Ioannis Papafis was born in Thessaloniki in 1792 and although he lived abroad, he never forgot his birthplace. His endowment covered the expense for the erection of the building, designed by Xenophon Peonidi and surrounded by pine trees. It was Papafis? wish that a Boys? Orphanage named ?Meliteus? be founded and maintained. Its E-shaped plan symbolised Eleftheri Ellada (a Liberated Greece). Apart from accommodation, the orphanage also provided orphans with technical training (tailoring, carpentry, shoemaking, furniture-making, electrical work, ironmongery, machining). It currently operates as the Boys? Care Centre of Thessaloniki.