Special was the collaboration of the Public Benefit Foundation “Eugenia Anastasiadou Smyrnaios” with the Greek Olympic Gold Medalist Ioannis Melissanidis, for the initiative “The Power of the Dream”. On the occasion of this year’s Olympic Games and the completion of 28 years since winning his gold medal in Atlanta, the great athlete and the teams of the two organizations (Eugenia Anastasiadou Smyrnaios Foundation & Anastassiadis Group) visited schools located in inaccessible areas regions of Greece (Soufli, Didymoteicho, Kos, Skoulikaria, Molaoi, etc.) and discussed the great “Power of the Dream” that can become a driving force in achieving any goal despite the seemingly adverse conditions. At the same time, the “Eugenia Anastasiadou Smyrnaios” Public Benefit Foundation offered cash prizes of excellence to the first performing student and donations were made to sports and technological equipment.
The visits carried out were the following:
- 1st stop: Ancient Olympia
The presentation of this initiative could not start from anywhere else, but from the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
- 2nd stop: Thessaloniki
The elementary school, where the Olympic Gold Medalist himself once studied, was the 2nd stop and the occasion for us all to remember our school years, the important first steps that largely determine our later life.
- 3rd station: Didymoteicho
A long journey for the team, which was rewarded with the joy and anticipation of the students of the 2nd Primary School of Didymoteicho when they arrived there.
- 4th station: Evros
The visit to the border Primary School of Tychero, near the border with Turkey, underlined the importance of education in areas with particular geopolitical challenges, where students warmly embraced the message of the “Power of Dream”.
- 5th station: Infant Center “MITERA”
The Child Protection Center of Attica reminds us every time of the value of protecting the institution of the family in any form and the imperative to offer to children who lack family care.
- 6th station Kos
On the eastern edge of Greece, on the sea border with Turkey, the next visit was the 2nd high school of Kos where the students showed exceptional zeal and enthusiasm for achieving their goals, reminding us that the dream knows no borders and limitations.
- 7th station: Infant Center “MITERA”
Faithful to our promise to distribute Easter eggs and gifts to the children of the Foundation, we returned with a pleasant celebration where the children played and enjoyed themselves in a festive atmosphere creating a warm and family atmosphere
- 8th station: Skoulikaria Arta
In a primary school in the dense mountains of Epirus, we visited the smallest of all schools, with students, teachers and residents of the village present at the farewell of the 2023-2024 school year.
- 9th stop: Molaoi, Laconia
The last visit for the first cycle of this initiative was the birthplace of the late mother of the founder of the Public Benefit Foundation, “Eugenia Anastasiadou-Smyrnaios”, whose memory was the cause and reason for the establishment of the homonymous Foundation. In the indoor gym of Molai High School, the objectives of the Dream Power initiative were presented, with a warm welcome from the Municipality and a large participation of Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle and High School students as well as local residents.
The will and willingness of students to evolve, despite adversity, was directly linked to our own values and aspirations, reminding us of the importance of the existence and strengthening of these schools. We leave with the satisfaction that we have left a positive imprint and with the hope that the message of “The Power of Dream” will continue to inspire the students and communities we visited.
As Dr. Ioannis Anastasiades mentioned, “Undoubtedly if something makes us stronger, it is the passing of the baton to the new generation. To a generation that, with its power and works, gives us hope that this world can change for the better.”