Ilias Poulias is a Greek businessman working in Guatemala. The good
Greek samaritan established, along with his brother, Fundación Poulias
in 2007 to help poor children.
Poulias takes action in several working sectors, including banking,
finance, retail, real estate and telecommunications in London, Athens
and Central America.
The two brothers came up with the idea of founding such an
organization when they met some impoverished children of Guatemala in
2003. They realized their problems and decided to contribute in the
enhancement of their life level.
Thier institution, also called “La sorisa del niño (the smile of the
child),” provides help to children living below the poverty line in
crime infested areas. Its goal is to help them achieve their full
potential through education while also providing for their health and
nutrition.
Poulias was trained as an engineer at the Imperial College of London.
He moved to Guatemala after receiving a phone call from his brother,
Alexandros, who needed his support since business was going pretty well.
Alexandros is a graduate student of Harvard Business School and the
Executive Director of Televida company in the telecommunications sector.
“It was October 2011 when I first arrived to Guatemala and this was
my life’s biggest month,” says Ilias. “Almost 11 years after this, I
still live as if it is October 2011,” he continues.
“You see abilities and skills in these kids, of which they don’t have
the opportunity to take advantage,” comments the Greek businessman.
That’s why the two Greek brothers turned the conference room of their
Guatemala-based company into a classroom. They hired a teacher to help
the children with their lessons because they wanted to “show them a
different aspect of life.”
Guatemalan children deal with drug situations and criminality in
their everyday life, but the Poulias Foundation aims to show them that
this is not the only way of living.
“With only 10 euros per month, we can give these children meals for
one week,” adds the Greek businessman and calls on institutions and
individuals abroad to explore Guatemala and help these young people.
23 children have already been a part of the “Fundacion Poulias,” but about 60 kids could be hosted in total.
Ilias was nominated by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs as honorary Consul of Greece in Guatemala.
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