Since 2017, a partnership of students of the Special Vocational Education and Training
Workshop (SVET) of Agios Dimitrios and the first Vocational High School (EPAL) of Nea Ionia
and the 3S SCHOOL SYNERGY SNACKS, a company where young people with disabilities are
employed, now make inclusion a reality by giving equal opportunities for all in the
professional labor market.
In 2023, the UNICEF Office in Greece and Junior Achievement Greece undertook the support
of a canteen where disabled young people would work at the SVET Agios Dimitrios. More
than 240 students with disabilities, aged 13 to 22, attend this school. Within the framework
of the “Child Guarantee” program, the canteen started its operation as a branch of the Social
Enterprise 3SSCHOOL SYNERGY SNACKS and aims to aid the professional rehabilitation of
disabled people where their goal is their equal inclusion in the labor market.
At the grand opening of the canteen, representatives from the Ministry of Health, the School
Administration, the canteen staff as well as other distinguished guests gave brief greetings
that emphasized the importance of inclusion in the workplace.
The Deputy Minister of Education stated characteristically, “Here at SVET Agios Dimitrios,
through the very great efforts that are being made together with Junior Achievement
Greece, we see our young people Christos, Yiannis, Giorgos and Michalis who now work side
by side with us, equally, preparing bars and providing their services to the school canteen,
while at the same time they are preparing to pass on their example to the rest of the our
fellow citizens, with and without disabilities, demonstrating their self-reliant inclusion in the
workplace. It is our duty to facilitate the daily life of disabled people, their teachers, their
families and we must make efforts to multiply initiatives like this one.”
3S was created within the framework of the program/competition “Virtual Student Company
– Company Program” of Junior Achievement Greece and now operates as a bone fide
business, giving disabled people the tools but most importantly the vision to start their own
journey into inclusion. The company is engaged in the production of innovative healthy
snacks based on original recipes of Ilias Mamalakis. The snacks, “Energy Bars with a Social
Flavor” use pure ingredients from local Greek sources, such as nuts and dried fruits. The
founding team consists of three experienced trainers (Effie Chryssou, Irini Kaimakami and
Dimitris Giouvis), a business consultant (Giorgos Bouloukos) and three young people, all
graduates of Special Schools (Giorgos Vradis, Michalis Sideris, Yannis Chatziargyriou)
specializing in the field of cooking and confectionary.
The school canteen is especially designed to ensure the nutritional safety of the products as
well as the wellbeing of the students and the educational community. The canteen is
modernly equipped and operates with the contribution of young disabled employees who
guarantee that each costumer has the best possible experience enjoying healthy food and
drinks.
One of the canteen staff, Christos, pointed out, “I am very happy to work in the canteen of
the school where I was once a student. I really enjoy making chocolates and selling
cheesecakes, bars and juices to customers. I learn new things every day. I hope that the
other students will succeed and find a job as well.”
Since 2014 the SVET Agiou Dimitriou has actively participated in the programs of JAG and
found that the effect of these experiential entrepreneurship programs are certainly a
catalyst for disabled young people later professional and social life.
“3S is the project that empathically justifies all our efforts in eliminating unemployment. The
young people and their teachers envisioned an inclusive space where everyone can work,
without exclusion, and then made it a reality. It is our honor to be part of their journey, to
support them and we pledge to help them every step of the way”, said Argyris Tzikopoulos,
CEO of Junior Achievement Greece.
Canteen 3S: An example to follow
The special education teacher of SVET Agios Dimitrios, coordinator of the entrepreneurship
programs and founding member of the KINSEP (Social Enterprise), Efie Chrysou stated, “ The
fact that there is no employment framework that integrates disabled graduates regardless of
the social role and aim of the Special Vocational Schools to achieve a connection between
their educational programs with the labor market, gave us strong impetus to further develop
the 3S idea and lead to the assignment of the school canteen from where the student
entrepreneurship program initially began. Faithfully following our vision and despite the
difficulties we face, we believe in the success of our new venture and our only source of
inspiration being our charismatic young staff. This grand opening is the first event of our
KINSEP integration and through the project we would like our voice to be heard a little more.
Our goal is for this canteen to become a model of inclusion for people with disabilities and
for this inclusion to become the best practice for other canteens as well.”
The canteen was founded by JAG and 3S SCHOOL SYNERGY SNACKS with the support of
UNICEF and funding from the European Union within the framework of the European
Program “Child Guarantee” (2020/2023).
The official grand opening of the 3S School Synergy Snacks Canteen in Agios Dimitrios took
place in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Education, Religion and Sports Domna
Michailidou and representatives of DYPA, UNICEF Greece and Junior Achievement Greece
who dynamically contributed to the establishment of the canteen by 3S. Supporters,
teachers, parents and disabled people who worked on the project were all present.
Source: flash.gr
