The Hellenic Initiative Boosts Job Creation in Northern Greece

THI Funds New Odyssea Youth Center in Thessaloniki

With financial support from The Hellenic Initiative (THI) Odyssea has opened its Youth Center in Greece’s second largest city of Thessaloniki. The innovative facility will transfer to northern Greece the successful Odyssea model offering young people training opportunities, and a sustainable pathway to the labor market. This job creation program particularly targets the tourism and construction industries, currently experiencing labor shortages. Odyssea is a non-profit organization that helps marginalized and vulnerable people gain access to opportunities by providing tailored vocational and life-skills training combined with employability services. Odyssea’s network of 300 hiring partners plays a crucial role in creating job opportunities for participants. Most participants are between 17 and 35 years old, including vulnerable women, people with disabilities, and others who seek assistance ‘to build the life they want to build’. To date, THI has contributed over $160,000 to Odyssea. What has evolved into a strategic partnership generating jobs and hope for young people in Greece began when Odyssea was a winner at THI’s Venture Impact Awards.

Founded in 2012, THI is a global non-profit organization that brings together Diaspora Greeks and Philhellenes to invest in Greece through programs focused on economic development and crisis relief. Since its founding, THI has invested more than $22 million in Greece, supporting programs aimed at economic growth, job creation, and the most effective philanthropic organizations. Odyssea was born In Athens in 2016. Founder and CEO Jai Mexis and Loukas Oikonomakis worked to help marginalized people, first refugees and later Greek citizens, become integrated into society and to break the cycle of dependency, especially the NEETS ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’. “Our mission is to ensure that young people have equal opportunities in society by harnessing the power of knowledge for employment and personal development,” said Mexis. “After the Venture Impact Awards, when THI became even more familiar with our model, with our evidence-based approach with hands on learning and an atmosphere that creates empowerment, not dependency, we hit it off,” said Odyssea Development Program Manager Theodoris Kostoulas. “We shared our vision for the Youth Center with THI. They trusted us and we started working together,” Kostoulas added. In Thessaloniki Odyssea is focused on the youngest people, with a space designed to be friendly and offering courses popular among them. George P. Stamas, THI’s Board President, stated: “Odyssea’s vision is to build a world where all young people thrive by realizing their full potential, and THI is proud to be part of that great endeavor.” Andrew N. Liveris, THI’s Board Chairman, stated: “THI seeks the most innovative and effective groups to work with. The beauty of Odyssea’s programs is that the needs of employers and employees are met quickly and efficiently.”