Marina Kanta, Team Leader, Legal Service

Athens Solidarity Center*, SolidarityNow

 On the World Refugee Day, I would like to speak TO the refugees and not for the refugees. I do not know the language of the programs …”means of verification, results, inputs, outputs, indicators, numbers”… However, I know the language we have spoken with the beneficiaries in the Athens Solidarity Center (ASC) since 2016, when my own trip there began. I know that the beneficiaries of ASC, refugees, migrants, or Greeks, trusted us because we always had the doors open to everyone regardless of nationality, race, politics and religious beliefs or income criteria and I would like to thank them for that.

I would like to tell them that we tried to listen to them, but also to listen carefully and understand deeply their request. We tried to understand the explicitly expressed but also the hidden request. Behind the phrase: “I want a house, I want papers, I want a job” we heard: “I want someone to care, I want acceptance, I want understanding“. We tried to frame and offer integrated services to the beneficiaries, offer a shelter where socially excluded, vulnerable, tortured people would find a solution for most of their needs. Anyone entering the Center could receive the services of a social worker, consult a psychologist, receive legal advice and representation, visit a job counselor, or receive accounting services. And they trusted us… and came again and again to the point of reference.

Our journey with the beneficiaries was not always easy, we had successes, we laughed, we rejoiced, we hugged but we also experienced setbacks. We experienced tensions, anxiety, and became witnesses of human suffering and trauma. We opened and closed circles, but above all I would like to tell our beneficiaries how much we have learned from them. We admired them for their strength; we learned how you rebuild your life even though there is only debris around you; how you survive when all your dreams collapse; we learned to make sense of things that seemed meaningless; we discovered the resilience we hide. In other words, we matured.

Response to the urgent condition

We managed to keep the “doors open” through hermetically sealed houses, behind glass screens, among empty streets. We have adapted to the digital age, we have responded by all means to the new condition of the pandemic, but the beneficiaries have also adapted, and we all joined forces. We fought with viruses, fines, sms, restrictions on movement but the connection was not lost.

I met S. shortly before the first quarantine, a strong woman from Afghanistan, who speaks five languages. I will not talk about what she suffered in her country as a victim of gender-based violence, nor about her serious health problems. I have only to say about the power of her soul, a woman-inspiration for me. We spent a year in quarantine, communicating inside and outside the hospital, preparing an interview with zoom, skype, teams and whatever was needed. We went together to the first interview for her asylum application, and shortly before the end, S. fainted. Her body just paused, she wanted to stop remembering. The second interview was postponed due to Covid-19. We went to the second interview together; we went to win this time – to win a small battle against gender-based violence.

But if I could address the Center’s beneficiaries, I would like to talk to all those for whom I tried but I failed due to reasons beyond my -and our- control. I failed to help them get the refugee status, I failed to help them in their family reunification request. I would like to tell them I am sorry, and I hope that from now on each of their next journeys and efforts to be successful.

A special dedication

For this day, I would like to make a dedication to a woman refugee, a woman holding a special place in my heart. A woman who did not manage to reunite with her husband. A woman who told me how she literally carried her three baby children on her back and walked day and night on snowy mountain peaks and steep slopes to bring them safely to Greece. She told me about the prison in her country of origin and the tortures she had suffered because she dared to speak her mind. She asked me to get her to Germany quickly, because she was tired, but unfortunately, she did not make it. We did not make it.

I dedicate the next efforts and battles to her.

*Since May 2019, the Athens Solidarity Center is financed by EEA Grants, with CROWE Greece and HumanRights360 as the fund operator. The Center is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.

International Day of Families | May 15, 2021

Hadia and her family are from Hanges, a small village in the city of Duhok in Iraq. In 2019, Hadia and her eight children arrived in Greece through Evros, after wandering for several days and facing difficult weather conditions.  Hadia however never lost her faith, since she always kept her children in mind, along with the responsibility of managing to protect them. From the first moment, she found herself in Greece she felt hopeful that everything was going to be alright, and that a new and better future awaited them.

Currently, they live in the Open Accommodation structure in Serres. They feel satisfied with the living conditions since they now live without fear and insecurity.  Moreover, today the children can go to school, think about their future, and make dreams. Meanwhile, they have succeeded in creating a friendly and supportive environment in the Centre with the other members of the community. The children have developed friendships, Hadia keeps in touch with a lot of women and thus, the feeling of belonging offers them hope and security.

