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Girls Education In Orphanages

Orphan girls getting an education in the orphanages in Syra. The education in the two photos is focused on tailoring and cooking.

Education In Orphanages, Ray Ogden

An article describes the chances an orphan has when being exposed to the American education in provided by the Near East Relief schools.

Dr Morgan, Farms In Syra

Agriculture was one of the ways that Near East Relief helped the refugees to earn their own living. The article is written by Dr. O.S.Morgan, with photos are of Dr. Morgan and a farmer.

Portrait of Ioannou Polikhronios, Syra

Ioannou Polikhronios, a child at the Syra Orphanage in Greece. The original caption reads “The presence of the refugees makes it more difficult to get children adopted – harder also for graduated orphans to make a living.” This photograph also appeared in a Near East Relief publication entitled An Investment in Future Manhood and Womanhood.

Young girl at sewing machine in Syra

Young girl working at a sewing machine in an orphanage workshop in Syra, Greece. The orphans sewed clothing and linens for the orphanage and for sale in the community. All profits went toward the orphanage. This photograph also appeared in a Near East Relief promotional booklet.

Farming Class at Syra Orphanage

Relief worker and agricultural specialist Fred Midgley (in white hat) teaches farming skills to a group of Near East Relief orphans at the agricultural school at Syra. The children living at the Syra Orphanage were survivors of the genocides against the Ottoman Armenians and the Anatolian Greeks.

Boys washing radishes at Syra

Boys at the Syra agricultural school — known to the local Greek community as the “American school” — grew a wide variety of foodstuffs, including radishes and other root vegetables that stored well.

Boys playing in the yard at Syra Orphanage

Physical education was an important part of life at Syra Orphanage, and at all Near East Relief orphanages. The children enjoyed recreation periods in the large play yard.

George White with Syra resident

Near East Relief worker George White with “the guard”: the boy who policed the gate between the boys’ and girls’ camps at Syra Orphanage.

Boys gardening at Syra Orphanage

Boys working in the onion field at Syra Orphanage. Syra, which housed 3,000 orphans, also functioned as an agricultural school. The gardens, fields, and livestock helped the orphanage to be self-sufficient while teaching the children valuable skills.

Girls at Syra Orphanage

Two young women pose outside of a building at Near East Relief’s Syra Orphanage. The original caption identifies the girls as two sisters named Sevart and Suzanne. Sevart, or Sirvart, is an Armenian name meaning “beloved rose.” Suzanne’s name may be an Anglicization of the Armenian name “Shushan,” which means “lily.”

Postcard of Syra Orphanage

Postcard featuring the orphanage complex on the island of Syra (Syros). The complex, which housed and educated 3,000 children, was built by orphans and refugees.

Article about Syra

Boys in Syra built an experimental community, complete with a justice system

Student nurses administering trachoma treatment

The original caption reads “treating trachoma patients.” Contagious eye diseases like trachoma were so prevalent that Near East Relief opened a specialized trachoma hospital at Seversky Post in Alexandropol. Student nurses learned to administer medication to younger children. Preventative care helped to reduce contagious diseases. Note the very young appearance of the student nurses. Syra, Greece, c. 1924.

Mr. Ray Ogden

Mr. Ray Ogden, Director of the Boys’ School at Syra Orphanage

Syra Orphanage

Boys at Syra Orphanage built their own small houses as part of an experimental model society

Building Syra Orphanage

Greece provided land for an orphanage on the island of Syra. Near East Relief orphans built a 15-building complex with their own hands, living in tents during construction. Syra ultimately housed 5,000 children.