Category: News

The Hellenic Initiative Australia and The Hellenic Initiative Canada are pleased to announce a new grant to Desmos Non-Profit Foundation totalling $20,000.

This grant to Desmos Non-Profit Foundation (Desmos) is the result of the joint End of Year Global Appeal by THI Australia and THI Canada in response to the growing level of food insecurity faced by many families in Greece. 

“We were delighted to partner with THI Australia for the End of Year Global Appeal for Greece. THI Australia is a trusted and well-respected partner who shares our mission and passion to support the wellbeing of people in need in Greece.  We thank our Australian friends for working with THI Canada to jointly support the good work of DESMOS and we look forward to future collaborations”, said Tula Alexopoulos, Director and Grants Committee Chair, THI Canada.

This grant will ensure that more than 400 families, approximately 1,340 individuals, who are registered with the social grocery of Salamina in Attica and the social grocery of Thermo in Aitoloakarnia will receive care packages containing condensed milk, rice, lentils, beans, chick peas, pasta products, tomato juice, tuna fish and meatballs for two months.

The social groceries are run by individual municipalities and beneficiaries must demonstrate that their annual income is below €5,251 in order to receive food relief.

“THI Australia is heartened to see like-minded members of the Greek diaspora in Australia and Canada come together to support the first jointly held End of Year Appeal for Greece. Every gift, small and large, will make a difference to the beneficiaries of the Desmos Food-Aid program we have chosen to support”, said THI Australia’s President, Nick G Pappas, AM.

Desmos, a non-profit foundation founded in 2012, has partnered with both THI Australia and THI Canada on numerous projects and was one of THI Australia’s first grant recipients in 2015. THI Canada most recently collaborated with Desmos to provide relief to families affected by the wildfires in Greece in 2021.

“We were honoured to have been selected as the beneficiary organisation of the first joint appeal held by THI Australia & THI Canada. Your trust gives Desmos motivation to continue to inspire giving every day to change the lives of those in need”, said Alexia Katsaounis, President, Desmos.

The Hellenic Initiative Canada Partners with 9 Other Foundations on the Points of Support Program:  Small Grants, Big Ideas

Toronto – The Hellenic Initiative Canada joins nine reputable and well-established foundations in Greece to launch the 6th cycle of the Points of Support Program. Since the launch of the Program in 2015, 119 small grants were provided to start-up, non-profit organizations in Greece delivering initiatives benefiting over 40,000 people across Greece.

The Program provides small grants for big ideas, supporting organizations with innovative small-scale initiatives that have significant social impact for the benefit of society, the environment, and vulnerable groups. To ensure the continued success and sustainability of participating organizations that receive grants of 5,000 euros each, the Program provides training, access to professionals, mentoring, networking opportunities and other capacity-building tools to ensure long-term growth.

The 10 foundations that are collaborating in the 6th cycle of the Points of Support Program are: The Hellenic Initiative Canada, Ioannis S. Latsis Charitable Foundation, TIMA Charitable Foundation, Bodossaki Foundation, Captain Vassilis & Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation, A. G. Leventis Foundation, Athanasios K. Laskaridis Foundation, Costas M. Lemos Foundation, KIKPE Social and Cultural Foundation, and the Athena I. Martinou Foundation. The Bodossaki Foundation acts as the Program coordinator and the provider of capacity-building, through its Social Dynamo Program.

The new cycle of the Points of Support Program will support 39 organizations operating in areas that deliver: food aid; support and social integration for people with disabilities; support for seniors; healthcare for children and other vulnerable groups; and initiatives in environmental protection. The Hellenic Initiative Canada will support three organizations to deliver initiatives to combat poverty by providing food aid to those in need in Greece.

Tula Alexopoulos, Chair of THI Canada’s Grants Committee, expressed support for the Points of Support Program, noting that “The Hellenic Initiative Canada is proud to partner with 9 foundations in Greece to empower non-profit organizations to benefit Greek society”.

More information about the 6th cycle of the Points of Support Program can be found here.

Δέκα κοινωφελή ιδρύματα της Ελλάδας ενώνουν τις δυνάμεις τους για την υποστήριξη της Κοινωνίας των Πολιτών και ανακοινώνουν δημόσια πρόσκληση για συμμετοχή στον 6ο χρηματοδοτικό κύκλο του προγράμματος «Σημεία Στήριξης».

