THI: ‘FoodOn’ offers job training for the food and beverage industry

The Hellenic Initiative (THI) has provided the non-profit FoodOn with a $25,000 grant in support of its programs that enable young Greeks to emerge from unemployment and poverty to financial independence and inclusion in society.
FoodOn focuses on the job training of individuals for the food and beverage industry, a market with high demand and relatively low barriers to entry. With THI’s $25,000 gift, FoodOn can hire a training manager who will assist in job placement and other aspects of FoodOn’s work.
In addition to job placement, FoodOn focuses on a lesser-understood dimension of poverty – social exclusion. FoodOn has developed a simple and powerful tool for fighting it: social dining.
Approximately every three weeks, FoodOn organizes meals for 16 of its clients to dine with 16 non-FoodOn clients, “people from other organizations we work with and who want to help,” FoodOn Founder Argyris Zannias said. The diners don’t know each other – or one another’s social status. They meet sitting at those tables, enjoying a good meal and a friendly conversation. Over 5,760 people have benefited from FoodOn’s job placement and social dining programs to date.
Social exclusion is a byproduct of poverty, as the impoverished lose confidence and self-esteem and cut themselves off from friends and society as a whole. Their ability to network and pursue other job-seeking activities is also affected. FoodOn’s philosophy is that Social Dining, where everyone comes together at the dinner table as equals, helps on multiple levels.
Zannias knows the several dimensions of poverty firsthand. After his studies, he volunteered with organizations that alleviated hunger in Athens and then started FoodOn, 10% of the expenses of which he funds personally.
The social dining program and job placement goals of FoodOn work hand in hand. “They learn valuable social skills at the dinner table. They learn how to better communicate with different kinds of people,” Zannias said, adding, “but the process has benefits for all who participate. Each table has a moderator, usually a non-beneficiary. All really become beneficiaries, and in a couple of hours they move towards building a community.”
Zannias said, “THI believes in us and is helping us to grow. Their latest grant will help across all our endeavors because its $25,000 donation will fund for one year the salary of our project manager who organizes social dining, and it will also contribute to training and helping 12 people find jobs.”
Those who want to help may send an email to: argyris@foodon.eu. They will also receive FoodOn Calls to Action.
George Stamas, THI Board President, stated: “THI is proud to support FoodOn’s job placement and innovative social dining mission. With work and a steady income, a person can return to the community from which he or she had been cut off.”
Andrew Liveris, THI Board Chairman stated: “FoodOn addresses both the practical and sometimes overlooked human elements of poverty. It helps people get that important first job and gives them an opportunity to restore their sense of dignity.”
More information is available online: thehellenicinitiative.org
Read more at thenationalherald.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: pixabay.com
01/12 01:42
Volos and Mount Pelion ready to receive winter tourists in Central Greece
30/11 22:50
Google event: Greece aims to become an international hub for AI's code of ethics
30/11 18:34
Greek police carry out intensive checks for offences including traffic violations
30/11 17:42
Prime Minister announces Greeks abroad can vote by mail in Greek elections
30/11 01:54
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece is a rising energy provider in SE Europe
29/11 19:47
Greek deputy migration minister meets with visiting China counterpart in Athens
29/11 18:40
OECD survey: Greek economy to grow by 2.4% this year and 2.0% during 2025
29/11 18:29
HALC launches petition for return of Stolen Parthenon Marbles to Athens
29/11 12:24
Minister: Request for Parthenon Marbles arises from law, history, global cultural values
29/11 11:43
Kalymnian Society ‘Prodromos’ of Campbell in Ohio marks its 100th anniversary
28/11 16:06
Greek PM's greeting on Seferis Office and Roderick Beaton Reading Room event in London
28/11 11:58
28/11 09:02
British government spokesperson assures the UK-Greece relationship is hugely important
28/11 08:16
