On Thursday 11 September 2025, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of National Defence and the Voluntary Organisation “The Smile of the Child”.
The Memorandum was signed by the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias and the President of the “Smile of the Child” Konstantinos Giannopoulos.
The signing ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis and the Commanding General of the Constructions and Natural Disasters Relief Command, Lieutenant General Mihail Klouvas.
The goal of the Memorandum of Cooperation is the development of a cooperation framework between the Ministry of National Defence and the Organisation “The Smile of the Child”, aiming at promoting the standard of living, the security and health of the juveniles who belong to socially sensitive groups and/or have suffered from natural and other disasters.
The Ministry of National Defence will support the actions of the Voluntary Organisation “The Smile of the Child” throughout Greece, among other things, through the systematic briefing of its workforce and the possibility of voluntary participation in the actions of the Organisation, the support with the provision of consumable material, the use and dissemination of information through Amber Alert Hellas and Missing Alert Hellas, the joint organisation of interventions and educational actions, for the relief of natural and technological disasters, the development of cooperation in matters of provision of psychosocial and medical support to juveniles and adults who belong to sensitive social groups or have suffered from crises and disasters, as well as the reinforcement of cooperation in matters of children protection, who have been victims of violence, abuse or negligence.
Mr Dendias stated in his address:
“It is a great pleasure being with the Deputy Minister Mr Davakis here, for the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence and the Organisation “The Smile of the Child”.
The “Smile of the Child” is known throughout Greece, so there is no need to elaborate. It is one of the most important voluntary non-profit organisations of children protection in our Country, with Pan-Hellenic range and a social work of decades.
The cooperation of the Ministry of National Defence with the “Smile of the Child” is not something new. It did not start while I and Mr Davakis were in office. I would like to make a special reference to my predecessor, Nikos Panagiotopoulos.
Between us, that is the Ministry of National Defence and the “Smile of the Child”, there is an everlasting relation of cooperation, trust and joint effort, through specific, tangible initiatives.
First, the availability of assets to help the work of the Organisation, that is why General Klouvas is here, in charge of the competent Branch.
Also, the use of early warning mechanisms, the Amber Alert, the Missing Alert Hellas, the dissemination of information for cases of missing juveniles, the organisation of interventions and educational actions for the relief of natural disasters-I mentioned the presence of the General before, in charge of the relative Branch, the implementation of programmes of mental, social and medical support.
That is, a comprehensive series of actions concerning the Organisation, utilising the experience of the Armed Forces.
At this point, I would like to thank the President of the Organisation, Mr Konstantinos Giannopoulos, and the volunteers of the Organisation for their invaluable contribution. I would like to say before him that their contribution is an example for the collective responsibility that all of us must have in the country for the achievement of the common good.
I would like to tell him that the Armed Forces of our Country, beyond Parties, governments and ministers, always stand by the side of the society to support it, to support our collective effort for a better tomorrow.
What personifies tomorrow better than the smile of a child?
Thank you.
I am really glad that we will sign this Memorandum of Cooperation today, mister President”.
On his part, Mr Giannopoulos stated:
“The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence is a great honour and joy for the “Smile of the Child”. An important initiative that seals the already excellent, multiannual relation and multifaceted cooperation that we have developed both with the Ministry and all the Branches.
With the signing of the Memorandum the cooperation is reinforced and the fields of our cooperation are enlarged, always focusing on children and the families, as well as all our fellow humans that are in need.
I would like to warmly thank the honourable Minister, Mr Dendias and make a commitment that “The Smile of the Child”, faithful in its mission, will continue to provide the Ministry and the Branches with all of its material-technological infrastructures and its specialised scientific personnel.
I warmly thank you”.
