Press Releases
ElvalHalcor, remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and actively supporting young people, standing firmly behind initiatives that empower the next generation. ElvalHalcor proudly announces its support for the Kydon Special Team - a basketball team dedicated to children on the autism spectrum. Through this initiative, the company actively supports the efforts and important work of an organization whose mission is social integration through sports and the smooth inclusion of children on the Autism Spectrum in an organized and supportive environment.
The “Kydon Special Team” is a basketball team for children and adolescents aged 8 to 16 who are on the High-Functioning Autism Spectrum. It was established under the auspices of Ermis Schimatariou, with a long-standing vision of contributing to the local community and supporting vulnerable social groups. The program of the “Kydon Special Team,” with basketball training as its core activity, aims—through systematic effort and collective cooperation—to strengthen key skills of children on the Spectrum, such as self-confidence and socialization, while also promoting the joy of participation. For the children of Kydon, sports serve as a meaningful tool for development and inclusion, helping shape an environment that empowers, unites, and creates equal opportunities.
At a recent event held on Saturday, April 4, at the Kanithos Indoor Arena “Tasos Kampouris,” and on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day, Nikos Oikonomou, founder of the Kydon Special Team, stated: “For me, the creation of the Kydon Special Team is a lifelong project. The local community has embraced this effort, while parents and children participate with joy and enthusiasm. At the same time, ElvalHalcor supported the initiative from the very beginning in a meaningful and comprehensive way, for which I personally thank them. Their people stood by us from the start, contributing decisively to making a lifelong dream come true—not only for me, but for these children as well. ElvalHalcor’s support has been truly invaluable in bringing this vision to life.”
Chrysa Sarri, Special Education Psychologist of the Kydon Special Team, stated: “Today is dedicated to World Autism Awareness Day. Essentially, it is a day of awareness, and Kydon is at the forefront, ready to share an important message: Sports are for everyone.”
John Koufopanos, R&D Project Evaluation Director at Elval – Aluminium Rolling Division of ElvalHalcor, stated: ❝At ElvalHalcor, we firmly believe that sport is a powerful means of empowerment, social inclusion and personal development for all. We place particular importance on supporting initiatives that promote inclusion and strengthen local communities. The work of the Kydon Special team is an outstanding example of how sports can serve as a bridge to participation, development and social interaction for children. Through its activities across the regional units of Viotia and Evia, it fosters an environment of inclusivity and collaboration, guided by the core values of sport and fair play. We are very proud of this initiative and wish the Kydon Special Team continued success in their important work.❞
For ElvalHalcor, the needs of every child and every community in the areas where it operates are a call for active participation and support. With a strong sense of responsibility and sensitivity, ElvalHalcor will continue to support initiatives that meaningfully contribute to inclusion and to improving the daily lives of social groups in need.
You can watch the related video about the initiative here: https://youtu.be/bjv4BxIgRgo