When we asked her what the word “family” means for her she said: “Family means happiness, siblings, mother and father, family means life, it is life itself” and she continues “it doesn’t matter if a family consists of many or few members as long as everyone is united as one”. And she adds: “I feel really proud of the family I have created, and I always hope to be there to for them”.

Hadia is a quite powerful woman and the emotional pillar of the family. She has always been there to provide her family with hope, promising her children that everything is going to be alright. The family’s common dream is to continue being safe and get over their problems in order to be happy.

For the future, Hadia wishes the reunion of her family in a European country, preferably in Germany, where they will be able to live all together, supporting each other. She wants her children to study and to be given the opportunities to pursuit their dreams. Then she will also feel complete, as she said.

*SolidarityNow’s “Child & Family Support Hubs” (CFSH) program is supported by UNICEF Greece and IOM Greece with funding by the European Union.

International Day of Families | May 15, 2021

Rihan and her family are from Kurdistan. They were forced to flee their country, as their lives were in danger. In August 2018, she arrived in Greece with her children, walking through Evros, after several days of hardship and difficulties.

Now, they are living in the Open Accommodation structure of Serres, where they feel safe and secure, as she states. They can live and express themselves freely, they are safe and optimistic about the future. Additionally, they are happy living with other compatriots of their because this condition provides them with a sense of security as a homelike and friendly environment can do. Thus, they can share daily experiences, support each other, preserve their cultural traditions and customs, keeping this way their country close at heart.

In our question of what the word “family” means to her, she replies: “Family is security and love; it is the dreams you make with your children and husband”. She adds however that her own family is separated, as two out of her eight children are in Germany, while her husband continues living in Iraq. Consequently, her dream for the future, is the reunion of her family: “Family means to be together and united”. She is optimistic that her dream will soon come true, “My family’s happiness is the actual notion of happiness”, she adds. She would sacrifice everything, that is, for the family she has created, in order to be able and see her whole family back together. The sole thought that at some point her dream will come true, gives her strength and energy to continue and think that everything will be fine at the end. Rihan is the one who supports her family, being a continuous source of energy. She has created a warm and welcoming home for everyone.

She wishes to see soon her children who live in Germany, and she wants them to be able to study. She strongly believes that when a family is united anything is possible.

*SolidarityNow’s “Child & Family Support Hubs” (CFSH) program is supported by UNICEF Greece and IOM Greece with funding by the European Union.

 by the Legal Service of the Athens Solidarity Center*

We met Anna a few months ago, when she addressed the Legal Service of the SolidarityNow’s Solidarity Center in Athens, in order to seek help regarding her work and her relation with the employer company.

Her story began in April 2020 with the outbreak of the pandemic and the first lockdown. The woman was working in a building cleaning company for many years. When the first lockdown was imposed, due to the curfew and the suspension of all services, she called her employer to find out if and how she could now provide her work. The company’s response was that she would have to wait and they would notify her when she could return to her job duties.

A month later and without having come in any previous communication, they shared with her a voluntary resignation document with her signature. Her resignation automatically meant that Anna could not claim the unemployment allowance provided by OAED, which she would receive if the company fired her. Having a great need for her job and salary, Anna decided to claim her rights and for this purpose, she addressed our Legal Service.

Immediately, our legal team undertook the mediation between Anna and the employer company, by direct communication with the company managers. After persistent effort, constant pressure and meetings with them, we managed to find a commonly accepted out-of-court solution. The company accepted the fair settlement we proposed, which ensured our beneficiary’s basic employment rights.

The compromise we reached provided for the drafting, submission of a letter of dismissal and its notification by the employer company to our beneficiary. Thus, Anna is currently receiving a regular unemployment allowance from OAED, patiently waiting for the day when the pandemic will allow her to work again.

*Since May 2019, the Athens Solidarity Center is financed by EEA and Norway Grants, with HumanRights360 and CROWE Greece as the fund operator. The Center is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.

The 12-year-old A. from Afghanistan lives with her family in the open accommodation structure for refugees and migrants in Ritsona. Her mother has been worried lately, because her underage daughter has severe hearing loss, and this makes it difficult or even impossible for her to communicate with others. The young teenager was isolated from those around her, she was unable to attend school classes, to make friends and she preferred to be alone in her bedroom, playing only with her younger sister. For all the above reasons, the psychological support of A. was deemed necessary by the team of experts of SolidarityNow who are present in the structure.

