About Us
Identity & History
of the Organization
Ladies Union of Drama
Let’s get to know each other better
The Ladies Union of Drama is a charitable non-profit organization, which has its registered office in the peripheral region of Drama. However, the history of the organization starts from a long time ago while its unofficial operation began in 1904. In 1988, it gained special recognition as a Charitable Organization by the Department of Social Welfare of the Prefecture, while it has been included in the National Register of Private Sector Non-Profit Organizations with the registration number 01101FAE23026027N008 that provide social care services of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, having at the same time the special certification as a social care service provider.
Primary aim is the support, the empowerment and encouragement of vulnerable social groups and, in addition, raising awareness of the wider society through social and psychological support (accompanying support services), legal advice, financial assistance, job placement, pharmaceutical and medical care, distribution of clothing and food, accommodation provision for abused women, students and homeless families and, also, through the organization of workshops, lectures and informative events.
Its beneficiary people are local residents or foreigners, destitute or homeless, people without insurance, victims of gender violence, unmarried mothers, Roma, others who released from prison, drug addicts, refugees and migrants.
History
1904
The Ladies Union of Drama started its unofficial operation in 1904 with the blessings and leadership of the archbishop of Drama and later Smyrna, Chrysostomos, protecting widows, orphans, old people, people who were wounded because of war and unemployed soldiers.
In 1929, the organization which, at that time, called “Ladies and Misse’s Union” had the aim of establishing nursery schools in the city of Drama which would provide care for children of families in need aged 40 days to 3 years and the operation of workshops in which people in need too were employed in manual work. In addition, their purpose was, also, to carry out social, cultural and charitable work.
1929
1988
Since 1988, the organization has been specially recognized as a Charitable Organization by the Department of Social Welfare of the Prefecture.
Since 2002, it has been included in the National Register of Private Sector Non-Profit Organizations with the registration number 01101FAE23026027N008, which provide social care services of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, having at the same time the special certification as a provider of social care services.
2002
2010
Το 2010 η Ένωση Κυριών Δράμας αναγνωρίστηκε ως Μη Κυβερνητικός Οργανισμός.
In 2010, the Ladies Union of Drama was recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization.
2011
2015
The organization has been certified in the Central Support System “ATLAS” for the internship of students of higher education institutions.
Purpose & Actions
Purpose
The purpose of the Ladies Union of Drama is to offer social and humanitarian work in the community of citizens and, especially, of vulnerable social groups and to contribute to the solution of the issue called humanitarian and social crisis.
Furthermore, the purpose of the organization is a charitable and educational purpose, aiming to the development of solidarity, the combat of gender violence, xenophobia and racism, the raising public awareness on issues of equality, equity, human and democratic rights, support of fellow citizens in need and, in general, aiming to the sufficient information provision to the members of the organization, especially of women, about educational matters, vocational training and social justice.
In addition, another purpose of the organization is making use of community programs of social nature, creating similar structures and implementing correspondent actions in the fields of social welfare, public health and social care, and, also, motivating civil society through events and various forms of information in this direction.
Actions
Such indicative and not exhaustive actions are :
1) the financial support of families in need
2) the provision of medicines to people in need and without insurance
3) the provision of financial support to young people in need for education or studies
4) the establishment of a nursery school or childcare facilities (e.g. a centre for creative activities for children and adolescents)
5) the establishment of broader social structures (Social Support Services Office, Psychosocial Support Office, Individual and Family Counseling Centre, etc.)
6) the organization of cultural and social events, festivals, lectures, meetings and a variety of other events, the main feature of which is the provision of social and charitable work
7) the establishment and operation of a hostel for the accommodation of distressed, abused women and children, refugees, etc.
8) the establishment of a Social Welfare Office for individuals and families with financial problems, people with accommodation problems and those who deal with living problems in general
9) the establishment of a Food Bank, social grocery stores, pharmacies, tutorials, etc.
10) the promotion of people without accommodation in hospitality areas in Drama and elsewhere
11) the establishment of a public library
12) the participation in emergency or non-emergency humanitarian, food and development aid programs in Greece and abroad.
Registration in Registers
Register of the Ministry of Health
According to the Ministerial Decision P2G/2256/FEK963/B/26-07-01 on the procedure for registration in the National and Prefectural Register of Non-Profit Social Care Providers and Ministerial Decision 19252/FEK248/B/28-2-02 on the determination of the format of the Register Number, the House of Open Hospitality of the Ladies Union is included in the National Register as well as in the Special Register of Voluntary Non-Governmental Organizations of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity with number 001101AEE21096O42N0999.
