus, we are faced with a situation where the needs of families and children in need are increasing, while our funding resources are pushed downwards. It is about a daily struggle trying to encourage more and more companies and people to help us in ensuring more support to those at risk.
At the same time, we are calling on Greek communities abroad to join us in this fight back at home for children and we continue raising awareness and informing people on the serious problems and risks children and families are faced with in Greece today.
I have to say that citizens and companies trust us, recognize the need and the significance of our actions and finally support us. They know that we treat their support with responsibility respect and full transparency.
This fact is validated every year by the body of auditors of Ernst & Young. Indeed, according to the actual results of the previous year, only 10% of our revenues are spent on the administrative function of the organization. That means that for every 1€ you offer on the organization, 90 cents are directly utilized in our actions.
Future plans and expectations from “The Smile of the Child”
Our primary objective today is to continue meeting the needs of thousands of children and families. More than ever we need to continue our actions across Greece, maintaining our high standards and quality and strengthening our existing structures and services.
We are well aware that this is a huge effort that requires the support of companies and each and every citizen. This is what we are actually doing all over these years.
This is what my son Andreas taught us to do:
“If we all unite, we will succeed!”
Who is Costas Yannopoulos?
Costas Yannopoulos was born in Athens, Greece, in 1952.
He studied Marketing at LondonUniversity where he obtained his Marketing Degree.
When his younger son Andreas, aged 10, was diagnosed with cancer (brain malignant tumor) in 1995, he left his familiar business field in order to help his son fight this battle for his life and make his wish come true. After the sad loss of Andreas, Costas Yannopoulos dedicated himself to fulfilling his son’s vision. The business world, the people, the Greek society as a whole became friends and supporters of “The Smile of the Child” and embraced the wish of Andreas right from the beginning.
Costas Yannopoulos is a Member of the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited children (ICMEC) and President of the European Anti-bullying Network. “The Smile of the Child” enjoys special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and participates to the UN’s Department of Public Information. The Greek organization is also a member of Missing Children Europe (MCE), the European Network Eurochild, the European Federation of Street Children (EFSC) and Child Helpline International (CHI) and operates the Southeastern European Center for Missing and Exploited Children (SEEC) since 2010.
Costas Yannopoulos is co-author of the book “Preschool Educator’s Handbook – Theory & Handling Problems at preschool level for a smooth transition to primary school”, Eleni Melou editions, Athens, 2012.
Today, “The Smile of the Child” staffed with 400 specialized employees implements the following actions:
- National Helpline for Children “SOS 1056”
- 116 000 European Hotline for Missing Children
- AMBER ALERT HELLAS (in cooperation with 57 public and private institutions)
- Emergency intervention in cases of children in danger
- National Centre for Missing, Abused and Exploited Children
- Southeastern European Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
- 11 Homes all over Greece where children at risk have found a safe living environment
- 3 of our Homes are Daily Care Homes, dedicated to children whose families suffer serious social and/or financial problems
- Financial, psychological & social support for children (& their families) with serious welfare problems across Greece
- Financial, psychological & social support for children with health problems nationwide
- Mobilization of donors of blood, blood platelet, and bone marrow
- Mobile Medical Units & Ambulances at the disposal of the National Emergency Services System (EKAV) for the safe transport of children and newborns
- Creative recreational activities in Children’s Hospitals in Athens, Thessalonica, and Patras
- Preventive Medicine and Dentistry at schools and remote areas nationwide, carried out by the mobile medical units of the organisation
- Information, prevention, and awareness programmes for Children, Parents, and Teachers
- Counseling support for children and their families
- Creative recreational activities for children in Athens International Airport, “Eleftherios Venizelos”.
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