About the home
Our purpose is food, shelter, emotional support and education for orphaned or destitute children, until they find work and their place in society.
Who we support
Boys and girls from age 8, orphaned or from families with serious problems, from Kefalonia and beyond. Licensed capacity is twenty children.
How we work
An eight-member board of women from Argostoli, a director, social worker, psychologist and five carers. We work with special educators and speech therapists.
How we are funded
Entirely by donations and bequests of Kefalonians in Greece and abroad. The home receives no state funding and pays taxes every year.
Life here
I learned to swim here, I studied for my exams here. When I got my degree, the first call I made was to Lassis Street.
The children attend the public schools of the town. Afternoons are for tutoring and groups. Some study in Athens. Many have gone on to medicine, humanities, teaching and technical fields.
- tutoring
- English
- computers
- swimming
- painting
- choir
- basketball
- football
- traditional dance
One hundred and seven years
The building was a gift of Great Britain, the former British Consulate.
The home was founded in 1919 in Argostoli by Kate Toole and Agni Metaxa. It first housed children orphaned by the First World War, then orphans of the Second World War and of the 1953 earthquakes, when the number of children reached 104.
The building was a gift of Great Britain, the former British Consulate. Destroyed in the earthquakes, it was rebuilt with donations from benefactors. For years a primary school and kindergarten ran on the grounds for the whole neighbourhood.
Today the children attend the public schools of the town, and the home is still governed by women of Argostoli, as on the first day.
Pick a year
1919
Founded in Argostoli
Photos
Premises, 2013
Board of Directors
Eight members, all women residing in Argostoli.
- Vera Anevlavi-Zervou
- President, Paediatrician
- Amalia Moschona
- Vice-president
- Ioanna Mourelatou
- Secretary
- Maria Georgopoulou
- Treasurer
- Anna Zapanti
- Member
- Eleni Marketou
- Member
- Theodora Zafeiratou
- Member
- Marianna Amourgi
- Member
Staff
The home's salaried staff.
- Director
- Administrative
- Social worker
- Administrative
- Psychologist
- Administrative
- Carers
- Five, set by the Board
- Cook
- Support
- Cleaning
- Support
- Laundry
- Support