News

The Points of Support Program is launching its 8th Cycle with an Open Call for applications. More than 104,000 people have benefited from the 191 initiatives funded since the inception of the program in 2015. In the 8th funding cycle, ten charitable foundations in Greece are once again joining forces to continue supporting Civil Society.

The Points of Support Program is aimed at grassroots civil society organizations, helping them implement innovative, small-scale actions with a high social impact, while also building their capacities to enhance their sustainability. Since 2022, the program has been coordinated by the Bodossaki Foundation.

Participating in this cycle of the program are: John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, TIMA Charitable Foundation, Bodossaki Foundation, Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, A.G. Leventis Foundation, Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Costas M. Lemos Foundation, The Hellenic Initiative Canada, Athina I. Martinou Foundation, and the Helidoni Foundation.

The launch event will take place on Wednesday, February 26, at 14:00 at Serafio of the Municipality of Athens (Echelidon & Pireos 144). Find out more about the Open Call and register for the event through this link.

We’re excited to share the Helidoni Foundation's new website! More than just a redesign, it reflects the evolution of our mission and priorities.

We now emphasize Steward-Ownership (S.O.), a model that ensures financial independence and long-lasting impact. Our new dedicated S.O. page explains why we advocate for this approach and how it shapes our funding philosophy.

To better showcase our work, we’ve restructured our funded programs, categorizing them by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Program Areas. This makes it easier to explore the scope of our initiatives.

Lastly, we’ve expanded our team! We welcome two new members from Helidoni Group, the family office behind the foundation, strengthening our ability to support mission-first organizations.

Our new website captures who we are today and where we’re headed. Discover how we are shaping a future where purpose and impact go hand in hand!

We’re thrilled to share with you our collaboration with Schema Labs, a newly established organization dedicated to reinforcing democracy and civic engagement. With our funding, Schema Labs has successfully developed and launched its first major project: OpenCouncil - a groundbreaking platform designed to bridge the gap between citizens and local governments.

OpenCouncil helps municipalities build stronger connections with their communities through digital tools that make decision-making more transparent, participatory, and responsive. By simplifying how local governments interact with citizens, the platform guarantees that people have a real say in shaping local policies and initiatives.

At Helidoni Foundation, we strongly believe in the power of steward-led organizations, where mission and long-term impact take precedence over profit. Schema Labs/OpenCouncil is the second steward-led initiative we proudly champion, and we couldn’t be more excited to contribute to its vision of open, accessible, and accountable governance.

We look forward to seeing the impact of Schema Labs’ work and invite you to follow their journey!

In response to the urgent need for sustainable development and the global shift towards a greener economy and a more equitable world, Ecogenia and the American College of Greece, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Greece, are co-organizing the first Sustainability Skills & Career Fair.

The goal is to inspire young minds to explore sustainability career paths and connect them with employers across sectors. The event welcomes both those with clear career goals and those still exploring, offering opportunities to grow with sustainability as their guide. The Fair will feature exhibitors from civil society and the private sector, all focused on sustainable practices. Attendees can participate in job interviews, networking, Career Clinics (e.g., mock interviews, CV audits, career coaching), and an interactive "Sustainability Agora" for open discussions.

Free entrance, with pre-registration | October 19, 2024, 12:00 - 17:00 at The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias str., Ag. Paraskevi

For more information, visit the event website

An inspiring project initiated by the World Human Forum, featuring world-renowned opera singer Joyce DiDonato in her original musical work "Eden", which seeks to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship and the need for collective action to preserve our planet.

Filmed in April at the historic grounds of Ancient Olympia, just days before the Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, this initiative not only celebrates music and culture but also delivers a powerful message about environmental responsibility.

The acclaimed orchestra Il Pomo d'Oro, with musicians from around the world, accompanies DiDonato. The finale of the iconic "Eden in Olympia" includes a performance of the Olympic Anthem in a groundbreaking trilingual rendition (Greek, French, and English) by DiDonato and three children's choirs. The performance symbolizes the spirit of unity and cooperation at the heart of Olympic values.

"Eden in Olympia" is a co-production of the World Human Forum, Megaron Athens Concert Hall, UNITEL, and ZDF, in association with ARTE and ERT. Our Foundation is proud to have contributed to this production through a grant. The project had its world premiere in July and will be available for wider viewing this Sunday, Sept 8, 2024, at 23:30 on ERT2, as well as online on ARTE.TV until Oct 18, 2024.

We’re excited to announce our collaboration with SciCo (Science Communication), an NGO that we’ve long admired for its innovative approach to engaging the public with science.