Following her visit to a clinical audiologist it was decided that she needs to wear hearing aids in order to regain her hearing. However, there were many obstacles and A.’s initial optimism that a solution was found, didn’t last long.

However, good news was just around the corner! There was a hearing aid shop whose owner offered to try otoplastics on A. for free, to see if there was a suitable hearing aid for her.

The day the girl tried on the hearing aid was the day her face started to light up again! After finding the hearing aid that matched the degree of her hearing loss and the proportions of her ear, the manager of the store decided to donate it to A.! Our team visited the store with the minor to pick up her hearing aid. A. introduced herself with enthusiasm and gratitude, “I am A. and I am 12 years old…”. Apart from her hearing, little A. found her smile again!

We would like to thank the company GP Medicals – Χ. ΓΑΖΗ – Ν. ΠΑΠΠΑΣ Κ ΣΙΑ Ο.Ε. for their gift to our young beneficiary and thus, for their support to our work.

*SolidarityNow’s “Child & Family Support Hubs” (CFSH) program is supported by UNICEF Greece and IOM Greece with funding by the EuropeanUnion.

by the Social Service of the Athens Solidarity Center*

When we met Mr. S. at the Social Service of the Athens Solidarity Center, he informed us about how “I was forced to leave my country, not for a better life, but for staying alive”. In his country of origin, he was persecuted and deprived of his rights due to his political beliefs.

After arriving to Greece, 18 months ago, and filing for an asylum application, Mr. S., 39, was diagnosed with cancer. A new enemy now threatens his life. He undergoes the necessary chemotherapy and treatment in a public hospital, but his health condition is worsened by the difficulties of daily living, most notably the lack of housing.

For these issues he sought help to the Athens Solidarity Center and our social service. Every time Mr. S. completes a short treatment in hospital, he anxiously strives for a place to stay, someone to accept to host him, a process inappropriate and risky for his health.

We applied for housing following the procedures provided by the accommodation program for asylum seekers; and of course, we met the inadequacies and torturous delays of the bureaucratic system. Yet, with persistent effort and constant care, we managed to secure a housing position in a shorter period than usual.

The next time he leaves the hospital, Mr. S knows that his has a home now. A safe place where he can rest, eat better, and take care of himself. And we know that we were contributors to his efforts for a life of dignity and hope.

* Since May 2019, the Athens Solidarity Center is financed by EEA and Norway Grants, with HumanRights360 and CROWE Greece as the fund operator. The Center is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.

At SolidarityNow we honored the International Women’s Day by informing and empowering our women-beneficiaries of the programs implemented by the organization. Many and different actions were carried out in the framework of all the programs, with the majority of them and the most targeted ones concerning the women-beneficiaries of the program “Child and Family Support Hubs”* (CFSH), which is implemented by the organization in 14 open accommodation structures of refugees and migrants in collaboration with UNICEF Greece and IOM Greece. In all our efforts to inform and support women, we pay attention to the broader environment and the current conditions, developing activities and discussions, which respond to the issues of today and contribute to the public discourse.

Covid-19’s impact on women

The European Parliament dedicated this year’s International Women’s Day to the crucial role of women during the Covid-19 crisis. Women have been at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic not least because they predominate in the healthcare sector. Of the 49 million care workers in the EU, who have been most exposed to the virus, around 76% are women. Many have also been hard hit as they are in insecure or precarious jobs, which have disappeared or changed with the crisis. In addition, the continuing lockdowns have led to an increase in domestic violence. Women-beneficiaries of SolidarityNow in the open accommodation structure in Andravida sew protective masks for everybody living in the structure from the beginning of the health crisis.

The Greek #metoo

At the same time, Greece is experiencing its own #metoo movement after the allegations of abuse – verbal and/or physical – on behalf of women in numerous professional areas. Antigone Lyberaki, General Manager of SolidarityNow states: “In another very difficult year, we honor the International Women’s Day. Unfortunately, despite the progress that has been made, equality in Greece remains a major issue. The pandemic and the measures to deal with it exert more pressure and erect more difficult obstacles in women’s lives. At the same time, however, they shed light on the value of basic functions offered by women. In this challenging condition we must not allow any setbacks. The beginning of the Greek #metoo and the bravery of many women, fill us with optimism and faith in equality, so that Greek society to enter a new phase“. See the relevant article entitled “What we expect from our #metoo“.

