Margarita Vocational Training Centre

Margarita Vocational Training Centre, is a Specialized Centre providing vocational training and employment to people with intellectual disabilities, living in the Region of Attica, Greece. It was founded in 1979 by Ioanna Tsokopoulou, (mother of Leonidas - a child with Down syndrome). It is accredited as a Specialized Charitable Non-profit Organization. Margarita hosts nearly 100 students, who all have the chance to participate in entertaining, cultural and educational activities. Attendance is free, as is the support provided to the students including their families. PROVIDED SERVICES Specialized Education and Vocational Training Services are provided to young people with intellectual disabilities, aged from 14 to 25 years, starting with a pre-training program and continuing the education in different professional fields, in order to help them gather general vocational and social skills. The attendance lasts up to five years. EMPLOYMENT Protected productive workshops, designed as social enterprises, where our students can work in producing gifts, ornaments, dragée purses, silkscreen, catering and in gardening. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES We provide our students occupational orientation and support, aiming at their integration in the labour market. Until now 37 of our graduates have found a job, whereas fifteen (15) of them receive support on a regular basis. PARALLEL - SUPPORT SERVICES We provide our students and their families support by specialized personnel (psychiatrist, psychologist, social workers). SUPPORTED LIVING In 2013 “Margarita” started a pilot program for supported living, at an apartment in the Pagrati area, of Athens. OUR GOAL Our goal is to provide young people with intellectual disabilities, the opportunity and the skills for personal development and progress, realization of their rights, autonomous living, as well as social and professional integration. OUR VISION Our vision is equality and total integration of people with intellectual disabilities in the society, in order for them to live the fullest possible life. RESOURCES Our resources are derived from the Region (which is the surveying authority), the Ministry of Labour, EU programs, social welfare funds, donations and sponsoring. DESCRIPTION OF TRANSPARENCY AND SUBSIDY PROCEDURES C class books are kept. The yearly budget and account are submitted for approval to the Municipality of Penteli and the responsible regional authority, while copies of both are submitted to the General Accounting Office. Furthermore, we submit an overview of our work and our expenses to the Attica Region biannually.