Greek Deputy FinMin: Government trying to close VAT gap with European average
28/11 07:10
Unboxing Callas exhibition opens to the public through January 10
27/11 18:30
UN World Tourism Organization endorses growing presence on the ground
27/11 14:51
Greek merchant shipping fleet rose in numbers during September
27/11 14:44
Teatro Grattacielo & Thessaloniki Concert Hall hold La Vestale for Callas Centenary
27/11 13:33
Greek budget recorded a primary surplus of 6.08 billion euros in January-October
27/11 10:29
27/11 08:55
Top livestock facilities and animals to be provided to Greece's Thessaly farmers for free
26/11 12:58
NBG: Fires, floods, disasters, inflation, costs cutting into Greece’s tourism sector
26/11 11:05
Greek PM to BBC: Parthenon Sculptures case is like cutting up ‘Mona Lisa’
26/11 10:52
Transport Minister: Thessaloniki Metro project will be fully operational by end 2024
26/11 09:02
26/11 07:08
Greek government spox: 71% of freelancers declare lower income than minimum wage
25/11 14:08
Chinese, Turks and Russians top Greece Golden Visa list getting passports
25/11 14:05
Greece-Turkey High-level Cooperation Council 'one more step' in improving relations
25/11 13:54
Weather service upgrades warning for 'Bettina' front in Greece
25/11 10:01
Event in Chicago about Greek bureaucracy and Greek-American matters
24/11 14:40
10th International Summer University Greek Language, Culture, and Mass Media in Boston
24/11 14:11
European Union Commission offers €43.1 million in support for Greek farmers
24/11 12:48
IPTO has secured enough power to boost launching offshore wind parks in Greece
24/11 11:43
Land-use and Green Fund bill passes in Greek Parliament with ruling party votes
24/11 10:32
Prime Minister: Port infrastructure in Greece undergoing major revamp
24/11 07:36
Energy Minister: Greece could become global protagonist in offshore park industry
23/11 21:31
23/11 21:09
Athens Christmas tree lighting ceremony organized on Thursday
23/11 20:28
Greek Foreign Minister meets with visiting Indonesian Vice President in Athens
23/11 15:11
World-class distinctions bring Athina Luxury Suites at the top once again
23/11 11:15
14th Ethnofest - Athens Ethnographic Film Festival opens on November 29
22/11 16:03
Greek Cultural Center in Astoria of NYC will soon celebrate its 50th anniversary
22/11 13:07
Greek state borrowing program from markets amounts to €9 billion during 2024
22/11 11:17
International conference on social dialogue and inequalities in Athens on November 23-24
22/11 09:59
Travel receipts rose by 15.2% to 18 billion euros in Greece during January-September
21/11 14:59
Minister: Greece and India relations upgraded with the memorandum of cooperation
21/11 14:08
National Economy and Finance Minister: Greek economy will rise even higher in 2024
21/11 13:19
Greek Foreign Minister travels to Madrid for Euro-Med Group Med-9
20/11 22:59
Transport Minister: Greece's entire railway network fully restored by 2025
20/11 21:39
Greek airports see record hike in passenger traffic during January-October 2023
20/11 21:24
AHEPA Supreme President visits New Haven Chapter 98 and presents Heroes Medals
20/11 19:13
Embassy: Energy is the principal pillar of the US-Greece strategic relationship
20/11 16:10
Tilda Swinton-Olivier Saillard show 'Embodying Pasolini' at Onassis Stegi in Athens
20/11 09:03
19/11 14:29
Archdiocesan Cathedral Philoptochos organizes the Chrysanthemum Ball in NYC
19/11 13:21
Economic good news from EC dominates Greek PM's review of the past week
19/11 11:24
Greek Consulate General & Teatro Grattacielo presented Callas tribute in New York
19/11 09:16
18/11 16:12
World Tourism Organization launches San Marino action for accessible tourism
18/11 16:11
Telefonica and UNWTO to boost digital, sustainable and inclusive tourism
18/11 14:27
Greek budget recorded primary surplus of 5.8 billion euros in January-October
18/11 14:04
HFSF successfully concludes public offer of 22% of National Bank's share capital
18/11 13:46
18/11 12:59
Greek PM visits supermarket and is briefed on 'permanent price reduction' initiative
18/11 10:50
Event in Seoul marks 70th anniversary of Greece's participation in the Korean War
17/11 16:04
UNWTO workshop promotes modern tourism communications for Africa
17/11 13:20
Hellenic Professional Women organized Health and Wellness Event in New York
17/11 11:28
FAITH Endowment offers 168 scholarships to top Greek American University Students
17/11 09:37
Cyprus’ untapped business potential highlighted at event in New York City