Activities for Women by SolidarityNow | Child and Family Support Hubs

SolidarityNow in collaboration with the Municipality of Thebes and its Women’s Support Counseling Center launched an online painting exhibition on “Woman”. Women, younger and older, who live in the open accommodation structure for refugees in Thebes and participate in the art painting workshops implemented by SolidarityNow in its female friendly space, captured thoughts and feelings for the day in their paintings. The exhibition is available online in the Counseling Center’s blog (http://sumvouleutikothivas.blogspot.com) as well as on the social media of SolidarityNow and the Municipality of Thebes.

In the open accommodation structure for refugees in Drama, the female friendly space opened its doors with treats, flowers, and cards for Women’s Day. On the cards were written words such as: mother, wife, worker, strength, will, abilities. After a detailed discussion of the day’s story, the SolidarityNow team and the women-beneficiaries analyzed the meaning of the words on the cards. Every woman read the word on her card and connected it with the feminine nature. Empowerment videos were presented throughout the day, and the women’s team distributed flowers and love to the women who were unable to attend the event.

In the open accommodation structure for refugees in Ritsona, the teenage girls participated in a discussion with the psychologist of the SolidarityNow team, about women’s rights and the persistent need to defend them. The girls learned to say no with body language and put it into practice through experiential exercises.

In the open accommodation structure for refugees in Elefsina, the teachers of SolidarityNow talked to the young students about the meaning of the day and then asked them to draw a strong woman! A 10-year-old student painted a woman and a man with their fists raised and the message “I support the fight for equal rights” and gave it to his teachers full of pride!

In the open accommodation structure for refugees in Kato Milia, women and teenage girls had the opportunity to discuss the history of this day, the status of women in every decade and part of the world, and to capture on t-shirts empowering expressions that inspire everyone. Driven by a red rose, the women identified their unique characteristics and gave a symbol (shape, color, fragrance and name) to femininity as each one of them experiences and feels it.

In the open accommodation structures of refugees in Volvi, Malakasa and Serres, the next day from March 8 was different for women. There had been group discussions about the significance of the international day, its history, and its importance today. The women wrote short empowerment phrases and posted them on the structures, painted portraits of women and experimented with free drawing, depicting how they imagine the meaning of freedom!

*SolidarityNow’s “Child & Family Support Hubs” (CFSH) program is supported by UNICEF Greece and IOM Greece with funding by the #EuropeanUnion.

International Women’s Day

A story worth reading | Asifa from Afghanistan, an example of strength in the tribute of UNICEF Europe and Central Asia for the International Women’s Day.

The 27-year-old Asifa is a former beneficiary of the “Child and Family Support Hubs” program implemented by SolidarityNow and a current employee at the organization.

The story of Asifa unfolds while talking to Zoi Triantafyllidou, SolidarityNow’s Roving Female Friendly Space Facilitator. We keep what Zoi saw in Asifa from the beginning and Asifa confirmed it: “Asifa had the sparkle to enhance her life and we were there to encourage and support her”.

Read the stories of all women here: https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/unicef-celebrates-refugee-and-migrant-girls-leadership-towards-more-equal-world

*SolidarityNow’s “Child & Family Support Hubs” (CFSH) program is supported by UNICEF Greece and IOM Greece with funding by the #EuropeanUnion.

By the Employability Service of the Athens Solidarity Center*

T. from Morocco is an active and dynamic woman with lots of skills and a big, beautiful smile on her face. T. has been a beneficiary of the employability service at the Athens Solidarity Center for a long time. Along with her employability counselor, the young woman participated in counseling sessions, increasing her self-knowledge and different skills.

Among others, T. loves cooking, and she has her own Facebook page where she shares tasty recipes from Morocco. At the same time, she speaks many languages, ​​and she dreams of becoming a nurse. From the first moment she shared her dream with us, nursing seemed to be a great match for her empathetic, always-willing-to- help personality. For this reason, with the support of the employability counselor of the employability service, T. enrolled in an evening Vocational High School (EPAL) to pursue the specialty of nursing. She has already been studying there for a year and continues with the same enthusiasm! Through school her Greek is also improved tremendously, as we found out when she last visited us at the Center.

