In recent years, we established the Center for Professional and Family Support in Kalamata, funded by the Kapetan Vassilis & Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation, to support families in the wider Messinia region.
The Center ensures that parents have “useful” time to dedicate to finding employment, while simultaneously providing children with a safe and supportive environment to meet the demands of their daily school programme and develop their psychosocial skills. Specifically, the programme aims to:
- Improve the formal qualifications of adult parents
- Help parents acquire or enhance professional skills
- Facilitate employment and professional integration
- Support children’s school progress and strengthen their developmental potential
- Provide psychosocial support for adult and child family members
Services
The following services are provided free of charge at the Center:
For Parents
a. Employment Counseling
Systematic guidance from a professional program partner, including career orientation, aimed at facilitating employment.
The Employment Counselor motivates and guides parents, teaches effective job-market strategies and entrepreneurship techniques, provides information on educational and professional networks, and supports their integration into the workforce.
b. Professional / Educational Skills Development
Participants can improve their qualifications through:
- Short-term vocational training programmes (OAED, IEK)
- Secondary education (second-chance schools)
- Computer courses
- English language lessons
- Professional development workshops
The programme also provides opportunities for practical work experience in collaboration with local businesses.
c. Parent Groups
Parent Groups are held regularly, offering guidance on parenting responsibilities, best practices, and educational approaches tailored to family needs.
For Children
The programme provides children with a safe and pedagogically appropriate environment to receive the learning support they need for their daily school programme while also developing psychosocial skills through extracurricular activities. Specifically, the programme offers:
a. Learning Support Academic support
Preparation for the following day’s lessons based on each child’s individual needs, as well as training in computer and English language skills.
b. Creative Activities
Activities adapted to each age group’s abilities and needs (e.g., drawing, clay, crafts, theatre games, music and movement).
Children also have access to a daily hot meal or snack.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Child and Family Support Center in Kalamata, parents and children receive special psychosocial services (e.g., psychological support, special education, speech therapy) whenever deemed necessary.
