Month: April 2023

The results of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global economy, with many countries, especially in Europe, experiencing recessions, increase in food prices, and high unemployment rates. In addition, the disruption of energy supplies due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led many countries to experience high energy costs. Consequently, a survey by Poverty Watch Greece indicated that an estimated 3 million people in Greece are living in dire conditions – roughly one third of the country’s population. What is more, one in four children live in a household at a high risk of facing poverty.

In response, on December 1 st 2022 we launched our first collaborative fundraising campaign with THI Australia called the ‘’End of Year Global Appeal for Greece’’. The campaign run for the entire month of December and the first week of January 2023 and aimed in helping impoverished families in Greece with the ever-increasing cost of living, such as food and heating costs.

For this campaign, we partnered with DESMOS, a trusted partner charity in Greece. DESMOS is focused on helping impoverished families and individuals in Greece by researching and identifying needs. Their two programs DESMOS Gives Food Aid and DESMOS Gives Warmth are solely focused in providing food and help with heating costs to Greeks that struggle to afford them.

The campaign raised 20.000 (10.000$ raised by THI Canada and 10.000$ raised by THI Australia). The 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 results of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global economy, with many countries, especially in Europe, experiencing recessions, increase in food prices, and high unemployment rates. In addition, the disruption of energy supplies due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led many countries to experience high energy costs. Consequently, a survey by Poverty Watch Greece indicated that an estimated 3 million people in Greece are living in dire conditions – roughly one third of the country’s population. What is more, one in four children live in a household at a high risk of facing poverty.

In response, on December 1 st 2022 we launched our first collaborative fundraising campaign with THI Australia called the ‘’End of Year Global Appeal for Greece’’. The campaign run for the entire month of December and the first week of January 2023 and aimed in helping impoverished families in Greece with the ever-increasing cost of living, such as food and heating costs.

For this campaign, we partnered with DESMOS, a trusted partner charity in Greece. DESMOS is focused on helping impoverished families and individuals in Greece by researching and identifying needs. Their two programs DESMOS Gives Food Aid and DESMOS Gives Warmth are solely focused in providing food and help with heating costs to Greeks that struggle to afford them.

The campaign raised 20.000 (10.000$ raised by THI Canada and 10.000$ raised by THI Australia). The 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 Greek Wildfires of 2021 were a series of devastating wildfires that occurred throughout Greece during the summer of 2021. The fires, which began in late July 2021, were the worst to hit Greece in decades and caused widespread damage, including loss of life, destruction of homes, and damage to wildlife habitats.

In total, over 500 separate fires were reported, with the most significant damage occurring in the regions of Attica, Evia, and Corinthia.

The Greek government declared a state of emergency, and firefighters, as well as volunteers, worked tirelessly to contain the blazes. Tragically, the fires claimed the lives of over 100 people, including firefighters, residents, and tourists, and many more were injured. The damage to infrastructure and natural habitats was extensive, with entire villages destroyed and vast areas of forestland burned.

In response, THI Canada launched the Wildfire Relief Fund, which aimed to assist the victims of the wildfire with food and material support. For this emergency campaign, THI Canada collaborated with both Doctors of the World Greece (MdM Greece) and DESMOS Foundation.

The campaign raised nearly $60.000, with $44.400 distributed to Doctors of the World Greece and 15.000 were distributed to DESMOS.

During August 2021, MdM-Greece’s mobile teams conducted 38 missions in the area while reaching 262 affected households and 1.100 individuals, by visiting and providing support to the communities and social structures of Istiaia and Mantoudi and the surrounding affected villages. MdM personnel, upon conducting an extensive needs assessment of the area, visited beneficiaries at home when necessary, offering the ability to consult a doctor for medical advice/examination and arranging telephone sessions of psychosocial support with the team’s social worker and psychologist. The team also performed door to door and groups visits, providing the beneficiaries with necessary medicines and support. In addition, health and psychosocial support was provided with priority to the elderly and people with chronic diseases and disabilities. In addition, a targeted medium-term specialized health assistance was ensured for people suffering from chronic conditions and comorbidities.

Moreover, DESMOS volunteers provided olive oil to 200 residents of Voutas Village for 6 months from January to June 2022, an essential product of daily life.

The impact of the emergency Wildfire Relief Fund would not have been possible without the generous support of THI Canada’s donors.