The 12-year-old Iliana from Syria is a student of Louisa in the “Homework and Creative Activities Center” (HCAC) operating in the Blue Refugee Center of SolidarityNow in Thessaloniki. Through their answers, they share with us the positive imprint of educational procedures in their lives.

Iliana, Syria (Kurdish origin)

What have you learned so far at the HCAC?
I learned to speak Greek and English. Also, I learned that boys and girls are equally capable. The Center is like my home, I feel that I am at home.

What’s your favourite thing about going to the HCAC?
My favourite thing is when I am hugging my teachers. Also, I love doing my homework and learn new things with them.

Louisa Rousomani, Greek

What are the Centers doing for refugee children that wasn’t being done before?

ACE program promotes formal education in accordance with the Convention of children’s rights, since through the program we support and ensure the enrollment in formal education for unenrolled children. Furthermore, we provide psychosocial support and make referrals to other organizations in order to offer integrated support and balance to the children struggling multiple changes. In addition, we establish communication and cooperation among the Refugee Education Coordinators (REC), which is our basis and guide to continue supporting our students efficiently.

Do you have an example of a child who has responded well to the teaching at the HCAC?

It is worthy to mention Iliana! She is 12 years old and she now finishes the Greek primary public school. She also participates in the recreational activities organized based on students’ interests in the Blue Refugee Center’s HCAC almost every day, despite the fact that she lives with her family quite far from the Center. With our support, Iliana not only has improved her school performance, but she has also empowered her identity and boosted her self-esteem. She excels at school as one of the best students of her class and she has acquired strong social skills that support her integration. We are very proud of her and her family that stands by her side!

*The Blue Refugee Center’s operation is supported by UNICEF Greece.

*The project “All Children in Education” (ACE) is implemented by SolidarityNow with support and funding from UNICEF.

#internationalfriendshipday

International Friendship Day, July 30^th: “Friendships have no borders”

On the occasion of today’s World Friendship Day, SolidarityNow starts unfolding a digital short storytelling and photographic tribute to the people who became friends under difficult living conditions, entitled: “Friendships have no borders” via the organization’s social media pages!

It is of the utmost importance that during these tough times our world is facing- war, poverty, violence, human rights abuses, etc.- to confront those crises by creating strong bonds. A united world can be built by making real friendships that have the power to cross borders.

The portrayed people talked to us about the importance of having a true friend by your side and accepting your friends without judging them.

The eight (8) friendship stories that will be presented from today and during the next eight (8) days, are among beneficiaries of the organization’s “All Children in Education” *, “Female Friendly Spaces” (HARP**), and “HELIOS”*** programs from five (5) different open accommodation structures (Andravida, Diavata, Nea Kavala, Thiva, Vagiochori) and Ioannina.

Let’s read what friends shared with us! Follow us social media!

 *The “All Children in Education” program is implemented by SolidarityNow with the support and funding from UNICEF Greece.

**The program “Friendly Spaces for Women” is implemented by SolidarityNow with the support of International Organization for Migration (IOM Greece) in the framework of the HARP program.

***SolidarityNow is a key implementing partner of the International Organization for Migration (IOM Greece), in the framework of the HELIOS project which is funded by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

by the Athens Solidarity Center of SolidarityNow

One of the most interesting and challenging cases with which the social service team at the Athens Solidarity Center (ASC) had to deal with recently, was the one of a 68-year-old beneficiary from Greece with severe health problems.

Mr. S used to work in various sectors to support his family. His life changed dramatically twelve years ago when he was diagnosed with a critical lung problem that gradually worsened. Therefore, he is respiratory supported by a portable breathing apparatus, which allows him to stay outside his home for a very limited time and only with its support. All these years, his family’s only income was from his wife’s part-time job.

When Mr. S firstly asked help from the Athens Solidarity Center’s social service, he believed that social benefits were inaccessible because procedures are too complex.

Mr. S was immediately informed by the social service’s team about the four different support programs: invalidity allowance, pensions/welfare benefits for elderly persons who are uninsured, social household electricity and water tariff. Then, the social service’s team scheduled appointments at municipal offices, where the beneficiary could submit the necessary applications.

