CIVIL SOCIETY: 292 PRACTICES
"The Smile of the Child" has supported more than 1,200,000 children and their families. Children victims of all forms of Violence, Children victims of Extinction, Children with health problems, Children who are or are threatened with poverty, have found a solution.
"The Smile of the Child" since its foundation has been actively supporting families with children, who for social reasons are vulnerable and unable to meet the basic needs of their children.
"The Smile of the Child" primarily with respect and absolute assurance of the dignity of each family, undertakes to stand by its side by supporting it holistically, thus ensuring its future.
The action is implemented by the Support Centre for Vulnerable Families, Children and Young People operated by the Agency.
The aim is the care and social integration of children and families.
The prevailing socio-economic conditions are steadily increasing the number of vulnerable families with children living in our country.
It is important to understand that vulnerable social groups, vulnerable or high-risk groups are defined as those groups of the population that have limited or no access to social and public goods and find it difficult or impossible at many levels and in various areas to have a quality of life (e.g. shelter, employment, adequate income, education, medical care, social security, etc.).
In fact, according to a survey designed and conducted by "The Smile of the Child" through the Child Welfare Observatory in Greece, which is operated by the Organization in cooperation with Panteion University:
All year round
The Support Centre for Vulnerable Families, Children and Youth operated by "The Smile of the Child" supports holistically vulnerable families with children nationwide, covering the following basic needs:
All the above services are designed and implemented by the specialised scientific team of "The Smile of the Child", employed nationwide at the Centre for the Support of Vulnerable Families, Children and Young People and staffed by Social Workers and Psychologists.
Each family comes by appointment to the nearest of the 15 points that "The Smile of the Child" operates within the framework of the Centre for the Support of Vulnerable Families, Children and Youth. The Social Workers proceed to take a full history and a detailed record of all the needs of the family and children. Necessary certificates are requested and obtained and the process of supporting families begins.
The 15 points are located at:
While working with and supporting the family:
It is important to stress that:
The items are secured by the Agency through constant and seasonal mobilisation:
On the basis of specific needs, lists of all necessary items are published:
Storage & Management of items
Storage and management of items is carried out at the Organisation's Support Centres. All premises meet all safety and hygiene standards for the collection, storage & distribution of goods.
Transport of goods
‘The Smile of the Child’ has vehicles that meet all safety and hygiene standards for the transport of goods (refrigerated trucks, specialized refrigerators for the transport of medicines, etc.)
During the period from 1/1/2024 to 31/12/2024 the Centre for the Support of Vulnerable Children, Youth and Families responded to the request for in-kind support:
Of the total number of families:
Of the 756 new families:
Of the total number of families:
The total number of children served was 15,402 children.
It is important to note that the 2024 Support Centre for Vulnerable Children, Young People and Families:
Nationwide and with physical presence in
The 15 points are located in:
The most important partnerships of the Agency for the design and implementation of support programmes for vulnerable families
In addition, "The Smile of the Child" in 2022 created and operates the Child Welfare Observatory in Greece in cooperation with Panteion University.
"The Smile of the Child", as a member of the European Eurochild Network, participates in a special Taskforce on the Child Guarantee, together with other Eurochild member organisations specialised in advocacy to national governments and focused on promoting the implementation of the Guarantee in their country.
