Better Days

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).

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

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

• Non-formal education
• Refugee education services
• Trauma-informed pedagogy
• Psychosocial support
• Humanitarian education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mytilene

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Connect by MusiccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos, contributing to the delivery of non-formal education services.
• Iliaktida AMKEcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos, supporting educational program delivery.
• Refugee Education & Learning InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos, contributing to education services for displaced children.
• The Blossomly ProjectminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos.
• The Light SpaceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Gekko on Lesvos.
• Sporos Regeneration InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner to whom EcoHub was handed over in late 2020 for continued environmental education programming.
• AthleadminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for Socrates sports development project (2019-2020).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/betterdaysngo
• Facebookfacebook.com/betterdaysngo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/together-for-better-days

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Better Days