The Organization started its operations in 1996 by Costas Yannopoulos, President of the Board of Directors, inspired by the wish of well-being for all children in the world, expressed by his 10-year old son Andreas before he succumbed to brain cancer in late 1995. Over 21 years of activities “The Smile” has made a difference for more than 1.200.000 children and their families in Greece.

“The Smile” currently operates with approximately 2.500 active volunteers on a daily basis and more than 450 specialized personnel and is financed through donations from sponsors and the broad public in Greece that is familiar with the Organization and appreciates its action for all children, without exception and without distinction of background, origin, religion or any other criterion.

The operational commitment of “The Smile of the Child” is structured along four main groups of children in need of protection: children victims of violence, children victims of disappearance, children with serious health problems and children who live in poverty or are threatened by poverty. In order to address the different needs of these children “The Smile” implements a variety of actions and provides services in the areas of prevention, intervention and therapy.

GAF’s mission is to work towards the protection and empowerment of women and girls in all spheres of public and private life so that they realize their potential in a just and unbiased society. Through our guiding principle, we strive to address a number of structural inequalities which are layered in social organization and mindset, and present the building blocks of gender based discrimination and violence. The issues we devote our efforts to are prevention and protection against domestic violence, trafficking in human beings and promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Our target groups are women and girls victims of gender-based violence and discrimination. These include women and girls from rural areas, minority women; victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, foreign and migrant women; disabled women; elderly women; and women victims of multiple discrimination.