Νέα & Δωρεές News & Grants - Stavros Niarchos Foundation

The philosophy dictating the Foundation’s recent grantsThe last meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation,in April 2011, occurred at a time when the situation at a global level remains ratherdifficult. The socio-economic crisis, natural disasters, like the powerful earthquakeand the subsequent tsunamis in Japan, humanitarian crises resulting from naturalphenomena or human actions – such as the recent conflict in North Africa – arebut a few of the many challenges of this period. At the same time, the Foundationhas increased its support its activities in Greece, especially in the area of socialwelfare, due to the continuing economic crisis.Times of adversity, however, are also times of challenge,in more ways than one. It is, one could argue, only under suchdemanding circumstances that the goodness of human naturecan truly demonstrate its power against disaster. Thus, weevaluated, once again, numerous proposals from various nonprofit organizations and decided on our new grants – taking intoaccount not only which actions would have an immediate impactto providing relief for our fellow human beings in need, but alsoseeking initiatives that could help cultivate a sense of “continuity”and “normalcy” in our everyday lives.Particular emphasis was placed on the area of Social Welfare,through initiatives for the protection of migrants and asylumseekers in Greece, and programs to improve access to food,water and housing for vulnerable populations, in North andSouth America and Africa. In addition, and as an unfortunateconsequence of the devastating earthquake in Japan, weapproved a grant for the development of readiness to respond tonatural disasters, with emphasis on countries of the NortheasternBalkans, with often-shaky infrastructure. A substantial numberof grants will ultimately benefit children, through the creationof guesthouses or semi-autonomous living centers for childrenwith special needs.In the area of Arts and Culture, we focused our efforts towardssecuring accessibility to cultural commodities for people withspecial needs. As a result, and through a number of grants inEurope and the US, we supported efforts aimed at bringing ourfellow human beings, children or adults, with visual impairmentsor mental heath issues, closer to the Arts. In addition, wesupported traditional cultural activities and programs, with grantsfor the expansion of museums or the organization of exhibitions,as well as innovative programs, which express a more avantgardeaesthetic and perspective.Our grants in the area of Education pertain to a wide rangeof initiatives, addressing the pressing need to take immediateaction to promote inclusive education, both for children withlearning difficulties and students who are not facing suchchallenges. In addition, particular attention was paid tosupporting libraries in Greece, through grants with the long-termaim of modernizing them and “opening them up” to society,so that they may become a destination for all.Times of economic crisis affect vulnerable members of societythe most. Children and young people, especially those alreadystruggling with mental health issues, are one of the social groupsthat are most at risk. With this in mind, the Stavros NiarchosFoundation, in collaboration with distinguished scientists, workedon an integrated program of targeted actions to support the areaof mental health. The actions in question will be implemented inGreece, but similar initiatives will also be carried out in otherEuropean countries and throughout the U.S. Particular attentionwas also paid to supporting research, in order to improvehealthcare conditions for patients with Duchenne MuscularDystrophy and those suffering from Thalassemia and Sickle CellAnemia. In addition, through programs for the prevention ofblindness in Africa, and for the support of palliative care, westrive to contribute to the largest and most diverse number ofinitiatives possible, all over the world, since, presently, we nolonger have the luxury of considering any problem or need eitherlocal or isolated.1011