Better Days
Better Days Greece is a non-profit founded in 2016 that delivers trauma-informed non-formal education and psychosocial support to displaced young people aged 15-24 in Greece, primarily through its flagship Gekko centers and the Gekko Quest learning kits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersMytilene, Greece
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Better Days does
Better Days Greece is a Greek non-profit civil company (AMKE) registered in January 2016 by co-founders Elena Moustaka and Anrika Velychko in response to the refugee influx on Lesvos. Headquartered in Mytilene with an active educational center in Athens, the organization delivers non-formal education and psychosocial support to displaced young people aged 15-24, with a particular focus on unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). Its flagship program, Gekko, provides personalized education plans (IDPs/IEPs), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), trauma-informed pedagogy, and pathways to accreditation such as TOEIC and Ellinomatheia. The methodology is intended to function as a replicable blueprint for education in humanitarian settings.
The product portfolio includes the active Gekko center (Athens, launched July 2023, capacity ~120 students) and Gekko Quest, a self-paced English Language Learning Kit (Volumes 1 and 2) launched in 2025. Former programs include Gekko Kids (Lesvos, 2017-2022), Tapuat (child and family support, 2018-2019), Socrates (sports-based social education, 2019-2020), EcoHub (environmental education, 2017-2020), and Gekko X (STEAM programming). All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries.
Better Days operates as a grant-funded humanitarian NGO with no fee-based revenue. Funding comes from institutional donors and foundations (UNICEF, Le Rosey Foundation, Choose Love, La Liga, MediaPro) and individual donations processed through GlobalGiving and Piraeus Bank. The organization is governed by an Advisory Board comprising co-founder Elena Moustaka, Non-Executive Director and Data Protection Officer Andrew Foley, and CFO Maro Galanou, and employs approximately 83 staff. It is ISO 9001:2015 quality certified (forthcoming), GDPR-compliant under Greek law, and has received the 5th Global Entreps 100 Best Practices award (2021) and the Permaculture Magazine Youth in Permaculture Prize (2020).
Better Days firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Better Days
- Legal name
- Better Days Greece
- Website
- https://betterdays.ngo
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Better Days Greece is a non-profit founded in 2016 that delivers trauma-informed non-formal education and psychosocial support to displaced young people aged 15-24 in Greece, primarily through its flagship Gekko centers and the Gekko Quest learning kits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Better Days industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs (EDAKAMAA), Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL)
Keywords
Where Better Days is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mytilene
- HQ country
- Greece
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Better Days business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Institutional and Foundation Grants: Better Days receives funding from institutional donors and foundations to support program operations. The organization has received support from organizations such as the Le Rosey Foundation and Choose Love for educational programs like Gekko.
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through its website using third-party payment processors including GlobalGiving and Piraeus Bank.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Better Days product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Better Days delivers non-formal educational programs and psychosocial support to displaced children and young people (ages 15-24) in Greece through its flagship Gekko educational centre in Athens, applying trauma-informed pedagogy and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) methodologies. The organization also produces self-paced Gekko Quest English Language Learning Kits and offers pathways to accreditation such as TOEIC and Ellinomatheia exams.
Product overview
Better Days is a humanitarian NGO operating primarily in Greece that provides educational programs and support services for displaced young people. The core product is Gekko, a non-formal educational centre offering personalized education and counseling for youth (15-24 years) experiencing displacement, utilizing trauma-informed and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) methodologies. The product portfolio includes Gekko Quest self-paced English Language Learning Kits as an educational resource. Former programs have included Gekko Kids (Lesvos, 2017-2022), Socrates (sports development), EcoHub (environmental education), Gekko X (STEAM programming), and Tapuat (child and family support). The organization operates from Athens and previously from Lesvos, with a focus on creating sustainable blueprints replicable globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gekko: Better Days' flagship non-formal educational centre providing personalised education and counseling support for young people experiencing displacement. Gekko reimagines the delivery of education in humanitarian settings by emphasising Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and trauma-informed methodologies. Originally launched on Lesvos in 2017, Gekko now operates in Athens as of July 2023.