Also, during this visit, T. discussed with her employability counsellor the possibility of applying for jobs in interpretation. And so it happened. Job applications were made to several humanitarian organizations, where the multilingual T. could combine her knowledge with her need to offer. At the beginning of the effort, we had no news from the interviews and our effort was focused on enhancing her confidence. And indeed, persistence and patience won.

When an organization asked for the assistance of the Center’s employability service for recommending female candidates to work as psycho-social workers in various languages, T. immediately came to the mind of her employability counselor and recommended her without any doubt. On the last day of 2020, an email from T. confirmed that all went well. It was the best way to end a demanding but challenging and creative year:

“Good morning Eva,

I want to tell you that I done the interview with …. and they chose me, so yesterday I make all the papers they asked and give it to them, I hope it will be okay. Thank you, so much and happy New Year…”

* Since May 2019, the Athens Solidarity Center is financed by EEA and Norway Grants, with HumanRights360 and CROWE Greece as the fund operator. The Center is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.

By the Social & Legal Service of the Athens Solidarity Center*

We met R.M. at the Athens Solidarity Centre in February 2020. R.M. is a 9-year-old child of Kurdish nationality, who came in Greece from the suffering area of Afrin, in north Syria. His father had died a few months earlier. To save him from the war and protect him, his mother took the hard decision to send him all alone abroad, having Germany as his final destination, where his two older brothers live.

R.M. arrived as an unaccompanied minor in our country where a Kurdish family, living in Athens, took care of him, as his mother had arranged. This family brought the minor to our Center and immediately our social and legal services worked together so as to adequately address the child’s needs, regarding housing and assistance with the family reunification request. We had to deal with a particularly vulnerable case: a very young child, frightened, in need of a safe and stable protective environment.

We immediately applied to the asylum service for the registration of the child, so as to obtain legal documents as an international protection applicant and to start the process of the family reunification with his siblings in Germany. In March 2020, the request for international protection of the minor was registered by the asylum service and at the same time the application to be reunited with his siblings in Germany was submitted.

At the same time, given his young age and the inadequate and time-consuming formal system of housing for the unaccompanied minors, we co-operated with the Kurdish family, which seemed positive to assist the child and we decided that the most beneficial option for the minor was to continue being accommodated by them. In order to put the child legally under the care of the Kurdish family, we had to obtain permission by the Juvenile Prosecutor. Thus, we submitted the relevant application, accompanied by a social report, to the Juvenile Prosecutor asking him to assign the temporary care of the minor to this family. Despite the fact that such applications have a low success rate and that all actions took place during the first quarantine period, the Juvenile Prosecutor, examined thoroughly the case and accepted our request. We then collected, translated, and submitted all the necessary documents proving the existence of family ties for family reunification purposes, while compiling the necessary form for the best interest assessment of the minor (BIA). The outgoing request was sent and within a short time we received acceptance from Germany. In the meantime, we kept informing the Juvenile Prosecutor and the brothers of R.M. for the news on the case, having regular contact with them.

The day we were informed about Germany’s acceptance of the case, amid the lockdown period, we were overwhelmed with feelings of joy, optimism, and vindication. When we announced the good news to R.M., we saw his face smiling, even behind the mask and we remained silent for a while to let him realize that his dream of seeing his brothers again, would come true.

We, then, made efforts to speed up his transportation to Germany, in contact with the competent Service, but due to the emergency measures taken for the protection of the public health regarding the flights abroad, it was not possible. During lockdown period, often the 6 months deadline for the transfer to other country is not kept. However, with consistent efforts, we managed to schedule the minor’s flight within the deadline and organized the procedures for his trip. Due to the very young age of the child, it was necessary to be accompanied by an adult. So, we arranged for him to be escorted by his older brother who came to Greece for this purpose.

Till the day he left, we were in frequent contact with the child and the host family, we watched the progress of his daily life, we tried to empower him in the moments that he was feeling tired or disappointed and we tried to keep his hope alive.

Farewell to R.M. took place on the eve of his departure, during December 2020, at our Center, with gifts, treats and warm smiles. We wish him the best for his life in Germany and good luck on the examination of his application for international protection there.

* Since May 2019, the Athens Solidarity Center is financed by EEA and Norway Grants, with HumanRights360 and CROWE Greece as the fund operator. The Center is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.