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Christos knew that a university education would be the key to his future. But despite his energy and hard work, his dream of studying to become a sports coach seemed out of reach.
Christos lives in Agrinio, in western Greece, where many families, including his own, have never recovered from the Greek economic crisis more than 10 years ago. Continuous wage cuts and slow growth have made it difficult to afford even necessities.
In addition, Christos is one of five children in a low-income family. Three of his siblings are already studying at university while also working to cover their living expenses. With his family unable to support his studies, Christos was determined to do the same—working two summer jobs in Santorini to earn money for school.
“From an early age, we all learned the importance of personal effort and self-reliance,” Christos said. “Following the example of my older siblings, I have also been working from a young age, aiming to contribute to my own expenses and to pursue my education with dignity.”
Then, Christos’s parents told him about the Scholarship Program for Private Vocational Schools (SAEK), a program ran by International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) partner Apostoli. He discovered it offered a sports coaching program—the very field he hoped to enter.
IOCC funds SAEK through the San Antonio Area Foundation/the Santikos Fund. The program focuses on young people from low-income families, covering two years of tuition at private higher vocational schools in Thessaloniki and Athens. It currently supports 16 students.
Christos quickly applied and was accepted. He is deeply grateful. “This help is very significant support for both me and my family,” he said, smiling. “The opportunity to study for free allows me to work at only one job instead of two, and helps cover my living expenses. The trust you have placed in me motivates me to work even harder and to honor this opportunity with dedication and responsibility.”
Learn more about IOCC’s work in Greece.
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