Give hope to children and horses
With every donation, we can finance the construction of covered wagons that provide accommodation for children and their families during their therapy at this place of healing.
As a token of our appreciation, we will offer covered wagon overnight stays and riding lessons on the farm in 2026:
For a donation of €100 or more: 1 overnight stay and 1 riding lesson
For a donation of €200 or more: 2 overnight stays and 2 riding lessons
For a donation of €300 or more: 3 overnight stays and 3 riding lessons, and so on.
Additionally, we offer guided tours.
Our crowdfunding project to rescue horses and help children.
For 30 years, the horse farm of activist and horse whisperer Konstantino Amberiadis has been giving both children and horses new hope and targeted support.
Children with serious health issues such as cancer, diabetes, and autism often face enormous challenges that heavily burden their daily lives. On the horse and donkey farm at the foot of Mount Olympus, Konstantino Amberiadis, together with volunteers, has been using a holistic approach, focusing on the emotional and social needs of these children.
For these brave little fighters, the connection with horses is a true gift, as horses are empathetic souls capable of forming a special bond with the children. They help them build self-confidence and overcome obstacles—both physically and emotionally.
Konstantino Amberiadis provides therapeutic riding free of charge for children with health problems.
The farm in Variko, at the foot of Mount Olympus, is registered as a nonprofit association “Therapeutic-Educational-Cultural Caravan” (TECu.Ca).
Riding excursion with students
Amberiadis with students on the farm
The crowdfunding goal: 20,000 euros
20,000.00 euros for the financing of 2 covered wagons and 3 tents for children with their families and for volunteers on the farm.
6,500.00 euros |
for Covered Wagon No. 1 |
6,500.00 euros |
for Covered Wagon No. 2 |
1,000.00 euros |
for transport from Romania |
3,000.00 euros |
for 3 tents including transport |
3,000.00 euros |
for wooden floors, fences, and site preparation for the accommodations |
20,000.00 euros |
total cost |
We place great importance on using environmentally friendly and sustainable methods in all our activities, purchases, and transports.
Two such covered wagons will be made available to children and their families on the farm’s grounds. For a donation of 100.00 euros, you and your family will have the opportunity to stay on the farm.
See you soon, we look forward to welcoming you!
Three tents will be made available to families and volunteers on the farm to facilitate regular work on the stables, fences, and other projects. Please support us with your donations, so they can stay on-site while working.
Your donation will contribute to the expansion of the stables. As a thank you for a donation of 100.00 euros or more, we warmly invite you and your family to stay overnight on the farm.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Konstantino Amberiadis founded the NGO Θεραπευτικό-Εκπαιδευτικό-Πολιτιστικό Καραβάνι (ΘΕΠΚ) this year, which translates to “Therapeutic-Educational-Cultural Caravan” (TECu.Ca).
For 30 years, Konstantino Amberiadis, a student of the renowned horse whisperer Monty Roberts, has been rescuing horses from slaughterhouses, freeing them from poor conditions and from the hands of animal dealers.
On his donkey and horse farm, located on the grounds of the Agios Dionysios Monastery, Amberiadis helps the horses regain trust in humans and shows people how to communicate with horses without the use of violence.
“The interaction between the children and the horses is a profound and therapeutic experience. Horses are empathetic animals that can form a close bond with the children. This connection helps the children develop self-confidence and better cope with their physical and emotional challenges. Therapeutic riding and working with animals in a supportive environment are intended to help strengthen the children again.”
This year, Konstantino Amberiadis decided to take a step further by founding his association: Together with numerous volunteers, he plans to set up 2 covered wagons and 3 tents on the farm’s grounds. The goal is to provide families with children facing serious health challenges the opportunity to stay with their families during their therapeutic riding sessions.
The daily life on the farm
Children receive hope
Here, children can learn to overcome fear and threat, recognize and process emotions, sharpen their perception, and develop techniques for communication and non-verbal interaction. Above all, they can, for a time, forget about their daily struggles.
Children and adolescents on the farm: Interacting with the horses on the farm helps reduce stress and promotes mental and emotional healing.
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Konstantino Amberiadis with a school class
The supporters and volunteers of the farm
Volunteers, donations, and a lot of passion
Without the support of volunteers, material and monetary donations, and the backing of three local supermarkets, the farm would have faced significant challenges, especially during the winter months. In winter, the animals require additional feed – a considerable cost factor. The expansion of the stables and fences, the construction of the well, and numerous repair works would not have been possible without the dedication of many volunteers.