Moreover, due to Mr. S’ s health condition, which didn’t allow him to attend the appointments in person, the team contacted the nearest police station, and his wife got the authorization and represented him.

After many dedicated efforts of the ASC’s social service team, Mr. S received the benefits he was entitled to, a fact that created a new reality for him, empowering him financially and psychologically.

*From 1/8/2021 till 31/7/2022, the Athens Solidarity Center’s operation is supported through a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in the framework of its global COVID-19 Relief Initiative.

**From 1/7/2021 till 30/6/2022, Kahane Foundation supports the Psychosocial service of the Athens Solidarity Center.

***The Athens Solidarity Center by SolidarityNow is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.

by the Employability Service of the Athens Solidarity Center, SolidarityNow

A 56-year-old art teacher, painter and sculptor from Greece, living in Athens, sought support from the Athens Solidarity Center’s employability service.

Mr. A. has studied graphic arts and worked for many years as a private sector employee, an art teacher, and a freelance painter and sculptor.

However, after a long period of unemployment it was tough for him to find a job due to his age. The first step taken along with his job counsellor was to discuss and find out his strengths, weaknesses but also his needs and aspirations. Then, Mr. A. was supported to make his curriculum vitae and identify job opportunities that matched his profile.

The most important of all was to get the appropriate support that would help him to make the most of his potential and create a stable plan of action. Due to his age, Mr. A. carried on his shoulders the burden of many disappointments and frustrations. Consequently, he had lost faith on himself, so empowerment was the primary goal set by the employability service’s team. Mr. A. started making gradual steps; he created a list of potential employers and through the guidance of his job counsellor, he began to communicate with them.

The first obvious result of his effort came shortly after and was his part-time job as an art teacher. That was a life-changing step for Mr. A!

And there were more to come! After contacting many art centers, which he found with the help of the job counsellor, he managed to find the one with which he collaborated organizing an art exhibition of his work! The exhibition was very successful, and he achieved to expand his network and receive more job offers!

Today, Mr. A. is a confident man who believes in himself, and he is optimistic about the future!

*From 1/8/2021 till 31/7/2022, the Athens Solidarity Center’s operation is supported through a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in the framework of its global COVID-19 Relief Initiative.

**From 1/7/2021 till 30/6/2022, Kahane Foundation supports the Psychosocial service of the Athens Solidarity Center.

***The Athens Solidarity Center by SolidarityNow is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.

She is 42 years old, mother of a 13-year-old daughter, a businesswoman and a student. Parvin from Iran came to Greece 20 months ago and lives in Thessaloniki. A dynamic woman, with dreams and strong desires, who was forced to leave her country. “In Greece I love the weather, the gentle people and the calm of Thessaloniki. This place is more beautiful than anywhere else”, said Parvin while smiling. She felt that Greece embraced her, and so did her city, Thessaloniki, as she names it, that’s why she stayed!

She quickly moved forward to the next steps to integrate into her new homeland. For the last seven months she has been taking Greek lessons at the “Integration Learning Center” of SolidarityNow in Thessaloniki, which operates in the context of HELIOS program, thus adding one more language to the four already spoken – Farsi, Turkish, Kurdish, English. Apart from learning Greek through the HELIOS program, Parvin has also been supported to find a home, to deal with the banks, public bodies, doctors and successfully complete bureaucratic procedures. “By interacting with the people of the Center, I am learning how to respond in every situation so I can live independently and autonomously. I really like that, and I thank them very much”.

All these skills developed by Parvin, are very beneficial for her, as they led her to become the co-owner of a hair salon in the center of Thessaloniki! The new skills and knowledge in combination with her natural and cultivated extroversion- as she has been a journalist in Iran for many years- helped her in this new professional endeavour!

