Corporate Social Responsibility
Since 2014, we have been collaborating with the Non-Governmental Organization “Symplefsi” which aims to support and improve the living conditions of the residents of the Greek remote islands.
Through this collaboration, our goal has been to inform students and inhabitants about tobacco use. The intervention addresses all aspects of tobacco use, including health effects on various tobacco products, addressing peer pressure, with an emphasis on a healthy lifestyle including diet and exercise, without smoking.
During the visits to the remote islands, the educators, offer the intervention to primary, middle and high schools students.
During the interventions, students receive educational material about tobacco prevention, such as student notebooks, stickers and balloons. Primary students receive a notebook entitled, “Learning to be smoke-free!” specifically designed for this age group, having a playfully presented message on tobacco use on every page that students can use for taking notes.
The intervention has already been offered in over 19 remote islands including Kimolos, Folegandros, Sikinos, Iraklia, Schinoussa, Thirasia, Anafi, Pserimos, Telendos, Lipsi, Arki, Kasos, Agathonisi, Agios Eustratios, Ikaria, Patmos, Astypalea, Kastelorizo and Gavdos, the southernmost island of Europe.
SMOKEFREEGREECE also values healthy environments and supports its protection. Recognizing that environmental pollution is a current major threat to human, animal and plant health, we established a collaboration with MEDASSET, an international Non-Profit Organization that protects marine and coastal habitats.
In 2016, when we visited Patmos, we had the honor of being accompanied by Greek athletes, Emmanouil Karalis, an acclaimed Greek pole vaulter and hammer thrower, Michael Anastasakis. Following the tobacco prevention intervention, the athletes spoke to the students about the value of playing sports and the importance of perseverance and patience in athleticism.
During the 2017 visit to the islands and specifically in Iraklia and Schinoussa, 2015 Olympic Gold Medalist Eleftherios Petrounias and Vasiliki Millousi, multiple World Cup gold medalist supported us by participating in the intervention where they shared their stories and encouraged students to stay focused, motivated and active without ever smoking.
In addition, a SMOKEFREEGREECE educator provides educational activities for tobacco prevention in parallel with sports games and other various events held by Transition Sports.
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CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The SMOKEFREEGREECE initiative, established in 2009 for tobacco prevention with an emphasis in the school community, does not in any capacity, hold any obligation or relation to any funders, institutions, persons, or initiatives with similar names and/or scope. Does not have any financial, ideological, social relationship or collaboration with any industry related to the manufacturing, production, distribution or promotion of tobacco and/or other novel tobacco products.
The SMOKEFREEGREECE initiative is fully funded by the Behrakis Foundation Boston MA and is supported by the NGO Hellenic Cancer Society and the Educational Institution, The American College of Greece.