Category: Family care

Kapa3 and Karkinaki join forces to support children, adolescents, and families living with cancer

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 announces its new collaboration with the non-profit organization “Karkinaki”, aiming to strengthen information, psychosocial support, and awareness around childhood and adolescent cancer, as well as to support families experiencing the disease.

Karkinaki is a specialized organization working in the field of childhood and adolescent cancer, focusing on reliable information, empowering parents and caregivers, and fostering a supportive environment around children and teenagers affected by cancer. Through community-based actions and awareness initiatives, it seeks to reduce the sense of isolation that often accompanies diagnosis, while also enhancing understanding, social awareness, and access to available support resources for families.

Within the framework of this collaboration, the two organizations will develop joint initiatives focused on information and awareness-raising, with an emphasis on actions addressing both families and healthcare and support professionals. The partnership will also include the co-organization of informational events, the exchange of good practices, and the exploration of participation in national and European programs that promote a holistic approach to patient care, with an emphasis on continuity of support across all stages of the disease experience.

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 is dedicated to informing, guiding, and empowering people affected by cancer, providing practical support and access to reliable information and services. At the same time, it develops initiatives that strengthen patients’ active participation in managing their health and promotes a more accessible and human-centered model of care.

In this context, Kapa3 is also involved in European collaborations focusing on the psychosocial dimension of cancer across different stages of life, such as the MELODIC project, which addresses the mental health of young adults with lived experience of cancer. This work further enhances the organization’s ability to recognize needs that emerge throughout the cancer journey, from childhood to adulthood.

This collaboration with Karkinaki reflects the shared vision of both organizations to strengthen a support network that goes beyond medical treatment, extending into families’ daily lives, information access, and psychosocial empowerment, with the aim of providing a more stable and meaningful presence for those who need it most.

Our Press Release here: KARKINAKI PRESS RELEASE

Text: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

20 November – World Children’s Day

November 20 is dedicated to something fundamental, childern’s rights: the right of every child to grow up in safety, health, care, and dignity. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989—a text recognizing that children are not “small adults,” but individuals with unique needs and rights that must be protected in every possible way.

The day focuses on equal access to education, protection from all forms of violence and exploitation, health, social support, and children’s participation in decisions that affect them. Every year, international organizations like UNICEF remind us that millions of children worldwide still lack basic rights. In Europe, around 11% of children face severe material deprivation, while globally, over one billion children live in at-risk conditions, according to recent UN estimates. These numbers highlight that while progress exists, the path toward true equality remains long.

The reality in Greece
In Greece, inequalities affecting children remain evident. According to the Multidimensional Child Poverty Index by the Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE, 2023), a significant proportion of children in Greece lack access to basic needs such as adequate housing, education, healthcare, and financial security. Additionally, UNICEF Greece reports that thousands of children face heightened risks of poverty and social exclusion, with vulnerable families disproportionately affected by recent economic pressures.

Within this context, one group of children deserves particular attention: children living with cancer. The disease affects their daily life, education, social relationships, and even their sense of safety and stability. Access to quality medical care, psychological support, and family assistance is not a “luxury”—it is a right.

Every child facing this challenge deserves an environment that respects their needs, supports recovery, and allows them to continue dreaming. Equally important is empowering parents, who often face extraordinary difficulties while caring for their child.

At Kapa3, we strongly believe that protecting children—especially those experiencing cancer—is a responsibility shared by all. That is why we stand firmly by them, promoting care, psychosocial support, and societal awareness. Every action, every piece of information, and every collaboration strengthens the network of protection that children deserve.

World Children’s Day reminds us that protection must be continuous. Through cooperation, knowledge, and humanity, we can create a framework where every child—healthy or ill—feels valued, heard, and hopeful for the future.

Sources:
• KEPE – Multidimensional Child Poverty Index
• UNICEF Greece – Child Rights & Poverty Data

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3