Diogenes targets mainly the homeless and people living below the poverty line. The founding members of Diogenes formed the National Homeless Football Team in 2006 and participated in the 2007 Homeless World Cup for the first time. Their involvement with the team as well as their interest in this vulnerable population gave birth to Diogenes NGO. Diogenes’ first activity was the organization and operation of the team as well as its participation in the yearly Homeless World Cup. The organization’s second activity is the “Shedia” Program. Shedia is a monthly street paper, member of the International Network of Street Papers, sold by homeless and people living below the poverty line in Athens. Each seller earns a 50% profit of each copy sold. The first issue of Shedia was sold in February 2013. The number of sellers grew, in the first 6 months, from 40 to 140 and the issues sold from 5,000 to 13,000. Diogenes is also involved in the organization of events that raise awareness for homelessness and poverty. Another initiative, “A Coffee is Waiting for You”, gives the opportunity to indigent individuals, through a network of cafés around Greece and Cyprus, to enjoy a free cup of coffee. The cup of coffee is paid in advance by a regular café customer.
Program Support
The grant regards the expansion of the Shedia Program to the city of Thessaloniki.
Diogenes targets mainly the homeless and people living below the poverty line. The founding members of Diogenes formed the National Homeless Football Team in 2006 and participated in the 2007 Homeless World Cup for the first time. Their involvement with the team as well as their interest in this vulnerable population gave birth to Diogenes NGO. Diogenes’ first activity was the organization and operation of the team as well as its participation in the yearly Homeless World Cup. The organization’s second activity is the “Shedia” Program. Shedia is a monthly street paper, member of the International Network of Street Papers, sold by homeless and people living below the poverty line in Athens. Each seller earns a 50% profit of each copy sold. The first issue of Shedia was sold in February 2013. The number of sellers grew, in the first 6 months, from 40 to 140 and the issues sold from 5,000 to 13,000. Diogenes is also involved in the organization of events that raise awareness for homelessness and poverty. Another initiative, “A Coffee is Waiting for You”, gives the opportunity to indigent individuals, through a network of cafés around Greece and Cyprus, to enjoy a free cup of coffee. The cup of coffee is paid in advance by a regular café customer.
Program Support
The grant regards the expansion of the Shedia Program to the city of Thessaloniki.