“At the beginning of the collaboration with my co-owner, I’ve got a lot of help from the people of the Center. With the guidance of the job consultant, we made the necessary private agreement, I learned my rights and obligations and now I feel very confident. From that moment on, when things don’t work out perfectly -we may not have enough work and feel vulnerable- I feel fully supported by the Center. Especially my teacher stands always by my side in these crucial moments, and I am grateful for that”. For all the above reasons, Parvin doesn’t stop attending classes at the Center: “I need to become fluent in Greek because I can have better communication with my customers”.

Parvin also says that she loves the activities taking place in the context of the courses, such as participation in cultural events and visits in archeological and non-archeological sites and monuments of the city: “This is how I got to know about the city that I live and work in. I love all these activities and lessons because they become real by our teachers with the same passion as the courses! They undeniably captivate us, we learn and get excited in the end “, she says with a laugh and made the shape of a heart with her fingers.

Parvin is constantly evolving and facing the future realistically, without losing her hope: “I am worried that the hair salon may not succeed, but I won’t give up, I will do my best. My dreams? To bring my daughter in Greece! Even if I fail in the hair salon I will become a farmer – the land is fertile here and I’m sure that everyone will support me!”

In the remaining time between work and school, Parvin visits Halkidiki with her friend. 

*SolidarityNow is a key implementing partner of the International Organization for Migration (IOM Greece), under the HELIOS project implemented with the funding from the Ministry of Migration & Asylum.

The students of the “Integration Learning Center” of SolidarityNow in Thessaloniki, which operates under the HELIOS* program, “shed light” on Western art.

Nikolaos Dalampouras, teacher, writes about the initiative that turned

students into teachers.

Cultural lessons

In these lessons, the aim was for the beneficiaries to get acquainted with the Western culture and civilization. This time, we, the Center’s teachers, chose to talk to our students about painting in Western culture, but not unilaterally. We focused on the theme by inviting students to speak and present painters and/or cultural movements from their country of origin.

The preparation included introduction to the vocabulary related to painting and reference to some of the basic cultural movements. The first lesson took place with the participation of students from three classes having as its main objective co-teaching and collaborative spirit.

Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment

In order to familiarize the students with the subject, we presented them the main cultural movements from the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment until today and we talked about important paintings and artists. Then, the students participated enthusiastically in a great discussion regarding the various artistic movements. We ended up discussing about the 9^th form of art (comics) and we circulated comics to the class, so that the beneficiaries could read some of them. In the end, the students got excited with the idea of creating a lending library in the Center.

Next goal, the exchange of roles

What we wanted was to motivate the beneficiaries and exchange roles. Thus, we became the audience for which they had to make their own presentations about art. In this direction, the beneficiaries formed groups, each of which dealt with an art form from their country (painting, music, poetry, etc.).

A few weeks later…

We all witnessed an educational process with impressive results! The three groups of students made three presentations with photos and videos talking about the art forms they chose and their representatives.

The first presentation was about the famous Iranian painter Mahmoud Farshchian, quoting from his biography and artistic influences.

The second concerned a contemporary Iranian artist (currently unknown / friend of the beneficiary) citing information from her life, but also her connection with various artistic movements that influenced her (in the end, the beneficiary donated two paintings to the Center created for the presentation’s purpose).

The third presentation was about Iranian dances, describing the various multicultural dance groups of the country.

In this way, the beneficiaries became the teachers and interacted with the audience with pride and enthusiasm. In the end, the students expressed their enthusiasm for the whole project and stated that they would like to do something similar again, on various issues that interest them. They may not realize it immediately, but such activities enhance their skills, empower them and contribute to their social integration. 

*SolidarityNow is a key implementing partner of the International Organization for Migration (IOM Greece), in the framework of the HELIOS project which is funded by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

Mother’s Day | May 8^th, 2022

7 photos of 7 mothers and 13 children for Mother’s Day.

At SolidarityNow we honor the Mother. The Mother from every part of the world.

We present Madlin and Hezrin from Syria, Khaleqi and Nafesa from Afghanistan, Zahra from Iraq, Narmeen from Egypt and Yana from Ukraine. These seven mothers fled their countries in search of security, peace and a better future for their children. In the seven photos we can see them in happy moments standing proud by their children.

