The Hellenic Initiative’s Nick Mitaros, traveled to Greece in early 2017. Together with his wife and children, he spent time in the farmer’s market of Halandri, an upper middle-class Athens suburb, collecting the excess food supplies for the needy.
He describes his experience as rewarding.
"The response from the stallholders was amazing," says Mitaros. "What they gave and when they heard that we were Greek-Australians and that our children were third generation Australians and that they were still prepared to give something back to Greece, the reaction was quite amazing."
"A woman (a shopper) overhearing we are from Australia, volunteering, bought two dozen eggs out of her own money and donated them to Boroume.”
Volunteers distibuted goods to those in need for the Hellenic Initiative Source: The Hellenic Initiative
Greece has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe and the highest among the young.
Boroume is one of the organisations providing crisis relief and it is supported by The Hellenic Initiative (THI).
THI was founded in the United States in 2012, as the Greek diaspora’s response to the financial-crisis-befallen Greece. Thanks to the Greek lobby in the US, THI attracted the active support of some of the most influential people of the business world.
It is headed by Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical, while former US president Bill Clinton became its patron.
In 2015, the Australian chapter of THI was established, harnessing the vitality and resources of the dynamic Greek-Australian community.
Listen to the full interview (in English) with SBS Greek, below:![http://audiomedia-sbs.akamaized.net/greek_170302_640568.mp3 image]()
Mr Mitaros, a founding member and director of THI Australia, is proud of the initiative’s track record through the work of organisations such as Boroume, Desmos and Regeneration.
Source: The Hellenic Initiative
LISTEN TO
http://audiomedia-sbs.akamaized.net/greek_170302_640568.mp3
07:38
"We undertook a number of activities associated with The Hellenic Initiative where we went and visited the crisis relief organisations that are doing some wonderful work on the ground in Athens, with the people who are in need at this time," he says.
“Their spirit is so strong and it’s so resilient that you feel very proud of your Hellenic roots."
Greece has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe and the highest among the young.
The Greek people suffered tax hikes and savage wage cuts as well as a merciless media coverage which sometimes appeared to brand them as corrupt and lazy.
However, Nick Mitaros observed in his last trip that the Greek people’s spirit remains unbroken. “Their spirit is so strong and it’s so resilient that you feel very proud of your Hellenic roots," he says.
Mr Mitaros is encouraging anyone who is visiting Greece to invest some time to volunteer through THI organisations and programs and support the people who have been withstanding the impact of the worst financial crisis Greece has experienced since World War II.
Since 2012, THI has distributed over US$3.5 million in direct crisis relief and over US$6 million has been committed for programs supporting economic development in Greece.
THI's Australia flagship internship program is at its second successful year. Young Greek graduates and professionals under 30 years of age undergo a rigorous selection program before they are offered a 6 month internship in an Australian company.
