The Hellenic Initiative Australia is supporting an innovative education and youth empowerment program that connects students from remote and disadvantaged schools across Greece with mentors from around the world.

The Tipping Point program brings the world into the classroom through online live interactive sessions with a diverse range of high-skilled professionals throughout Greece and 40 countries globally – from food producers on a nearby island to a NASA engineer in Florida.

Three regional schools will be participating in The Tipping Point program this academic year with the support of The Hellenic Initiative Australia – Krinides High School in Kavala, Northeastern Greece, Fourfouras High School in Crete and Vardas High School, in Western Peloponnese. 

Australian professionals are also being encouraged to become part of Tipping Point’s dynamic and growing mentor community.

 “The Hellenic Initiative Australia is proud to be supporting the innovative Tipping Point education program for the first time this year,” said THI Australia President, Nicholas Pappas AM.

“This program uses technology to provide students from even the most remote regions of Greece the opportunity to be inspired and shape their own future by providing career guidance and mentorship from inspirational role models at a time when they are making their most critical career decisions,” Mr Pappas said.

“Australian professionals from all fields can join the global Tipping Point mentor community and share their knowledge and experience with high school students around Greece,” Mr Pappas said.

Founded in 2016, the program inspires and encourages students to broaden their horizons and career choices and promotes a culture of innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship.

More than 11,000 students at 200 high schools in Greece took part in The Tipping Point program in 2018-19 school year, supported by more than 1,000 mentors worldwide. The program targets public schools in small, isolated regional towns in areas with high unemployment, high school dropout rates and brain drain due to lack of local opportunities.

Mentors can participate in the program through:

• 100-second video answers provided via a mobile app at their own convenience, from any time zone and/or
• scheduled 20-30min live video sessions in the classroom. 

Tipping point welcomes mentors from all fields of expertise, particularly people with experience in entrepreneurship, economics and business, medicine, law and agriculture.

Anyone interested in mentoring students can register online or contact [email protected] for further information.