All these women are beneficiaries of the “All Children in Education” project, implemented by SolidarityNow with the support and funding from UNICEF Greece. The project aims to facilitate the integration of refugee and migrant children in the formal education setting through the provision of non-formal education (NFE) services in “Homework and Creative Activities Centres” (HCACs) and other complementary activities.

International Women’s Day | March 8^th, 2022

From tomorrow and for 8 days, a story for yesterday’s International Women’s Day.

At SolidarityNow, we celebrate the International Women’s Day, on March 8^th, as we do every year. Through human stories, we aim to inform and raise awareness of the conditions under which women live around the world, where their rights are openly or not openly, violated.

Our world still needs to win many battles on the road to gender equality. And it must do so because women’s rights are nothing more than human rights.

The theme of this year’s tribute is a women’s conversation. The women employees of the organization discuss with the women beneficiaries of the SolidarityNow programs. Moreover, women beneficiaries talk about other women who inspire them, about the international day and what it means to them, they talk through their art, through their experiences.

These women who shared thoughts, concerns, and ideas with us, unanimously decided to dedicate the day and their stories to the women who are now displaced from their homeland, who are struggling to save their children, to those who are leaving them and staying to fight. To the women who abandon a whole life and become a refugee, starting a new life from the scratch, having as their secret weapon an inexhaustible source of mental strength.

The floor to Women.

 * In the picture, an artwork of women and teenage girls from the “Female Friendly Space” operated by SolidarityNow in the open accommodation structure for refugees in Ritsona, with the support of UNICEF Greece, IOM Greece and EU funding. Their artwork symbolises the power derived from female solidarity.

Fotini, teacher, Integration Learning Center, Athens

 Fotini has been working for Civil Society’s organizations since 2016. She is a philologist and teaches Greek to refugees and migrants. Since 2019, she is one of the teachers at the SolidarityNow Integration Learning Center for the “HELIOS” program*, teaching the Greek language to recognized adult refugees living in Greece.

During all this time, being close to the people and the daily effort of the organizations and their employees to comfort and strengthen them to continue their lives, her goal is obvious: “the aim is one; actual integration, achieved only through education”.

With this in mind and heart, Fotini teaches the Greek language every day to people who live in Greece but are not Greeks, but then are equal to everyone and deserve getting the same opportunities – “It is not just the strictly cognitive part“, she says, “but it is the knowledge provided through the program that is applicable in the people’s everyday life. We give them the opportunity to acquire the basic knowledge of Greek, but we also teach them several other skills, related to social behavior, communication, organization and time management”.

Fotini describes many assets of the “HELIOS” program, which, as she tells us, are reflected in people’s lives. Thus, she admires her student who started attending classes without any motivation apart from accepting its mandatory character, and today he has become an interpreter and his classmates’ inspiration! Respectively, she is proud of her student who works hard for a living, but also is meticulous and consistent with his lessons while always expressing his gratitude for his progress – “we have become his point of reference“, Fotini explains with a smile.

“The appropriate structure and curriculum of the educational program, the specific book, the classroom culture and the connection with work counselors, are elements of “HELIOS” that facilitate our work and mainly enhance the healthy multicultural exchange, collaboration, and tolerance. In addition, a positive and optimistic observation is that there is a sizeable participation of women also in the program – there is no exclusion, and that is promising“. For Fotini, this is her crowning achievement, the success of education which is what she loves doing in her life. “When my mind is occupied doing the same thing for a long time, I get tired and search for something challenging and new“, says Fotini, a young woman, fan of lifelong learning.

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The HELIOS program

SolidarityNow in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and in the framework of the implementation of the HELIOS program organizes integration and information classes within its Integration Learning Centers established across Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki, Ioannina).

* SolidarityNow is a key implementing partner of the International Organization for Migration, in the framework of the “HELIOS” program, which is funded by the European Commission – Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME).

• Watch IOM’s new awareness campaign at the link below:

https://greece.iom.int/en/helios-national-sensitization-campaign