Children playing again on three completely renovated playgrounds a year after the devastating fires in Eastern Attica (Greece): This is the result of the donation campaign held in July 2018 by the EIB Group via the EIB Institute.

The playgrounds are in the Marathonas Municipality, at the heart of the areas afflicted by the fires. The Desmos Foundation (Greece), which has notably served as a hub between donors and beneficiary organisations since 2012, implemented the project in close cooperation with the local authorities.

Following the catastrophe, which claimed more than 100 lives, residents highlighted the pressing need for children to have recreation facilities to help them cope with the lasting psychological trauma of seeing the fire and the daily reminder of fire damage still visible a year later. The EIB Group’s staff donations topped up by the Bank allowed to raise a total of EUR 271 260.

In the recent past, the EIB Institute has coordinated donation campaigns following Cyclone IDAI in Southern Africa and the fires at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. In 2018, the EIB Group contributed to relief efforts in the wake of humanitarian disasters, addressing the humanitarian needs in Colombia caused by the massive flow of migrants in particular from Venezuela and in Indonesia following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.