Katerina Emmanouil on the Children’s Rights Secretariat tour in Thessaloniki
A tour of the Children’s Rights Secretariat of New Democracy took place on the occasion of the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair, led by the Head of the Secretariat, Ms. Maria Karagianni. Accompanying her were Mr. Nikos Papadopoulos (Coordinator of Central Macedonia), Mr. Ioannis Kouroumichakis (Coordinator of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace), Mr. Thodoris Seretis (Coordinator for Epirus), and Ms. Katerina Emmanouil, Coordinator for the Dodecanese.
First Stop: SOS Children’s Villages Learning & Pedagogical Support Center – Thessaloniki
The team first visited the SOS Children’s Villages Learning and Pedagogical Support Center, which supports over 250 children from across Thessaloniki. During their meeting with the Northern Greece Administration of the SOS Children’s Villages, they discussed:
- Proposals to strengthen foster care frameworks in Greece.
- The operation of the Children’s Village in Plagiari, which spans 30 acres and serves as a safe first home for children placed there via prosecutorial order, until they are placed into foster care or adopted through anynet.gr.
This is a place where care, safety, and love coexist — offering children a stable reference point at a critical phase in their lives.
Second Stop: Faros tou Kosmou – Dendropotamos
The tour continued to Faros tou Kosmou (“Lighthouse of the World”) in Dendropotamos — a literal and metaphorical beacon that has been illuminating the lives of children and teenagers since 2003.
Father Athinagoras shared the inspiration behind its creation and spoke about the journey of the “Faros family” and the successes of children raised in that nurturing environment.
A deeply emotional moment came during a presentation by Thodoris, a child of the Faros, who stood as a living example of how faith, support, and care can help any child flourish and carve out their own future.
Final Stop: The Hellenic Children’s Village – Filiro
The final visit took place in Filiro, just a few kilometers from Thessaloniki, where the group visited the Hellenic Children’s Village — a vibrant, hopeful community that has blossomed on rocky terrain.
The team had the opportunity to speak with the scientific team and the Board of Directors of the organization about their multidimensional work for the children they host.
With deep sensitivity and commitment to their vision, the Village actively supports the efforts of official services to restore parental care for children in protection settings — whether that means safely returning them to their families or finding them new homes through foster care or adoption.
Every child is unique. Every child deserves to grow up with care, dignity, and the freedom to dream without limits.
When the State and Society come together around this vision, hope becomes action — and the future is built with love, beginning with the child.
Katerina Emmanouil
Coordinator for the Dodecanese
Children’s Rights Secretariat – New Democracy
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