SciCo’s multifaceted portfolio of activities not only has it reached more than 400,000 people in Greece, but it also extends beyond boarders. With a focus on STEM education and a particular interest in transferring this knowledge to underserved communities, SciCo has created the STEM in Tanzania Program, which we’re proud to be supporting with a grant this year.

The Program aims to empower children in Tanzania by amplifying their learning experience and agency, even inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields which can potentially lead to greater economic opportunities and development in the country. At the same time, it is designed to assist local teachers to deliver long-term, high-quality STEM/STEAM education. To date, the train-the-trainer approach has been applied to more than 50 local community teachers in 6 villages. With the help of curriculum co-created by SciCo and Saving Africa's Nature and the STEM kits donated to each school, these teachers continue to provide STEM education to more than 10,000 students in their schools.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the 34 projects that will be funded in the context of the 7th Cycle of the Points of Support Program, concerning the themes of Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities, Child Health Protection, Environmental Protection, Prevention and Health Promotion of Adults, Combating Poverty and Food Crisis, Social Innovation in Small Coastal Local Communities and Sustainable Cities and Communities!

The 10 collaborating Foundations that support the Program wish much success to the 41 NGOs that will implement these 34 selected projects!

Our Foundation, at the thematic area of Sustainable Cities and Communities, is happy to support:

> Communitism | Project: HeriScope

> Diversity United | Project: Eco-RestoRATE

> Cultural Association of Agrampela "Saint Demetrios" and Another Way - Poretsou Monastery | Project: Restoration and reopening of water groove and traditional stone water mill

To read the full list of the funded NGOs/projects, please check this link.

At 38 Diligianni Theodorou Street, near the Athens Railway Station, a new mural of the Genia 17 project is ready. A collective artwork of the street artist SAME84 and secondary school students from ACS Athens, its concept lies in the SDG4 - Quality Education.

Prior to the mural, the students and the artist came together to talk about the essence of this SDG and brainstorm on the design. What does inclusive and equitable quality education mean to them and how could their thoughts be put on a drawing?

Following their fruitful discussions, the students prepared their own creations which they then shared with the artist. SAME84 combined elements and drew inspiration from them to create the final design, making sure that the resulting artwork captured the project's goal and reflected the input from the students involved.

Genia 17 is an initiative of ELC Productions and this is the second SDG that we’re funding. We truly hope that the mural will speak to people’s hearts, transmitting the message of Quality Education as the cornerstone of human development!

Come and meet Ten Million Hands' brand-new platform, an integrated Information Hub and a Business Network for Responsible Consumption and Production! 🌱

Ten Million Hands just launched its upgraded website incorporating entirely new features. Being fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12), it intends to inform the public and the business world on the importance of Responsible Consumption and Production. Connecting through its two core modules – the Information Hub and the Business Network –, Ten Million Hands is raising awareness, educating and providing tangible solutions to make sustainability an everyday choice.

The Information Hub is indexing all information through its 22 sustainability indicators according to which conscious consumption and production can be put into practice (such as zero food waste, second hand or upcycling) while, at the same time, is providing knowledge through articles, tips and a series of podcasts on simple conscious practices for our livelihoods.

The Business Network for Sustainability, the first of its kind in Greece with a continuously growing list of consumer-centric businesses, is actively addressing environmental and social challenges through the lens of Responsible Consumption and Production. This network includes stores in every Athenian municipality, where the Ten Million Hands Meal and Benefits cards will be redeemable, making sustainability a reality for all of us.

In the framework of the Impact Hub Athens' initiative "Policy Connect: co-creating a roadmap to catalyze the social economy ecosystem", a workshop took place this Tuesday with the invaluable participation of 15 representatives from foundations and impact investing ventures. We worked collectively on the creation of joint proposals around the key subject of how we can promote the sustainable development of the local ecosystem, by enhancing social and environmental innovation.

That workshop was part of a series of Policy Recommendations Focus Groups around Greece that include stakeholders of various fields (research community, governmental/municipal reps, CSOs, foundations, funding institutions, embassies, private companies). The results of all workshops will be compiled and published as policy recommendations, to be then delivered to relevant institutional bodies, partners, and stakeholders in innovation both in Greece and in the EU for review and adoption.

We’d like to thank Impact Hub Athens for inviting us to be co-hosts of the event and a big thanks to the following Foundations: Stavros Niarchos, Onassis, A.C. Laskaridis, The Hellenic Initiative, Qualco, The Hellenic Initiative Canada, Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos, Aikaterini Laskaridis, Hellenic Impact Investing Network, Bodossaki, Investing for Purpose, Costas M.Lemos, TIMA, G. & A. Mamidakis.