Giorgos Prinjios
Dagmar Patentalis
Gregory Veriotis
Volunteers …
Dear friends,
Dear friends, our work is only possible thanks to generous donations, volunteer commitment, and collaboration with local and global nonprofit organizations.
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We are always looking for supporters who share our goal and want to help give hope to both animals directly threatened by slaughter and children in need of special care. Every animal saved through our project not only has the chance to live a free life but can also positively impact the life of a child, whether with or without health issues.
Support our project with a donation through this crowdfunding page, which we have set up for the purchase of two mobile homes and three tents, where children with health issues and visitors of the farm can participate in some of the many cultural, tourist, educational, and therapeutic programs we will be developing. Every donation helps, no matter how small.
We will offer attractive rewards for our supporters, ranging from a personal tour of our facilities, riding lessons, overnight stays in the mobile homes and tents on our farm, to guided tours of Mount Olympus and many other surprises.
Join us and help us begin this amazing journey.
I am taking part in this project because I firmly believe that culture, education, and community are the foundation for positive change.
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With the project in Variko, we want to create a place where animals and people come together, opportunities arise, and our shared vision of a better future becomes reality.
Let’s build bridges together and create lasting change.
Thank you for being part of this journey!
As part of the warm hospitality of Costas Aberiadis at the Olympus location in Katerini, I visited his horse farm in Variko,
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…where, with great dedication and love, a center has been established to support children with special needs.
Under the expert care of Kostas, the farm’s horses play a crucial role in creating a peaceful environment for human-animal communication. One can truly feel how these noble creatures reciprocate the love and care of their guardian by finding ways to communicate with autistic children—something that, strangely enough, even all the advancements of science and therapy do not always achieve.
I left Variko with gratitude and deep impressions, hoping that this noble endeavor will bear fruit and that many children facing challenges will find the connection with the world they long for.
With heartfelt wishes, warm regards, and sincere thanks,
Gerasimos
www.gtzivras.de
Linda, Volunteer
Join our dedicated volunteer team and make a real difference in the lives of horses and children!
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Your support matters and helps us advance our mission! Spend a day on the farm, assist with daily tasks, and connect with our horses and community. We appreciate every helping hand!
Lara L., Volunteer
Last summer, I learned so much about horse care and management. There’s always something to do, and I absolutely loved it. That’s why we’re coming back next year!
Maria L., Volunteer
Volunteering on the farm has truly changed my life. The bond with the horses and the community is truly magical.
Magdalena Kregiel
Visiting Konstantinos’ farm opened my eyes to the incredible work being done here to save these animals.
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The work here is priceless. I have learned so much about treating animals with respect. My time on the farm was truly life-changing. The dedication of the team and the love for the animals are truly inspiring. A heartfelt thank you!
Kalistratos, Chalkidi
Our children have learned patience and empathy through interacting with the horses. We are very grateful to Konstantinos.
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My wife and I have been supporting the initiative for many years and are grateful for every contribution towards the children and the horses. Please donate for Variko, with heartfelt thanks, Kalistratos.
Darius Klapa
This farm is a paradise for horses and people. I’m happy to help every year with the expansion of the stables and fences.
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Please contact us if you would like to offer volunteer work, materials for wooden structures, paint, animal feed, etc.
You can sponsor one of our animals by covering the costs for feed, medical care, and treatment.
Grigoris Veriotis
Kostas Amberiadis combines profound knowledge with a passion for conservation in his personality. His ability to connect people and horses harmoniously is the result of years of practical experience, which enables him to specialize in nurturing this relationship.
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As a journalist, radio producer, and television host, I have created many television and radio programs about Kostas Amberiadis and his farm. He is a person who has saved numerous horses from slaughter and abuse. These horses are trained as therapy animals and help many children with special needs alleviate their pain and experience joy.
This extraordinary ability of Kostas Amberiadis, the horse whisperer, required extensive research, studies, and tireless work over many years, which has provided him with immense knowledge.
As a traveling cyclist and experience-driven journalist who has spent two decades outdoors, I have met thousands of people around the world. Kostas Amberiadis’ personality and work encompass not only innovative approaches but, above all, a consistent, tireless commitment to honesty and selflessness. His work is dedicated to the protection of nature and teaches people to communicate with it, understand it, heal it, and, through this relationship, heal themselves.
I am an admirer of his work and unequivocally state that he should continue his valuable work for humanity and nature through the project that requires our involvement.
