This is one of the cases of social groups living in Greece without the support of a strong lobby: seniors, poor, children with special needs. They suffer from the strict austerity and ‘die hard’ kicked out to the streets as foundations suffer from lack of funding and financial support from the state.
“As of today, Sikiaridio Foundation suspends its operation due to lack of state funding and depletion of donations”wrote newsportal Zougla.gr that has made a thorough report on the issue.
According to documents obtained by Zougla, the management of Foundation informed the Ministries of Finance, Education and Health about the dire financial needs of the foundation. Already on July 6/2012, it pointed out the danger of suspension of its operation. Then the state funding was decreased to dramatic levels between 2008 and 2012.
While the Foundation received 810,000 euro for 2010 and 690,000 euro in 2011, it received halrdy 150,000 euro for the first six months of 2012. The number of personnel was decreased almost to half.
“The Foundation managed to operate during the last years because it used all the donations it had received,” the management wrote to the ministries.
No Ministry, general secreataiat or anyone else responsible did bother to give them even an answer. At the same time, the donors allegedly look in an opposite direction too….
Sikiaridio Foundation in Marousi/Athens, one of the largest institutions in the country, that hosts children and youth with special needs from neighboring municipalities is closing down. With the state whistling indifferently, donors with crabs in their pockets and no alternative plan for these children.
The parents of these children and the Foundation personnel plan a protest rally on Thursday morning at 11 am in Athens.
A similar case, the Hospice of Athens, was recently prevented from closing down and have 250 impoverished seniors to the streets, after the intervension of Priem Minister Antonis Samaras.
The Hospice, the Sikiaridio, all centres and units of foundations with similar operations and services for people with special needs are private legal entities which are supervised and funded by the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity.
PS I assume, the Social Solidarity has nothing to do with the emergency “solidarity tax” imposed on every tax payer living in Greece. The latter solidarity is for solidarity with banks, not with the needy…
