ATHENS – Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou paid a visit on Friday to the 'Agia Varvara' state facility of child protection services for adolescent girls, where she was welcomed by Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Domna Michailidou.

Attending an event by the Center of Social Welfare of Attica for the girls hosted at the center, which is supervised by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Sakellaropoulou was briefed by Michailidou on efforts to make state welfare care facilities more extrovert, by taking advantage of deinstitutionalization policies that rely on the full activation of adoption and fostering laws.

Sakellaropoulou was shown around the grounds by some of the resident girls, who also told the President of their life there and their future plans.

The Agia Varvara facility was founded in 1951 and operates as a special vocational training school. It hosts 24 girls, aged 12 and above, who are in need of a safe environment, social care, protection and rehabilitation.

In a tweet after the visit, the president expressed her joy at being able to attend the event and said she had encouraged the girls to follow their dreams.