Special Register of Non-Governmental Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Since the 18th of March of 2010, the Ladies Union of Drama is registered with No. 538 in the Special Register of the NGOs, kept by the Ministry of Public Administration, according to article 11 par. 3 of N/2731/99.
Register of the Ministry of Culture
Since September 2011, the Ladies Union of Drama is registered in the Register of the Ministry of Culture with number: 1278.
Certification by “ATLAS”
Since March 2015, the organization has been certified in the Central Support System “ATLAS” for the internship of students of higher education institutions.
Assessments & Awards
Assessment of THALES II
Always aiming to improve its services and its effectiveness, the organization participated in the project THALES II: Mapping and Assessment of Greek NGOs. The project was implemented by the University of Peloponnese and the HIGGS. In the first stage of the assessment, the organization received a total of 3 stars (per field of activity) on the basis of three criteria: effectiveness, organization and transparency.
Assessment for the House of Open Hospitality by EQUAL SOCIETY
“For every 1€, 3.26€ of social return is generated”
S.R.O.I. is the acronym of the Social Return On Investment. The initiative is related to the development and implementation of tools in order to measure the social return on investment in Greece and aims to strengthen organizations in the fields of fundraising and effective social contribution. The analysis revealed that the Ladies Union of Drama has a positive index and, also, greater than one, meaning that the return on investment in it was greater than its cost. The involded that gives the highest relative return is the host students. Next, the sensitivity analysis showed that the changes that most enhance the social impact of the organization are the fact that female students complete their studies, other female hosts find jobs and ,in this way, employees and volunteers feel like better people helping their fellow human beings.
Assessment of THALES
“The Ladies Union among the first”
In 2012, the scientific group called THALES, consisting of seven Greek and three foreign universities, started an assessment process of a number of greek NGOs, which was completed in 2015.With four stars, the Ladies Union of Drama was evaluated with three stars in terms of effectiveness, organization and transparency in the following fields of action: development, human rights and gender issues, education, training and labour rights, social solidarity and integration, migration and social asylum, environment and civil protection.
Important awards
1999
Award by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation
Annual award “Giannoula Zerva” by the Prefecture of Drama – Kavala – Xanthi.
2001
2004
Award by the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity.
Award by the Minister of Macedonia and Thrace M. Tzimas.
2007
2007
European Parliament at the First Pan-European Meeting of Voluntary Organizations in Strasbourg on the occasion of International Volunteering Day.
Award “Islands of Quality 2009” by the Citizens’ Movement and the Greek Guiding Association by the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias.
2009
2017
Honorary praise to Aliki Tsiamoura for her contribution to the social and cultural life of the region from the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in the context of the celebration of the “International Women’s Day”.
The Union “Together for Children” honored with the “Work of Life” Award the President of the Ladies Union of Drama – House of Open Hospitality, Aliki Tsiamoura.
2020
Other awards – Collaborations
1967 – Diploma by the Rotary Club of Thessaloniki
1989 – Award by the Rotary Club of Thessaloniki
1995 – Awards by the Ranger Club of Drama.
1998 – Award “Culture – Sport” by the Prefecture of Drama.
2000 – Praise from the Municipal Enterprise of Social Culture and Development of the Municipality of Drama for the selfless contribution to society.
2001 – Award by the Prefecture of Drama, Kavala and Xanthi.
2005 – Award by the program “Youth in Action”.
2005 – Award by Apollo Drama
2005 – Award by the group of star companies of Drama.
2006 – Praise at the first Congress of Greek ROMs.
2007 – Award by TV DELTA.
2007 – Praise from Oniroupoli Drama.
2008-2009 – Praise from the Organizing Committee “Oniroupoli Drama”.
2009 – Praise from the Prefectural Administration and Association of Locaql Municipalities & Communities of Drama.
2010 – Award by the organization “Agapi Cyprus” Friends of Disabled People.
2011 – Media Awards 2011.
2011 – Award by the Ranger Club of Drama.
2015 – Certificate of Cooperation between the Ladies Union and the Lions Club in the framework of the Preventive Eye Examination program for preschool children.
2017 – “Woman of the Year 2017” Award, by the Lions Club, for the long term contribution of President, Alice Tsiamoura, to volunteerism and relief of our suffering fellow human beings.