OUR MISSION:
The Hellenic Children’s Museum exists to encourage every child to discover, understand, learn, enjoy and shape the world in which (s)he lives with a respect for individuality and an emphasis on team work.
The Children’s Museum is a place that offers multifaceted education and recreation and constitutes an important first step in a child’s familiarity with the concept “museum”.

H.C.M.’s motto is the conviction that real objects, direct experiences and entertainment support and enhance learning. A variety of strategies and programs are used to respond to the way that each of us learns and to encourage imagination, curiosity, critical thinking, and realism. H.C.M gives opportunities for development of children’s perception of the world, promotes involvement in the society and contributes to the understanding of the differences among people. The reasoning of “Learn how to learn” governs the function of all of H.C.M.’s educational programs and activities.

H.C.M.’s legal status:
An N.P.O – N.G.O with educational and cultural purposes, established in Athens, Greece in 1987 by the initiative of Sophia Roque-Mela. It is governed by a 7 member Board of Directors elected from a General Assembly of 52 members.

H.C.M’s first service established:
The educational, 2-year duration, adult’s seminar “Education in Museums” first run in September 1987.

The “Children’s Museum”:
Established in December 1994 by the collaboration of H.C.M and the Municipality of Athens in a neoclassical building circa 1900, once a private home. It is a multi-subject and multi-oriented museum and is the first and only children’s museum and unique in its kind and services in Greece. It derives its subjects from science and technology, the natural environment, arts, social studies, language, mathematics and children’s daily life and interests. The exhibit area of the Museum covers 250 sq. m. and presents both permanent and temporary exhibits.

Museum’s audience:
Since 1994 more than 350,000 children up to 12 years old, parents and educators have visited the Museum.

C.M.’s other services:
Children’s & adults’ library, recycle shop, museum shop, educational programs in C.M.’s exhibits for school groups and drop in visitors, outreach educational programs, museum kits, special theme days, interactive presentation of famous children’s books writers, educational seminars for adult groups, membership program, educational publications, participation in national & international conferences and forums, research & resource center, C.M.’s collections.

H.C.M. consists full member of I.C.O.M (www.icom.gr) and Hands On! International (www.hands-on-international.net)