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Supporting causes and acting for social change
It’s nice to spread smiles around you! It is a pleasure to constantly show practical solidarity, organizing or supporting various actions of selfless offering throughout the country! We sure can bring this insight to the table, since our life philosophy is to see every difficulty, every problem… with a fresh pair of eyes!
Meallamatia.gr is in its third year of operation and it is still considered by the reading public as the only, fully accessible, social news portal in Greece! The “Me Alla Matia” blog transformed into a website, aspiring to form a completely accessible space that ensures reliable contact with current affairs and the public dialogue for every social group. Given that the daily fight against exclusion must concern every aspect of reality, meallamatia.gr was established as a multi-roled site, oriented towards the promotion of social change initiatives. That is, after all, the reason why it expanded to the creation of Me Alla Matia NPO, which now implements this vast variety of programs and services of social character.
“Me Alla Matia” had taken an active role in promoting social action right from the start. Our basic principle is that, against the social difficulties leading to individualism and frustration, the most effective response is solidarity and collective action for social change. Thus, we have participated and will keep participating as organizers, co-organizers, and media sponsors in initiatives that encourage social awareness against exclusion!
The uniqueness of “Dinner in the Dark”
One of the most radical initiatives of Me Alla Matia, Dinner in the Dark has impressed 15 times with the massive attendance of the project nationwide, and it is now our most successful action! People’s heartwarming response so far has raised funds for:
- the needs of financially weak families in Heraklion and Rethymnon,
- the claiming of vital place for our mentally ill fellow citizens all over the Peloponnese,
- the kiss of life in SOS Children’s Villages units,
- the infrastructure needs of the School for the Blind of Thessaloniki
Proceeds have also been donated to support life activities for children, initiated by the Pancretan Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Cancer “Iliahtida“, which operates at the University General Hospital of Heraklion. The entire cost of the necessary electrical work for the rehabilitation center of the “Right to Life” Association has been covered by our funds so that it operates today in Thrapsano, Crete. Furthermore, financial aid has been provided to the supported independent living structures for the disabled of the Association of Naval Parents “Argo”.
Our support to disability-related actions continued with our donation to SKEP – Association of Social Responsibility for Children and Youth, with which we share the vision for an inclusive society, to ELEPAP Ioannina for the right of an equal life for all children, and to Career Sign that offers professional development in socially vulnerable groups. Financial support through these dinners was also provided to the Social Grocery of Vrilissia.
However, apart from the funds raised by the Dinner in the Dark for social causes —over 11.000€ to date—, the rise of social awareness seems equally encouraging, as shown by the growing number of volunteers who come to contribute to the organization of this initiative!
Social Actions
🔸 In collaboration with the “Neo Frontistirio” coaching school, for the third consecutive year, we collected bottle caps which were then exchanged for wheelchairs and special technical aids for students of the Special High School and Lyceum of Pella and the Association of Paraplegics of Pella. As part of the same collaboration, children from three-child families, members of the Panhellenic Association of the Blind, and members of the “Tyrtaeus” Athletic Prefectural Union for People with Disabilities who have children/siblings attending the High Schools and Lyceums of Attica obtained a 20% discount at the “Neo Frontistirio”!
🔸 We continued the partnership with the Metropolis of Ilion, Acharnes, and Petroupoli for Christmas 2019, to collect food and personal hygiene items for underprivileged citizens.
🔸 The offering of free preventive examinations for memory disorders and mental functions in visually impaired people was ensured, in collaboration with the Medical School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – 1st Neurological Clinic AHEPA (Professor Ms. M. Tsolaki), and Alzheimer Hellas.
🔸 Meallamatia.gr has been participating for 6 years in the award-winning Traffic Education events for children, organized by the Children’s Radio Family 89.5FM in Heraklion, Crete.
🔸 At Easter of 2019, teaming up with ilion-news.gr, we collected food and personal hygiene items for the financially weak fellow citizens that are supported by the meals of the Holy Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Palatiani.
🔸 In support of the Smile of the Child, “Me Alla Matia” collaborated with Buenos Dias snack bar in Ilion and invited people to contribute to its cause. Part of the gathered proceeds was donated to the organization for the protection of children.
🔸 In the midst of the new COVID19 pandemic, we responded to the request of the Association of Greek Sign Language Interpreters and donated certified, specially designed masks that allow visibility in the oral area so that all interpreters nationwide could freely continue their job.
🔸 In March 2019, collaborating with the municipal faction “Solidary City-Alliance for Ilion” and the Aris Ilion Sports Club, we hosted the 1st Anti-Racist Basketball Tournament to score against racism!
Art & Entertainment
🔸 At the end of 2018, we organized a Christmas music night at Margaritas Lounge café in Ilion, donating the proceeds to the Association for Children with Cancer “Floga”. The same site has been used in the past for other activities of Me Alla Matia: we recall the festive Live Music event and the Social Cocktail Party, whose proceeds were donated to the “Career Sign” NPO for the support of the disabled in their professional rehabilitation, as well as the Cretan music event, held to support the Social Grocery of the Municipality of Ilion. This successful event was then repeated for the support of the city´s common meals.
🔸 Meallamatia.gr has been co-hosting the Music Dream Festival for three years, which aims to foster social contribution through art and entertainment. The proceeds are used to meet the needs of structures related to children, as we have already done for the Children’s Villages SOS, Floga, etc.
🔸 We were media sponsors of the European Erasmus+ program “Music Key”, an intercultural project where young visually impaired people from 6 European countries were hosted at the KEAT facilities (Center for Education & Rehabilitation for the Blind) in Athens and took part in musical activities, leading to a concert at end of the program.
🔸 We ensured free admission and special discounts at the Color Day Festival 2019 to financially weak citizens.
Awareness Campaigns
Another big chapter of our initiatives lies in the campaigns that aim to educate and familiarize people of all ages with disability and accessibility. As part of this endeavor, we have participated in several actions for the dissemination of guide dogs for the visually impaired. Me Alla Matia and its instigator, Vaggelis Avgoulas, have traveled beyond Athens reaching dozens of provincial areas, villages, and islands to spread awareness for disability matters.
One thing is certain: we will continue! So, join us on this journey of social action and solidarity!
Indicative photos of our actions:
