Between 5 and 10 May "The Smile of the Child" visits Montreal and Ottawa to inform and mobilize the Greek Canadian Community and other actors engaged in the protection of children Français
Because when we can, we must help children,
the most innocent and vulnerable victims
of the economic and migration crises in Greece.
ATHENS, Greece, April 29, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - A delegation of "The Smile of the Child" comes on an official visit to Montreal and Ottawa from 5-8 May and 9-10 May, respectively. The purpose is to inform and encourage the local Greek community, as well as other child protection actors in Canada to support the activities of 'The Smile of the Child" in addressing the ongoing challenges for thousands of children and families in Greece.
"The Smile of the Child" is a 20-year-old Non-Governmental Organization, with no State funding whatsoever, and with one single objective: efficiently help children in need, regardless who they are, where they come from, what their race or belief is. They are all children, innocent and vulnerable.
In 2015 "The Smile of the Child" assisted 95.702 children in Greece with welfare and social support, medical care, preventive medicine, etc. Over the 20 years of existence, more than a million children have been helped out. Currently nearly 380 children exposed to neglect and violence have been entrusted to "The Smile of the Child" upon a prosecutorial order and have re-found a true family in one of the 11 Homes of "The Smile of the Child" nationwide.
More recently "The Smile of the Child" has also been trying to balance these longstanding activities with the urgent need and the ethical responsibility to help also refugee and migrant children, and particularly unaccompanied ones, in the midst of a dramatic refugee crisis unfolding in the country. About 40% of refugees coming into Greece are children, partially unaccompanied. More than 12.000 refugee and migrant children throughout the country receive help on a monthly basis from 'The Aegean Smile' Action Plan which was set up by "The Smile of the Child" in mid-February 2016: protection against the risks of exploitation and trafficking, healthcare assistance and coverage of immediate needs, search for missing unaccompanied minors and family reunification, etc.
The team of "The Smile of the Child", headed by Ambassador Marc Van den Reeck in charge of the International Cooperation of the Greek NGO, will have the opportunity to present the importance of its actions for children, as well as the challenges for child protection to a number of key members of the Greek Canadian Community, public officials and other Canadian stakeholders.
In Montreal "The Smile of the Child" will meet, among others, with the Greek Consul General, Mr. Nicolas Sigalas, members of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, as well as the Magic Mission Organization, a key supporter of the Organization. In Ottawa "The Smile of the Child" will be received by the Greek Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Georgios Marcantonatos, and have meetings with members of the Greek Ladies Filoptochos Society, the Greek-Canadian Member of Parliament Mr. Peter Fragiskatos and the President of CARE Canada, Mrs. Gillian Barth.
Interviews with local and national media will be conducted in an effort to thoroughly inform their audience on the struggle of "The Smile of the Child" to address an ever increasing number of challenges stemming from the ongoing socio-economic and migration crises in the country.
SOURCE The Smile of the Child
on the press release or media requests please contact Panos Pardalis, Communication Officer at "The Smile of the Child" at [email protected] or at (+30) 210 33 06 140 - (+30) 697 51 20 654.
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