- Gekko Kids
- Gekko Quest
- Socrates
- EcoHub
- Tapuat
- Gekko X
Products and services
- Gekko (Athens) Better Days' flagship non-formal educational centre providing personalized education and psychosocial support for displaced young people aged 15-24. Gekko reimagines delivery of education in humanitarian settings by emphasizing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and trauma-informed methodologies, and offers pathways to accreditation including TOEIC and Ellinomatheia exams.
- Gekko Quest English Language Learning Kits Self-paced English Language Learning Kits (Volumes 1 and 2) designed for displaced learners as downloadable PDF and audio resources. Produced by the Better Days team at the Gekko Education Center in Athens to extend access to educational content beyond the physical centres.
Quantifiable outcome
- 915 registered students and 452 psychosocial support sessions (Gekko Lesvos, 2019-20)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Better Days
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Better Days technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature1 record
Better Days partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Connect by MusiccoreLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos, contributing to the delivery of non-formal education services.
- Iliaktida AMKEcoreLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos, supporting educational program delivery.
- Refugee Education & Learning InternationalcoreLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos, contributing to education services for displaced children.
- The Blossomly ProjectminorLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos.
- The Light SpaceminorLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos.
- Sporos Regeneration InstituteminorPartner to whom EcoHub was handed over in late 2020 for continued environmental education programming.
- AthleadminorImplementing partner for Socrates sports development project (2019-2020).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Better Days competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kitrinos Healthcare: UK-registered charity providing healthcare and psychosocial support to refugees in Greek camps and community settings, including Lesvos; a directly comparable humanitarian-services NGO in the same geography.
- Movement on the Ground: Greek-registered non-profit founded in 2016 on Lesvos delivering humanitarian aid and community programs for refugees; directly comparable in mission, geography, and beneficiary population to Better Days.
- Lighthouse Relief: Non-profit operating on Lesvos and Samos providing non-formal education, child-friendly spaces, and psychosocial support for refugee children and adults; closely overlapping with Gekko's trauma-informed education model.
- Refugee Education & Learning International (REAL): A Better Days implementation partner that runs its own non-formal education and learning programs for displaced populations in Greece, including Lesvos; comparable in service model and beneficiary base.
Emerging players
- Still I Rise: International non-profit operating schools and educational programs for refugee and displaced children in Greece, Turkey, and elsewhere; an education-focused peer overlapping with Gekko's learner base and methodology.
Broad incumbents
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major global humanitarian NGO providing education, protection, and psychosocial support to refugees and displaced people, including in Greece; a larger incumbent with overlapping SEL and education-in-emergencies programs.
- Choose Love: International humanitarian foundation that funds refugee-focused organizations (including Better Days' Gekko) and runs its own programs; comparable as a funder/operator in the same beneficiary space.
- Save the Children: Global child-rights organization delivering education, protection, and SEL programming for displaced and conflict-affected children worldwide; comparable in target population and program design.
- Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian organization delivering education, protection, and youth programming in crisis-affected countries; a broader incumbent operating in the same humanitarian-education category.
- UNICEF Greece: National committee of a UN agency funding and operating child protection, education, and psychosocial support for refugee children in Greece (and a past Better Days funder); comparable in mission and programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Better Days social profiles
Digital presenceBetter Days compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Better Days financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Better Days leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Better Days funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Better Days M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Better Days
What does Better Days do?
Better Days delivers non-formal educational programs and psychosocial support to displaced children and young people (ages 15-24) in Greece through its flagship Gekko educational centre in Athens, applying trauma-informed pedagogy and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) methodologies. The organization also produces self-paced Gekko Quest English Language Learning Kits and offers pathways to accreditation such as TOEIC and Ellinomatheia exams.
Is Better Days a public or private company?
Better Days is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Better Days founded?
Better Days was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Better Days based?
Better Days is headquartered in Mytilene, Greece, in the Europe region.
How does Better Days make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Institutional and Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are Better Days's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kitrinos Healthcare, Movement on the Ground, Lighthouse Relief and Refugee Education & Learning International (REAL). Still I Rise is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are International Rescue Committee (IRC), Choose Love, Save the Children, Mercy Corps and UNICEF Greece.
Does Better Days have an API?
No public API is recorded for Better Days.
What industry is Better Days in?
Better Days's product category is Humanitarian Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAGAH, Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs, with a secondary code of EDAKAMAA, School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs. Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.