Refugees belonging to the LGBT community face double stigma. This double stigma makes them feel trapped and stigmatized. The last thing we want for the members of the LGBT refugee community in Greece is to give them another “label”. They have already suffered several impositions. Through #iAmStrong, we become their voice to make them feel the liberating power existing in expression and writing.
by Erifyli Driva
How close is Athens to Syria and Iraq? Refugees walk in the city, make their shopping, taste the Greek cuisine and describe their impressions. They talk about their aspirations and goals. Indeed, how do they see us and what opinion they have of our habits and what are their own?
by Kostas Koukoumakas
Three refugees from Congo, two men and one woman, travelled alone and at different times, from Central Africa to Turkey. They arrived in the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea and from there to the mainland – they lived for a few months in the area of Volvi, whereas today they live in Thessaloniki. When they met, they caught the thread from where they had left it back to their homeland. They indulged in what they love which is what keeps them strong on their long journey. Music.
The General Manager of #SolidarityNow, Antigone Lyberaki – Antigone Lyberaki spoke TODAY on Action24 channel for the activities of the organization that aim to improve the living conditions of thousands of people – Greeks, refugees and immigrants.
Speaking of the organization’s Solidarity Centers, she stressed the character of the “open door” of their operation, since they address to all people seeking help to make their lives better, while for the refugee crisis she commented:
“The effort and the interest and the solidarity shown by the people are tremendous, when you explain to them what the matter is: we do not face an invasion of enemy forces, but we deal with people who are trying to escape hell and strive to survive. They come to thrive with us … “.
Watch the clip after 30”.
Dominika Spyratou, the organization’s Advocacy Officer was interviewed by the journalist of the thetoc.gr news portal, regarding the issue of the increased number of refugees arriving in Greece via Evros river and the unprecedented event of the largest number of refugees’ arrivals by the land rather than by the sea for April 2018.
Click here for the full article
#SolidarityNow General Manager, Ms Antigone Lyberaki writes in the newspaper TA NEA on the ongoing increase of refugee flows in the islands and the initiatives that may be taken to integrate these people into the social fabric – initiatives such as SolidarityNow’s Solidarity Centers in Athens and Thessaloniki.
In SKAI’s “Stories” regarding the inclusion of the refugees who are staying in Greece and Europe, Pavlos Tsimas watches the lives of refugees living in Greece trying to learn the Greek language, study and work. Among them there are the beneficiaries and the team members of SolidarityNow’s hosting structure in Attica, under the #estia program implemented in cooperation with UNHCR GREECE and with the funding of the European Commission – Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations – ECHO.
Watch the episode here
“We want to show the lives of specific women who are everyday women like you like me, coming from different countries but having a common characteristic: they never lose their strength”, said Ms Eleni Stamatoukou, Press Officer of SolidarityNews in Thessaloniki at Kokkino 105,5 FM speaking about the objectives of the campaign “8 women, 8 stories, 8 March”, implemented by #SolidarityNow on the occasion of World Women’s Day.
Blue Dots Children and Family Care Centers started in 2016 at Piraeus Port by UNICEF, and Solidarity Now took over 15 months ago to deliver striking results in the holistic support of refugee vulnerable population groups (children, moms and women).
Click here to hear the interview of Ms. Antigone Lyberaki, Gen. Director of Solidarity Now.
