Pater Antonios of Ark of the world
The die is cast: Father Antonios from Greece is the winner of our HERO 2014 initiative and his project “Ark of the world” is the theme of this year's TOOLS FOR LIFE “Donations instead of gifts” Christmas campaign. Father Antonios was nominated by the ROTHENBERGER team in Greece, which has been a supporter of the Orthodox priest for many years.
Our HERO 2014 is the founder and director of the aid project “Ark of the world (Kivotos tou Kosmou)”, which he launched in 1998 as a young priest at the age of just 26. At the time, he had just taken over his first parish in one of the poorest and most run-down districts of Athens. A social hotspot where a high proportion of refugees from all over the world live. Father Antonios founded his “Ark of the world” there to provide everyday support for the children in this neighborhood in particular and to give them a better chance of a good future. With success: today, more than 400 underprivileged and abused children benefit from “Ark of the world”. More than 3,000 volunteers provide them with food/nutrition, soup kitchens, school lessons, tutoring and medical care. In addition, “Ark of the world” provides many other forms of assistance to people in need in Athens.
Ark of the world" also provides many other forms of assistance to people in need in Athens:
+ 150 families are provided with food and groceries every day.
+ 3,000 people receive free medical care and medication.
+ Several houses provide a safe home for homeless mothers and their children.
+ There is a home for girls, boys and abused women.
+ Free legal assistance for abused women and mothers.
+ 100 children are cared for in the “Ark of the world” kindergarten.
+ Social assistance for all those in need.
+ Adult education and job training.
+ Special program for street children.
+ Monthly maintenance payments for 400 children of single parents.
+ Two new branches of Ark of the World: In 2013, the Epirus building was opened in the village of Pogoniani Village (67 km from Ioannina) near the Greek-Albanian border. The Chios building followed in 2014.