Muscular Dystrophy Association
Volunteer Programme
‘Volunteering is a value, an ideal, with the aim of civic-mindedness. It is the most important indicator of health, balance and culture of a society.’
In light of the above, MDA Hellas must be organized in such a way that it can integrate volunteers into its structure: people who – depending on their interests and availability – will form a supportive chain in the valuable work of the Association.
A helping hand in this effort was the ‘Employment and Vocational Training’ Operational Programme of the Ministry for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Specifically, the actions of the Association for the promotion of volunteering, during the period from 19 February 2008 to 19 December 2008, were co-financed by 75% by the European Social Fund.
The programme was organized in such a way that it could be implemented in three municipalities in the Prefecture of Attica, addressed to different target groups per municipality.
Municipality of Amaroussion – 17 November 2008
At the Nicholas Louros Conference Centre of the Mitera General Maternity/Gynaecology and Children’s Hospital, a scientific workshop entitled ‘Palliative Care and Volunteering’ took place. MDA Hellas’ guest lecturers, Cynda Hylton Rushton, Phd, RN, FAAN (Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University), and Gail Geller, ScD, MHS (Professor, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine, Berman Institute of Bioethics), offered the highly trained scientific audience an interesting lecture that touched listeners on both a cognitive and emotional level. In addition, Maria Tsonioti, social worker of the Association, and Dina Gerasimou, nurse, presented a comprehensive picture of the Association’s activities and the operation of the special unit for people with neuromuscular diseases at the Agia Sophia Children’s Hospital.
Municipality of Piraeus – 9-11 December 2008
The action plans for the Municipality of Piraeus included the realization of a three-day volunteer festival (with information booths, speeches and a feast) at the University of Piraeus, with the help of the Advisory Station. Unfortunately, this action was not concluded because of a student’s strike at the University.
Through these actions the first ‘human links’ of this chain were created, and, carrying on with our activities, we are pleased to see their continuous strengthening and expansion.
Municipality of Kifissia – 3 December 2008
A seminar on the issue of ‘Disability and Volunteering’ was held at the Semiramis Hotel. Some of the issues discussed by the speakers, Eva Lampara (member of MDA Hellas with a neuromuscular disorder),Maria Tsonioti (social worker of the Association) and Angeliki Kouri (psychologist) were: the meaning of volunteering, the framework of the Association, how a volunteer can join the organization and offer assistance to MDA Hellas, and also the improvement of the quality of life of people with NMD by MDA.