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Description
The partners aim to create a specifically oriented project to support 200 unaccompanied young migrants coming of age in order to facilitate:
- their socialisation, by informing them about European way of life, rights and obligations,
- the smooth exit of unaccompanied minors from reception programmes /specialised accommodation facilities and the start of their independent living in Greece and the preparation for their integration into the labor market.
In order to achieve the above, the partners will take the following actions:
1. Targeted support for the empowerment of beneficiaries with the aim of social integration (familiarisation with the culture and EU law), achieving autonomy and independent living, based on their future plans. Socialisation and social inclusion - psychological support for coping with post-traumatic stress and problems of adaptation to the social and working environment of the host countries. Collaboration with specialized staff, Social workers, psychologists, intercultural mediators, lawyers, to inform the beneficiaries. Personalized and group information is provided on issues of social behavior, Greek and European lifestyle, culture, adaptation to the culture and values of Greece and the European Union and functioning of the individual as a social whole and as a unit.
2. Provision of professional counseling services to beneficiaries through individual and group sessions. Individualised Employment Opportunities Plan.
3. Communication and public awareness actions.
Summary of project results
The aim of this project was to contribute to the preparation of unaccompanied minor refugees, who are close to adulthood and will leave the accommodation structures, in order to be able to face the challenges they will encounter along the way for an independent life in a competitive social - financial environment.
The activities implemented in the context of the Project were the following:
A. Provision of professional advisory support services
The total number of beneficiaries amounted to 130, who lived (during the implementation period) in the hospitality structures: Hellenic Red Cross, Social EKAV and Faros Elpidas. Afterwards, 4 individual sessions (duration 45'') were held for each beneficiary and 2 group sessions per hosting structure. An individual file was prepared for each beneficiary.
The counseling process was adapted to the needs of each beneficiary. Through the counseling process, the beneficiaries discovered their inclinations and possible alternative solutions that they may follow.
The beneficiary''s individual action plan form - Individualized Employment Possibilities Plan, in addition to the beneficiary''s individual characteristics and his/her professional development potential, also takes into account current labor market data and training opportunities for professional rehabilitation. The individual action plan form provides job search and preparation tools for joining the labor market. During the group counseling workshops, which were mainly experiential, the development of communication skills, job search techniques, and information on the work culture of Greece and Europe were discussed.
B. Publicity actions: Dissemination of the objectives and results of the project
1. Creation of a website, presenting the activities of the program https://ypostirixi.freedomgate.gr, https://www.facebook.com/FreedomGateGreece/
2. Posting informative texts on the website and social networks of PYLY ELFTHERIAS and the MUNICIPALITY OF LAVREOTIKI, on the objectives of the program with a clear reference to the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) 2014-2021,
3. Operation of an information kiosk on SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 in LAVRIO and KERATEA.
At the Information kiosk, representatives of PYLIS ELFTHERIAS & the MUNICIPALITY OF LAVREOTIKI distributed brochures to inform and raise awareness among the public on various issues of immigration and the integration of refugee minors into the socio-economic European environment. A total of 200 leaflets were distributed to visitors to the stands.
4. Information events in the Municipality of Lavreotiki
A) On 18/4, the information event of Freedom Gate took place in collaboration with the Municipality of Lavreotiki regarding the Support of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees.
The objectives of the program aimed at preparing minor refugees for their exit from the accommodation structures after reaching adulthood were presented.
The event was invited and attended as speakers, including Ms. Aspasia Argentini, Deputy Councilor of the Municipality of Lavreotiki as a representative of the Mayor, Mr. Dimitrios Razis, Executive of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Mr. Panagiotis Kousoulis, representative of Freedom Gate.
B) On 25/4, the closing information event took place in the Municipality of Lavreotiki. The objectives of the program, the implementation and the results were presented in detail with a clear reference to the contribution of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEΑ).
The event was welcomed by the Mayor of Lavreotiki, Mr. Dimitris Loukas, and interesting were the statements of Mr. Panagiotis Kousoulis – Representative of FREEDOM GATE – Constantinou Triantafyllopoulos, Career/Professional Guidance Counselor, and representative of the European and Development Program Management Service of the Ministry of Citizen protection
At the completion of the project, the beneficiaries acquired the necessary knowledge to integrate into thelabor market through professional counseling activities. All the actions of the project were directed to the understanding of cultural influences, to theawareness of the social and cultural context in the psychosocial environment, to the interculturaldynamics in the counseling relationship, with the aim of formulating sensitive and socially just careerinterventions, which understand the beneficiary as a cultural entity in his life and career.The specific action provides supplies to the beneficiaries in the field of socio-economic integration,utilizing their skills (communication skills, intervention skills, technical skills, etc.)
Through the counseling process, the beneficiaries discovered their inclinations and possible alternative solutions that they may follow. They discussed the sectors that are currently flourishing in the country and that they themselves could be active in. Psychometric tools and/or experiential activities were used to investigate the professional interests and work values of the beneficiaries, from which important conclusions emerged about their professional personality, their professional expectations and how they can achieve their future goals.
In general, the beneficiaries were activated to develop and/or upgrade existing skills that will help them manage their personal and professional lives more effectively. Those beneficiaries who had already developed their skills to a first degree through individual counseling were able to visualize their future careers, evaluate their professional experience, set new goals and proceed to find ways to realize them.