Poor performance at school is often the first indicator of deeper problems children and their families are facing at home. Brothers “Yiannis” and “Petros” were both struggling at school when they first attended the newly-opened SOS Children’s Villages Learning and Education Centre in Patras in 2019.

Yiannis is 16 years old, but was still in second grade at high school, while 14-year-old Petros was in the first grade. Their parents, who have five children, had been referred to the Centre by the boys’ school in an effort to support their classroom learning, as they were at risk of missing another school year.

The brothers joined the program in March 2019 but due to their previous absences from school, inconsistent attendance at the Centre and lack of parental support, they did not graduate to the next year level.

At the beginning of the current school year in September 2019, the Centre’s social worker, Katerina Papatheofilou, reached out to the parents and the boys. Following a series of discussions, they were persuaded to set goals for the year to help get them through school.  

Both parents started receiving monthly counselling support and the brothers joined the Educational Program and were able to spend more time in a supportive learning environment.

While working closely with the family, SOS discovered that the family needed support with food aid and clothing support due the father’s long-term unemployment.  The boys have been receiving daily hot meals at the Centre and the family has been receiving food aid from the Municipality of Patras’ support services.

“Both boys are receiving group counselling support and we have set an individual plan for each one of them regarding their studies and their daily life,” says Ms Papatheofilou.

“The brothers have a very strong relationship, they come to the Centre together, despite having different class times, and like to stay there playing board games and doing puzzles.”

Neither of the boys has missed a lesson, they work hard and participate in the lessons and have developed good relationships with their teachers and fellow students.

Their attendance at the Centre has been an important first step in the family’s recovery and we hope their participation in the program will continue to improve the lives and future outlook for this family.”

“The team spirit of the class and the teachers’ recognition have greatly helped them to regain their self-confidence and motivated them to try their best,” says the Centre’s psychologist Konstantinos Anastasopoulos. The improvement was reflected in their half-year school reports in January.

In their last meeting, with the SOS social worker, the father informed them that he had started an eight-month labour contract, which will help improve the family’s financial situation.

“We are pleased that their attendance at the Centre has been an important first step in the family’s recovery and we hope their participation in the program will continue to improve the lives and future outlook for this family,” says Ms Papatheofilou.

In 2019, more than 200 children received educational support, meals and counselling at the Patras Learning and Education Centre, which is supported by a €20,000 grant from The Hellenic Initiative Australia. In March 2020, THI Australia announced it had renewed its support for the program for another year.