Memorandum aimed at developing cooperation was signed today by Nikos Dendias and the president of “The Smile of the Child” Konstantinos Giannopoulos, with the defense minister emphasizing that the country’s Armed Forces, beyond parties, governments and ministers, stand by society to support it, to support our collective effort for a better tomorrow. It is noted that the ceremony for signing the memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of National Defense and the Volunteer Organization “The Smile of the Child” was also attended by Deputy Defense Minister Thanasis Davakis and DIKAFKA commander Lieutenant General Michail Klouvas, as announced.
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With particular joy we signed today the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of National Defense and the Organization “The Smile of the Child” @hamogelo, with its president Konstantinos Giannopoulos.
This is a comprehensive package of actions that connects the operational… pic.twitter.com/gB40Y4TmLb
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) September 11, 2025
Cooperation between Ministry of National Defense and “The Smile of the Child”
It is emphasized that the purpose of the memorandum is to develop a framework of cooperation between the Ministry and the association “The Smile of the Child,” aiming to promote the living standards, safety and health of minors who belong to vulnerable social groups and/or have been affected by natural and other disasters. Specifically, the Ministry of National Defense will support nationwide the actions of the Volunteer Organization “The Smile of the Child,” among other things, through systematic information to its human resources and the possibility of voluntary participation in the association’s activities, support through the provision of consumable materials, utilization and dissemination of information through Amber Alert Hellas and Missing Alert Hellas, joint organization of interventions and educational actions for dealing with natural and technological disasters. Additionally, through developing cooperation on issues of providing psychosocial and medical support to minors and adults who belong to vulnerable social groups or have been affected by crises and disasters, as well as strengthening cooperation on issues of protecting children who have been victims of violence, abuse or neglect.
Dendias on “The Smile of the Child”: Long-standing relationship of cooperation, trust and joint effort
“The Smile of the Child” is known nationwide, said Mr. Dendias among other things and added: “It is one of the most important volunteer non-profit organizations for child protection in our homeland, with nationwide reach and decades of social work.” “The cooperation of the Ministry of National Defense with ‘The Smile of the Child’ is not new. It did not start during my days and during Mr. Davakis’s days,” emphasized the Defense Minister while not failing to make special reference to his predecessor, Nikos Panagiotopoulos. “Between us, that is the Ministry of National Defense, and ‘The Smile of the Child,’ there is a long-standing relationship of cooperation, trust and joint effort through specific, tangible initiatives,” he underlined. “First of all,” he continued, “the provision of means to assist the Organization’s work, which is why General Klouvas is present here, head of the relevant Branch.” “Also, the utilization of mechanisms for early warning, Amber Alert, Missing Alert Hellas, dissemination of information for cases of missing minors, organization of interventions and educational actions for dealing with natural disasters, implementation of mental, social and medical support programs,” he mentioned. “That is,” he explained, “a comprehensive package of actions concerning the Organization and utilizing the experience of the Armed Forces.” He thanked the Organization’s president Konstantinos Giannopoulos, as well as the Organization’s volunteers “for their invaluable contribution.” “I would like to say, even in front of him, that their contribution serves as an example of the collective responsibility we all must have in our country for achieving the common good. And what better embodies tomorrow than a child’s smile?” concluded Mr. Dendias.
“Faithful” to its mission “The Smile of the Child”
For his part, Mr. Giannopoulos stated: “It is a great honor and joy for ‘The Smile of the Child’ to sign the memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense. An important initiative that seals the already excellent, multi-year relationship and multifaceted cooperation we have developed both with the Ministry and with all the Branches.” “With the signing of the memorandum,” he explained, “cooperation is strengthened and our areas of collaboration are expanded, which always focus on children and families, as well as all our fellow citizens who are in need.” He thanked Mr. Dendias and committed that “The Smile of the Child,” “faithful to its mission, will continue to make available to the Ministry and the Branches all its material and technological infrastructure and specialized scientific staff.”
“The Smile of the Child” is one of the most important volunteer non-profit organizations for child protection in our Homeland, with nationwide reach and decades of social work.
The Memorandum of Cooperation we signed provides for:
🔹The provision of means for the… pic.twitter.com/VDbFSJfzPH— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) September 11, 2025
