The charitable Society of parents, guardians and friends of people with mental disabilities was established in 1978 in order to meet the needs of those who at the age of 18 graduated from various special schools and had no alternatives but stay at home, as in our country no adequate structure existed for them to be able to continue their training, aiming at their inclusion and rehabilitation.

Our Society has about 350 permanent members – parents of people with learning disabilities – and many non-permanent and associate members. It is administered by a nine-member Council consisting exclusively of parents whose children are mentally deficient.

After much thought, organized effort and appropriate preparation we succeeded, in 1984, in establishing the "ERGASTIRI" - a sheltered workshop for Occupation and Rehabilitation for persons aged more than 18. The Center operates successfully until the present day.

Now installed in newly constructed buildings of a total area of 2500 square metres our center trains and rehabilitates 100 young people and employs 31 permanent members of staff (technical, administrative, scientific and supportive staff). Continuous training of our staff takes place through international conferences and seminars focusing on new developments in the field of mental retardation and on contemporary education approaches.

Our special areas of rehabilitation and occupational training include: weaving, carpet making, sewing, bakery, pottery, seasonal gifts and small gift making. The products of our bakery and catering sections can be found in several super-markets and stores.

A wider range of services include: social education, psychological support for our young people and their families, counseling for education and social integration, individual and group counseling, support for the development of self image and identity, training, maintenance of family structure and relationships and consciousness raising activities in the workplace according to the abilities of the mentally retarded persons, as well as integration of those who are capable in the free labor market.

A parallel program of support is the "Recreation Club" which offers music lessons, electronic keyboard lessons, choir, theatre groups, theatrical games, attending theatrical performances, dance, short excursions, training in traffic behavior, survival skills and social skills.

The Society’s most immediate priority was to make use of a plot of 20,300 m2 of land in the area Lakka of Ano Liosia donated to us by the Ministry of Agriculture. There were two projects for the development of this land. Consequently

The first project has only recently been completed. The "LILIAN VOUDOURIS FOUNDATION" has offered a generous donation for the construction of a Rehabilitation and Sheltered Workshop Centre for 100 handicapped people. The Municipality of Ano Liosia has also made a very important contribution to this project, supporting us both financially and morally. We moved to our new workshop facilities in Ano Liosia in January 2003.

The second project is to build nine houses which will provide future "Semi-Autonomous Accommodation" to the people of the "Workshop". The greatest problem that parents face is the inability of these young people to provide for themselves when their parents no longer exist. There are some trainees who have already lost both parents and are not able to protect themselves or provide for themselves. A programme for the preparation of our trainees for their future living conditions is already under course in a specially designed apartment in our premises.

We have started a fund-raising campaign for donations in order to complete this project, which is of vital importance. Already, with the help of the International Association of the "Lions Clubs" and especially their 117 A Division of Greece, of the National Bank of Greece and of the Region Attica, we have started construction the first three of the houses.