3RD WORKSHOP ON THE HISTORY OF YOUTH WORK IN

EUROPE AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR TODAYS YOUTH WORK

POLICY
Tallinn, Estonia, 4-7 October 2011

A Journey in the History of Youth Work in Greece

Dora Giannaki (BA, BA, MA)

Political Research & Consulting
Special Advisor to Professor Spyros Vougias MP
Hellenic Parliament
 First Part: The main characteristics of
youth work in Greece from 1900 to
1974.
Second Part: Important moments in
the development of Youth Work in
Greece in the period 1974 2000.
Third Part: The state of Youth work
today.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 The history of youth work in Greece begins
with the foundation of the Greek state in
the 19th century.
The basic concerns of the time comprised:
the accommodation of orphans from the
War of Independence (1821-1830) and the
moral education of the younger
generations.
During this period no organized state
service for young people existed.
A variety of youth work activities emerged
related to philanthropy (initiatives from
private bodies): charities for needy young
people, orphanages, vocational training
schools.

Dora Giannaki 2011

Dora Giannaki 2011
 Kyriakon Scholeion ton Technon, the
later Polytechnic University (1836).
Scholi Aporon Paidon (School for
Poor Boys) with branches in Athens,
in the islands of Syros, Corfu,
Zakinthos and Kefallonia, as well as
in the cities of Patras, Kalamata,
Pyrgos and Volos.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 The Laboratory of Poor Women (1872).
Sunday Schools for Poor Women and
Girls of the People (1890) with
branches all over Greece.
The Professional and
Housekeeping School (1896).

Dora Giannaki 2011

 The foundation of the Patriotic Institution of
Social Protection (PIKPA in Greek), in 1915.
The establishment of four social welfare
institutions, in 1922: the National Orphanage,
the Nursery School, the National Rural
Kindergarten and the Rural Housekeeping
Schools.
The foundation of the first school of Special
Education, in 1937.
The establishment of the Free School of Social
Welfare, in 1937.
The adoption by the official state of the
institution of summer youth camps, in 1929.

Dora Giannaki 2011

Dora Giannaki 2011
 Youth sports clubs.
Scouting groups: e.g. the Scouts of
Greece (SEP in Greek, which was
founded in 1910); and the Greek
Guiding Association (SEO in Greek,
which was established in 1932).
Other youth organizations (student,
political, religious, etc.): e.g. the YWCA
(HEN, in Greek, which was established
in 1923) and the YMCA (HAN, in Greek,
which was founded in 1922).

Dora Giannaki 2011

Dora Giannaki 2011
 The National Youth Organization (Ethniki Organosis Neoleas,
EON, in Greek) was a political youth organization which was
established in 1937 during the years of Ioannis Metaxas
authoritarian regime (19361940).
The goals of the organization comprised: the "productive
spending of the free time of the youth, the promotion of
physical and psychological wellbeing thereof, the cultivation
of the national values and the faith, the creation of a
cooperative and communal spirit...".
Within two years the organization numbered a million
members (1939), making it the biggest youth organization in
Greek history.
Some of the activities that EON members were involved in
included: military training, athletic events, imposing parades
and marches, reforestation, trips and community service.

Dora Giannaki 2011

Dora Giannaki 2011
 The United Panhellenic Organization
of Youth (the so-called EPON) was the
youth wing of the National Liberation
Front.
It was established on 23 February
1943 after the merger of ten earlier
political and resistance youth
organizations.

Dora Giannaki 2011

The greatest amount of help in social
welfare including youth work was
provided by two state institutions:

The National Welfare Organization

(initially Royal Welfare).
The Northern Provinces Welfare: in the
1950s the organization maintained
263 institutions in northern Greece, the
so-called Childrens Homes
(Paidopoleis, in Greek).

Dora Giannaki 2011

 The legal foundation of the Greek
Social Security System (1975).
The establishment of the National
Health Service (1983).
The foundation of the General
Secretariat for Youth (1983).

Dora Giannaki 2011

 Article 16 (indirect reference to young people)
concerns education and stipulates the role of the
State in the intellectual, professional, ethical and
physical development of young persons. It also
sets as an aim their transformation into free and
responsible citizens.
Article 21 (direct reference to young people),
pertains to the obligation of the State to take
measures ensuring the good health of the young
people: The State shall care for the health of
citizens and shall adopt special measures for the
protection of youth, old age, disability, and for
the relief of the needy.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 The main purpose behind the foundation of the
General Secretariat for Youth (1983) was to monitor
and coordinate several state policies for the younger
generation, giving special emphasis on leisure time
activities.
Important provisions for young people: social tourism
programmes, introduction of the discount youth card,
provision of free theatre tickets, etc.
Other initiatives: cultural educational programmes in
schools, programmes for the support of young
entrepreneurs and young farmers, information
campaigns, introduction of the institution of youth
week, etc.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 Constitution (articles 16, 21), Presidential
Decree No. 274 on the foundation of the
General Secretariat for Youth.
National legislation in the youth field
comprises the following issues: Youth
employment, sports, education, family,
military service, deviant behaviour, media,
participation, etc.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 There is no official definition or legal
framework concerning youth work.
Youth work does exist as a social practice.
The range of activities that are self-consciously
described as youth work is extensive and
includes health, social support, counselling,
education and training, personal development,
information, career services, etc.
Youth work is mainly related to leisure time
activity.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 There is no youth work-specific education and
training.
Relevant professional qualifications: Higher
Education Degree in Social Work, Social Sciences
degrees (sociology, psychology, social policy, social
administration, social anthropology, etc.) or
Educational Sciences and Pedagogy degrees
(primary education, early childhood education,
special education, social pedagogy, etc.).
Training in youth work related subjects is provided
by Public and Private Vocational Training Institutes
(IEK), Private Vocational Training Centres (KEK),
Centres for Adult Education and the General
Secretariat for Youth.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 The General Secretariat for Youth.
The Institute for Youth.
The National Youth Foundation.
The Second Level of Local Government
(Regions or Peripheries).
The First Level of Local Government
(Municipalities).
Non Governmental Organisations.

Dora Giannaki 2011

 Need for a new strategy in the field of youth
policy in Greece.
A new role for the General Secretariat for
Youth: shifting the epicentre of its activities
from the management of leisure time to the
real problems and needs of youth today.
A series of other initiatives (e.g. the
formulation of a comprehensive institutional
framework for youth work and youth workers,
setting up national standards for youth work,
drawing up a National Action Plan for Youth
Work, essential promotion of research on
youth work issues, etc.).

Dora Giannaki 2011

Dora Giannaki 2011
Dora Giannaki 2011
Dora Giannaki 2011
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 Thank YOU!

e-mail: doragian@yahoo.com

My blog Youthtopia:
http://www.doragiannaki.blogspot.com/

Dora Giannaki 2011