Lighthouse for the Blind Of Greece

Foundation

Lighthouse's logo The Lighthouse for the Blind, Greece was founded in 1946, having as their main objective the support of blind individuals and making the public and the government aware of the problems that they face.

Founding Members

The Founding Members are: I. Athinogenis, A. Vouros, A. Dellaporta, St. Korkolis, A. Koumaros, E. Laskaridou, M. Lekatsa, D. Liotsis, P. Mertikopoulos, M. Mihailidis, M. Mihalakopoulos, A. Papakonstaninou, X. Papadopoulos, E. Potamianou, A. Ragkousis, A. Stathatos, M. Tsamados, C. Tsatsos, I. Haramis and A. Psalti.

The Development for the Lighthouse for the Blind

1946

Mr. Michalis Tsamados donates the land where the Lighthouse stands today.

1951

A two-storey building is built at the address of Doiranis 198, donated by George and Eugenia Embeirikou. Initially all the services and the Brush - Broom Workshop were housed here.

1954

It is voted by Royal Decree that the products of the workshop of Brushes - Brooms of the Lighthouse be sold directly to the Armed Forces and Public Sector Organizations. Chairman of the board of the Lighthouse was Lavria Protopapadaki.

1955

Mr. Theodoros Petrakopoulos donates a 400 square meter building which initially was used for the boarding house . In April of the same year the Telephone Operator school was founded and housed in the same building.

1975

The first floor of the main building of Lighthouse for the Blind, at Athinas 17, is built with donations from the organization American Friends of the Blind in Greece. The capital was raised from the sale of the facilities of the Rural and Technical School "Georgios Podas" that had been founded in 1949 in the Sepolia Area, for the Blind of Greece, with donations by Georgios Podas, Andrea Giarvis, A. Thomopoulou and others.

1977

The Brushes - Brooms Workshop is transferred to the new central building.

1979

With donations from the General Secretary of the Board, Linas Resti, the second floor is built in the main building.

1984

The Tactual Museum is founded which is housed in the two-storey building at Doiranis 198. The Metal Works Unit is created and occupies space in the old Boarding school.

1990

With donations from the Eugenidi Institution, Ms. Doret Karaiosifoglou and the Greek Parliament, the Braille Printing Center is modernized, and supplied with Thiel, Impacto and Braillo printers.

1991

The training in computer use begins for blind individuals, with the use of HAL Screen Reader, made available in Greek by the manufacturing company Dolphin Systems and the exploitation of European funds

1998

The Metal Works Unit acquires the Quality Assurance System (ELOT EN ISO 9002 - Code No. 02 17.06/458/24-11-98) and extends its collaboration with Government companies, but also the private sector such as the Public Power Corporation, ELSA, Hellenic Arms Industry, FRIGOGLASS, INTRACOM, EVIOP-TEMPO, BSH-ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, etc.

2000

The Theatrical Stage L. Kallergis , is created in the Event Hall of the Lighthouse.

2004

Re-opening of the Tactual Museum which had been destroyed by the 1999 earthquake, which is now accessible to people with mobility problems.

2005

The creation of the Training and RehabilitationCentre of visually-impaired individuals and Boarding House begins which is a donation from the Georgios and Mary Bergotis Foundation.

2006

The Lighthouse Website is created aiming to serve visually-impaired individuals via the Internet, and to market the products of the Workshops and the Metal Works Unit.