Association of parents, guardians & friends of Disabled people “To Ergastiri”

The Association of parents’ guardians & friends of Disabled people “To Ergastiri” was established in 1978 in order to fulfill the needs of those who at 18 years of age graduate from various special schools and have no alternatives but stay at home. It is scientifically accepted that mentally retarded people need continuous support and rehabilitation in order to retain learned material. According to special psychiatrists ‘Education for the special person lasts through life time’. Our Center has about 350 permanent members – parents of people with mental disabilities, and many non-permanent and associate members. The society is administered by a nine-member committee council, which consists exclusively of parents whose children are mentally deficient. After much thought, organized effort and appropriate preparation we succeeded, in 1984, in establishing the “ERGASTIRI” a Day Centre which provides sheltered work and training for individuals over 18 years of age. The Centre operates successfully until the present day. It provides services and trains 90 young people with mental disabilities, and employs 49 staff members (technical, administrative, scientific and supportive staff). Continuous education for the staff takes place through international conferences and seminars for new developments in the area of mental retardation. Our special areas of occupational training include weaving rugs at looms, handicraft (such as pottery and seasonal gifts), gardening, making pasta, making confections (cookies, cakes, and pastries) and canteen service. A wider coverage of services include: P.E. programs (gymnastics, swimming, horse riding, cycling) social education, phychological, support for our young people and their families, individual and group counseling and promotion of those few who are capable to work in the free market. A parallel program of support is the creation of the Music and Art Clubs which offer music lessons, electronic keyboard lessons, choir, theatre groups, attending and participating in musical and theatrical performances and dance. In 1995 the Ministry of Agriculture donated to the “Ergastiri” a piece of 20.300 square metres land in the area Lakka of Ano Liosia. The “LILIAN VOUDOURI FOUNDATION” offered a generous donation for the construction of the Rehabilitation and “sheltered Work” Day Centre for 90 handicapped people not accepted in the free market. The Municipality of Ano Liosia also made a very important contribution to that project. We relocated the Day-Centre to our new facilities in Ano Liosia in January 2003. Parents have realized that their children will never be able to live an independent life. They are unable to protect or provide for themselves when their parents no longer exist. Some of our mentally retarded people come from single – parent families, some live with their over –aged parents and some have already lost both parents. Consequently the Society’s most immediate priority was to make use of the donated land and built houses near the “Ergastiri” Centre, so our trainees could go to the “sheltered work” Centre during the day and live in the “nearby houses”. These houses would provide sheltered accommodation. The project of building houses hosting 9 residents plus a permanent specialized tutor each, would offer the possibility to these individuals to continue living under human and decent conditions after their parents death. The first “Supported Way of Living” House was built with the help of the International Association of the Lions Club, the 117A District of Greece. The National Bank of Greece have also contributed to the building of the first house which has been functioning since 2006. The second and third ‘Supported Way of Living” Houses were built with European Union funding through regional (Ano Liosia Municipality) programs. They have been functioning since 2012. The fourth house was built with the help of the Association “LOVE & CARE” the “LILIAN VOUDOURI” Foundation also contributed to the building of the 4th House. We hope that with continuous effort and hard work and help from sensitive Societies or Organizations we shall succeed in accommodating as many of our mentally retarded people as possible offering them a supported and decent way of life. Website: https://www.ergastiri.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/official.ergastiri/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official.ergastiri/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGNykkYIcE8gg2GVw_9FNlg