Grigoris Veriotis
(World-Class Cyclist)
Member of the International Association of Cretan Journalists
Member of the Hellenic Media Group
Michaelis Patentalis, Projektleiter
Writer, President of the Association of Greek Authors in Germany
The Positive Impact of Culture and Literature as a Therapeutic Tool
Culture and literature are much more than mere sources of entertainment or education – they possess a profound, healing power that can support people in difficult life situations. Whether in the form of a moving poem, an engaging novel, or through attending a cultural event, literature and art touch the soul, provoke thought, and open doors to inner worlds. In therapeutic work, literary texts and cultural expressions create a space for reflection and self-expression. They enable individuals to better understand and process their own emotions and experiences. Literature invites us to dive into the lives and perspectives of others, fostering empathy and helping us feel less alone in our own life stories.
Especially in group therapy, cultural and literary activities can build bridges between participants. Shared reading, discussion, or creative writing promote exchange, strengthen the sense of community, and provide a safe platform to share thoughts and emotions. Scientific studies also confirm that literature and art can have a positive effect on mental health. They reduce stress, enhance resilience, and promote emotional intelligence. The creative process – whether through writing, reading, or enjoying cultural performances – has a calming effect on the nervous system and can aid in coping with traumatic experiences.
In a world often shaped by rush and pressure, culture and literature provide a necessary counterbalance. They remind us to pause, connect with ourselves, and embrace the healing power of stories and artworks. Their therapeutic impact is a valuable contribution to a holistic approach to mental and emotional health.
Through projects that consciously use culture and literature as therapeutic tools, we can help people discover new perspectives, unleash their creativity, and restore their inner balance. Culture is not only an expression of our humanity – it is also a means of preserving and strengthening it.
Support “Variko” and help us offer children new perspectives through the power of culture, literature, and nature. Every donation counts!
Carolin Kanngießer, Crowdfunding-Kampagne
Please donate, every contribution counts. I look forward to your visit to this Healing Place at the foot of Mount Olympus!
Work Appointment 1: Kick-Off Meeting on the Farm
Horse whisperer Konstantinos Amberiadis and I, Carolin Kanngießer, will be in Variko in mid-October 2024 to learn more about the farm, which I have heard so much about from my friends in Düsseldorf.
Work Appointment 2: Planning the Crowdfunding Campaign
I find out that children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, together with their teachers or organizations, regularly visit the farm. Here, they enjoy interacting with the animals and receive therapeutic riding lessons. The farm has repeatedly been promised financial support from the Greek state, but nothing has materialized. With a lot of dedication, donations, friends, and volunteers, the farm has been preserved, the stables expanded, and the care of the animals has been secured for 30 years.
In the following days, I learn impressive details about the history of this unique farm and its founders, who have been providing hope and targeted support to children and horses for three decades, driven by conviction.
Ceda, Crowdfunding-Kampagne
Last year, I lost my wife. Cancer. I lost hope and dream about a happy family. We are not complete any more as a family.
A few months after her death, I made a crazy decision—we would go to Greece, the first time my sons would see the seaside and taste salty water. Me, too. I’ll be on the beach after 20 years of hard work and coping through life.
We were at Kostas’ villa when I felt a pang of conscience. I’m going to the beach while my wife is no longer with us, no longer lives—devastating feeling.
Kostas asked me if I’d like to visit his horse farm, where he saves horses from slaughterhouses and uses them to help children in need.
While we were near the horses at Variko village, I felt hope and love again. I saw smiles on my sons’ faces, hope in their eyes, and the unsaid words, “We will make it, not everything dark as we thought…”
I felt hope at Variko again, and I made another decision—I’ll help Kostas as much as I can because his dream becomes my dream!
Please DONATE and bring smiles to more little faces; help children to get sparkle in their eyes again!
Thank you for your support!
Your contribution helps finance accommodations for the farm, enabling children and their families to stay during their horse-assisted therapy. Donate, volunteer on-site, or sponsor a horse. We are grateful for any support. For your donation of 100.00 euros or more, we would like to thank you with an overnight stay in the new accommodations on the farm. We invite you to the farm of hope and healing – as our thank you, on behalf of the children and the horses. Details about our thank you for your donation will be available when the fundraising campaign begins.
Security and Transparency of Your Donation
Your security is our top priority. Our donation platform, Donorbox, ensures the highest security standards by using 256-bit SSL encryption to protect your payment information. Donorbox converts all your payment data into a secure token (e.g., “tok_fafds23423”), meaning we never store credit card information on our servers. This data is processed exclusively by certified payment providers.
Your donation goes directly to the account of the registered nonprofit organization TO KARAVANI – A.M.K.E., represented by Mr. Konstantinos Amberiadis.
Thank you for supporting our work and placing your trust in us!