16/11 18:57
Toronto celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of its Theological Academy
16/11 17:09
Greek FinMin presents 352-million-euro support package for 2.3 million citizens
16/11 15:00
Gale force winds and temperature drop in Greece this weekend
16/11 14:04
Prime Minister forecasts Gaza conflict will not greatly impact Greek tourism sector
16/11 13:53
16/11 10:43
Front Runners in Sports Management 5.0 comes with world-class sports names on December 7-9, 2023
15/11 20:02
Saint Demetrios Cathedral of Astoria marks 96th Annual Gala in New York
15/11 19:06
Greek budget recorded primary surplus of 6.084 billion euros in January-October
15/11 18:57
Study in Greece conference: Higher education 'at crossroads of transformative journey'
15/11 11:14
Energy Minister announces new measures to protect electricity consumers in Greece
14/11 20:58
Greece to reopen 10-year bond issue for 200 million euros on Wednesday
14/11 19:46
Road traffic restrictions to come into effect in downtown on Wednesday
14/11 18:54
Council of Bars & Law Societies of Europe to organize two-day conference in Athens
14/11 16:40
PM: New record in tourist arrivals this year, with German visitors preferring Greece
13/11 22:01
Greece and Turkey agree to implement or reactivate CBM activity in 2024
13/11 18:07
Greek Infrastructure & Transport Minister attends 2023 IBTTA Tolling Summit in Athens
13/11 10:46
GNTO's General Secretary: Greek tourism season's extension strategy is bearing fruit
11/11 23:57
UNWTO marks Qatar Tourism Awards to recognize excellence in sector
11/11 21:37
25th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum on December 11 in NYC
11/11 15:40
Greek PM: Government will use all available tools to keep food prices down
11/11 14:33
Over 500,000 smart electricity meters installed in Greece by end of 2023
11/11 10:22
11/11 00:04
Tourism significance for growth highlighted in World Economic Outlook report
10/11 23:44
Hellenic Post Chief: New business plan fully underway and progressing rapidly
09/11 22:26
Greek Tourism Minister meets with Monica Bellucci in Thessaloniki
09/11 21:16
E-Governance Minister: Greek state services to be fully digitized by 2027
09/11 20:49
UNWTO: Nearly half of all global destinations now offer digital nomad visas
09/11 19:35
Island Park AHEPA Chapter 458 sponsors 5th Annual Golf Outing in New York
09/11 11:42
Greek Migration Minister meets with German and US Ambassadors to Athens
08/11 22:50
Chinese Ambassador: 'China-Greece relations with greater radiance in the new era'
08/11 22:09
UNWTO Summit in London: Transforming the sector through education and youth
Google event: Greece aims to become an international hub for AI's code of ethics
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece is a rising energy provider in SE Europe
Volos and Mount Pelion ready to receive winter tourists in Central Greece
Greek police carry out intensive checks for offences including traffic violations
Prime Minister announces Greeks abroad can vote by mail in Greek elections
Greek deputy migration minister meets with visiting China counterpart in Athens
HALC launches petition for return of Stolen Parthenon Marbles to Athens
OECD survey: Greek economy to grow by 2.4% this year and 2.0% during 2025
Minister: Request for Parthenon Marbles arises from law, history, global cultural values
Kalymnian Society ‘Prodromos’ of Campbell in Ohio marks its 100th anniversary
Greek PM's greeting on Seferis Office and Roderick Beaton Reading Room event in London
British government spokesperson assures the UK-Greece relationship is hugely important
Unboxing Callas exhibition opens to the public through January 10
Greek Deputy FinMin: Government trying to close VAT gap with European average
Greek Coast Guard rescues 61 undocumented migrants off Serifos island
British Prime Minister congratulates Greek counterpart on his re-election
Bloomberg report: 'Greece returns to investment-grade elite'
Agricultural Development Minister: EU funds for Greek farmers should be prioritized
Impressive statue of Hercules unearthed in Philippi of Northern Greece
Greek island of Karpathos among 8 top European islands off the beaten track
Front Runners in Sports Management 5.0 comes with world-class sports names on December 7-9, 2023
World Taste Atlas: Greek cuisine is the second best on the planet
Severe weather front to continue across Greece until Wednesday (video)
New public art exhibit flutters into Greektown of Chicago on June 2