Τα «Σημεία Στήριξης» απευθύνονται σε μικρές οργανώσεις της Κοινωνίας των Πολιτών στην Ελλάδα, τις οποίες υποστηρίζουν στην υλοποίηση πρωτότυπων δράσεων μικρής κλίμακας και μέγιστου κοινωνικού αντίκτυπου, στην ενδυνάμωση των δομών τους καθώς και στην ανάπτυξη ικανοτήτων που θα συμβάλουν στη βιωσιμότητά τους.

Για τον νέο κύκλο του προγράμματος, το οποίο ξεκίνησε το 2015 και έχει χρηματοδοτήσει 119 δράσεις, με περισσότερους από 40.000 ωφελούμενους, συμπράττουν το Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Ιωάννη Σ. Λάτση, το ΤΙΜΑ Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα, το Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη, το Ίδρυμα Καπετάν Βασίλη & Κάρμεν Κωνσταντακόπουλου, το Ίδρυμα Α. Γ. Λεβέντη, το Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Αθανάσιος Κ. Λασκαρίδης, το Costas M. Lemos Foundation, το Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Κοινωνικού και Πολιτιστικού έργου ΚΙΚΠΕ, το Hellenic Initiative Canada και το Ίδρυμα Αθηνάς Ι. Μαρτίνου.

Τα «Σημεία Στήριξης» απευθύνονται σε μικρές οργανώσεις της Κοινωνίας των Πολιτών στην Ελλάδα, τις οποίες υποστηρίζουν στην υλοποίηση πρωτότυπων δράσεων μικρής κλίμακας και μέγιστου κοινωνικού αντίκτυπου, στην ενδυνάμωση των δομών τους καθώς και στην ανάπτυξη ικανοτήτων που θα συμβάλουν στη βιωσιμότητά τους.

Για τον νέο κύκλο του προγράμματος, το οποίο ξεκίνησε το 2015 και έχει χρηματοδοτήσει 119 δράσεις, με περισσότερους από 40.000 ωφελούμενους, συμπράττουν το Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Ιωάννη Σ. Λάτση, το ΤΙΜΑ Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα, το Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη, το Ίδρυμα Καπετάν Βασίλη & Κάρμεν Κωνσταντακόπουλου, το Ίδρυμα Α. Γ. Λεβέντη, το Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Αθανάσιος Κ. Λασκαρίδης, το Costas M. Lemos Foundation, το Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Κοινωνικού και Πολιτιστικού έργου ΚΙΚΠΕ, το Hellenic Initiative Canada και το Ίδρυμα Αθηνάς Ι. Μαρτίνου.

THI Canada’s collaboration with the Cerebral Palsy Greece Open Door in the implementation of the ‘’Safe Nourishment’’ program continues for another year. The $30.000 program is aimed at 75 children with cerebral palsy, who study at Porta Aonichti and aims to provide them with proper nutrition, according to the personal needs of each child.

Cerebral Palsy Greece was founded in 1972 in response to a pressing need for the care of people suffering from cerebral palsy in Greece. CPG never isolates itself, nor the people in its care. On the contrary, it has sought to raise the barriers and build the bridges that will ensure that disabled people are incorporated into the normal society of their fellow men and women.

THI Canada has successfully collaborated with CPG since 2020.

The Hellenic Initiative Canada and The Hellenic Initiative Australia have launched the End of Year Global Appeal for Greece to help provide a little joy and hope to Greek families in need this Christmas.

“THI Australia is delighted to be joining forces with THI Canada to unite the Greek diaspora to support families experiencing hardship in Greece,’’ said Stergitsa Zamagias-Hill, THI Australia’s Chief Executive Officer.

Similarly, THI Canada expressed its excitement to be partnering with THI Australia for the first time stating “The End of Year Global Appeal for Greece seeks to bring some warmth and happiness to the many Greek families struggling this holiday season. We are working together for the common good of these families and what better period to collaborate than the holiday season, which is the season of the giving.”

