THI Summer Youth Academy, the summer basketball camp of The Hellenic Initiative in collaboration with Eurohoops, focuses on basketball but also features a complete educational activities project. Through the project, THI Summer Youth Academy enhances the skills of the kids behind sports values, from women empowerment in sports under the guidance of legendary Evina Maltsi to mental health care and introducing the youngsters to organizations such as EAGLE, Breathe, Odyssea, and Comicdom Press. After all, The Hellenic Initiative aims to promote the holistic development of young people who need it most, preparing them for a future full of confidence, interpersonal skills, and strong values.
Educational Workshops
Behind specially designed education workshops by Charismatheia on individuality and communication, team dynamics, and leadership, participants explored what makes them unique and how they can communicate with others. They discovered ways teams are created and the characteristics that make them successful. Also, they learned how to proceed with mutual compromises on opinions, make difficult decisions, put themselves in the shoes of others, and foresee the future that awaits them.
Creative Expression Sessions
With activities such as drama games, boys and girls developed their creativity, gained a better understanding of themselves, and built confidence, skills, talents, and communication.
Women Empowerment
A chapter on women empowerment is a part of the THI Summer Youth Academy project. Evina Maltsi, the greatest Greek women’s basketball player of all time was the official guest and shared a motivational speech. The legend of Greek basketball highlighted the role of sports in building confidence and the need to support young girls to pursue their ambitions in sports. Using some of her achievements in Greece and Europe, but especially with spirit and passion, she inspired THI Summer Youth Academy participants to be active in women’s empowerment in sports. Evina Maltsi at THI Summer Youth Academy was certainly among the highlights of the program, encouraging girls to participate in sports with more determination, besides being part of the festive opening ceremony.
Mental Health
At the same time, the importance of mental health in sports was stressed through Breathe, a non-profit organization founded by Tatiana Blatnik. Focusing on equality and mental wellness, Breathe provided participants with self-care tools to use at home and created a sense of community. With a vision to make Greece a pioneer in mental well-being, Breathe continues to build partnerships and initiatives that support and empower citizens, proving that mental health is about everybody.
Creative Storytelling & Comics
Meanwhile, Comicdom Press brought forward the education and entertainment strength of comics, connecting sports with creative storytelling. Through the Athens Comics Library, Comicdom Press designed workshops to allow participants to express themselves creatively and create their comics around basketball and sports values. This is how comics serve as an educational tool, heal, and make a stronger community at THI Summer Youth Academy, demonstrating how creative storytelling can inspire and empower kids.
Sports Integrity
At THI Summer Youth Academy, loving basketball met sports values via EAGLE Sports Integrity Services in the educational activities project. Under the guidance of Panagiotis Panoutsos Talkowski, a specialist in the field of Sports Integrity, the children learned to play fairly and with respect, while developing a sense of inclusion. Through educational activities and entertaining games, EAGLE teaches the moral code and integrity to new generations, aiming to help the kids become better people, besides better athletes.
Job Prospects
Odyssea inspired dreams for vulnerable youth, providing access to valuable employment opportunities. With personalized professional training and skills development, Odyssea bridges the gap between youngsters and the job market, helping them reach their full potential. In activities designed specifically for the THI Summer Youth Academy, the kids explored their beliefs about women’s and men’s occupations, and how these affect career choices. This process boosted skills such as critical thinking, empathy, teamwork, and creativity, preparing the youngsters for the future in the job market.
