Onassis Education

Since 1978, the Foundation has been offering fellowships to graduates of Higher Education and Technical Institutes, supporting schools, university chairs and programs of Hellenic Studies outside Greece, promoting academic figures whose work has marked the current era through the Onassis Prizes, establishing the Onassis Science Lecture Series at FORTH, Crete and supported the participation of Greek students in the international and highly-regarded scientific Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings.

Education has meaning when it is addressed to all. This isn’t simply a phrase, it’s an unambiguous political philosophy that involves long-term planning and a clear perspective. Each year, Onassis Education grows and develops its educational programs, which are addressed to a wide audience. It opens the doors of the Onassis Library in the historic neoclassical building on Amalias Avenue to present programs for children, families, adults and scholars, bringing them into contact with modern Greek history and the intellectual activity of the Greek people. Likewise, the Cavafy Archive, whose care and promotion the Onassis Foundation has undertaken, continues its educational activities in Athens and surrounding areas.

Within the same framework, the Foundation offers financial assistance to Universities with Greek chairs, departments or programs. Up until today, the Foundation has supported more than 100 educational foundations in 40 countries across Europe, America, Africa, Australia and Asia where Greek studies are taught.

In appreciation of the contribution made by these Universities, as well as of the difficulties they encounter, the Foundation funds established university Programs of Greek Studies which have done important and consistent work. It also supports primary and secondary schools in Europe and the United States that teach the Ancient and Modern Greek language and culture.

Among its other activities, the Foundation awards scholarships to Greeks for postgraduate studies abroad and to non-Greeks for research and postgraduate studies in Greece. This mosaic is completed by Special Education programs, such as “Music Loves Autism”, which brings the meaning of inclusivity into practice. Each year, the educational activities of Onassis Education are aimed at individuals ranging in age from infants to those over 65, offering a respectful instantiation of a line by Vladimir Mayakovski: “There are no gray hairs in my soul!”