TORONTO – The inaugural Toronto Economic Forum took place October 17-18 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel and hosted political, diplomatic, and business leaders from Canada and Greece. At the heart of presentations and discussions were common themes such as how synergies between the two countries can be promoted, the role of the Diaspora in the growth of Greek businesses, and how Canada and Greece can work closer together on a political level.

The forum opened with remarks from former Ambassador to Greece Robert Peck, who introduced Symeon Tsomokos, President of the Delphi Economic Forum, followed by John Sotos, co-President of The Hellenic Initiative Canada. Ambassador of Greece to Canada Konstantina Athanassiadou welcomed everyone and opened the main discussions. Alternate Minister of Development and Investments Nikos Papathanasis spoke on Greece’s economic performance over the past few years and its promising trajectory for the future.

Τώρα είναι η στιγμή με την μεγαλύτερη δυναμική για την ανάπτυξη των διμερών σχέσεων Ελλάδας-Καναδά, όπως τονίστηκε στην τοποθέτηση του Καναδού Υπουργού Καινοτομίας, Επιστήμης και Βιομηχανίας, François-Philippe Champagne, στο πλαίσιο του οικονομικού Φόρουμ του Τορόντο που πραγματοποιείται 17 και 18 Οκτωβρίου από το Οικονομικό Φόρουμ των Δελφών, παρουσία ηγετών από τους χώρους της πολιτικής, της διπλωματίας και της οικονομίας από την Ελλάδα και τον Καναδά και κυβερνητικών στελεχών των δύο χωρών.

“Με την κατάσταση που επικρατεί στην Ευρώπη, είναι η ώρα να κοιτάξουμε τις χώρες που παρέχουν αξιοπιστία, σταθερότητα και με τις οποίες μοιραζόμαστε τις ίδιες αξίες και πιστεύω ότι με αυτήν την έννοια, ο Καναδάς και η Ελλάδα μπορούν να κάνουν πολλά σε συνεργασία”, σημείωσε ο κ.Champagne. Ο Καναδός υπουργός αναφέρθηκε στην εμπορική συμφωνία ΕΕ-Καναδά (CETA) και τόνισε ότι η Ελλάδα και ο Καναδάς μπορούν να αναπτύξουν ακόμη πιο στενούς δεσμούς και νέες συνεργασίες αλλά και συμφωνίες που αφορούν στους τομείς της επιστήμης και της τεχνολογίας.

Η Ελλάδα θα προχωρήσει στην κύρωση της εμπορικής συμφωνίας Ε.Ε. – Καναδά (CETA) μόλις επιλυθούν κάποια εκκρεμή ζητήματα, όπως ανέφερε ο αναπληρωτής υπουργός Ανάπτυξης και Επενδύσεων Νίκος Παπαθανάσης στο πλαίσιο του Οικονομικού Φόρουμ του Τορόντο, που ολοκληρώνεται σήμερα, 18 Οκτωβρίου, και πραγματοποιείται από το Οικονομικό Φόρουμ των Δελφών.

Ο κ. Παπαθανάσης, όπως αναφέρει σχετική ανακοίνωση, επεσήμανε ότι είναι πολύ σημαντικό να διερευνήσουμε νέες δυνατότητες για την ανάπτυξη διμερών συνεργασιών ενώ υπογράμμισε τη σημασία και τον ρόλο της ελληνικής κοινότητας του Καναδά.

At the height of the Greek debt crisis, Canada became the top foreign investor in Greece, as Canadian companies were among the first to spot the opportunity and bet on a strong Greek recovery. Today, as we mark the 80th anniversary of Greece-Canada relations, Canada has solidified its position as a top investor in the country. Closer economic ties are drawing a new, exciting chapter in the long history of bilateral relations, and will be the theme of the first-ever Greek Investment Forum in Toronto, Canada’s financial center, on October 17-18.

The forum itself is a product of the thriving people-to-people ties that are rooted deep in our two nations’ histories. Greeks have been a part of Canadian history since as early as 1592, when Ioannis Phokas, a Greek navigator who sailed for Spain under a Spanish name, Juan de Fuca, explored the namesake strait off Vancouver Island. Waves of Greek immigrants have contributed to the Canadian economy since the 19th century, from building railroads to the BlackBerry. Their vibrant communities and talented members have been making a distinct contribution to Canadian culture ever since.