Athens Solidarity Center

Description

This project is a continuation of the main activities from Pre Defined Project 2, and the objective is providing holistic support to individuals at risk of social marginalisation and exclusion and paving the way towards their empowerment and self-reliance. Athens Solidarity Centre (ASC) will continue providing services through a holistic approach (“one-stop shop”) bringing together expertise across different fields and complementary services. 

The project will ensure the provision of a comprehensive package of complementary services, including:

• Legal aid and information services provided through counselling sessions and facilitating access to the state welfare system and other services as required, allowing individuals to become aware of and act upon their rights;
• Employment assistance including preparation, capacity building and jobs matching.
• Accountancy services handling pending issues with fiscal, state and banking authorities
• Supporting vulnerable individuals and unaccompanied minors, with their registration by the Greek Asylum Services.
• Cooperation with Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (Pre defined Project) related to referrals of beneficiaries to and from Athens Solidarity Center and Athens Development and Destination Management Agency for relevant beneficiaries to have access to services provide by both entities.

Summary of project results

The project aims to support marginalised and vulnerable individuals residing in and around Athens to empower them to become active and productive members of society. More specifically, the project target groups are those who are (or at risk of becoming) socially excluded. These include a) individuals with minimal or no income regardless of national or ethnic origin; and more specifically, b) migrants who have not managed to find their place in the social sphere; c) ethnic minorities (such as Roma); d) refugees and asylum seekers; e) young people who not in employment or educational system ; and f) individuals aged 55 and over with no supportive network. A particular focus is given to groups who require targeted support such as LGBTI individuals.

The objective of the project is to provide holistic support to individuals at risk of social marginalisation and exclusion and pave the way towards their empowerment and self-reliance. This is achieved through the provision of a comprehensive package of complementary services (free of charge) including psychosocial – supporting access to the asylum process, public education and healthcare, as well as empowerment and addressing trauma, legal aid and legal representation – allowing individuals to become aware of and act upon their rights; accountancy services – supporting people to regulate pending issues with fiscal, state and banking authorities; and specialised support to mothers, children and other vulnerable groups. The ASC will also continue to host the Greek Asylum Services to carry out the registration of vulnerable individuals and unaccompanied minors in particular.

An estimated 2,700 individuals will be directly supported throughout the programme.

 

Provided Services

The Social Service welcomes the largest numbers of beneficiaries, most of whom have severe vulnerabilities. The vast majority are asylum seekers or refugees, mainly from sub-Saharan countries and Pakistan, while the number of Greeks supported has been increasing over the last years, reaching 15% in Q2 2023. Notable is also the share of individuals without documents supported by the ASC, reaching 14% during the same period. In terms of gender and age, almost half (48%) were women and 4% are minors (mainly unaccompanied), while 28% were under 30.

The Legal Service  offers both legal consultation, mediation, and court representation. Legal aid is a service that needs to be provided immediately because usually there are deadlines involved (expiration of legal papers, interview date, court hearing) or emergencies (danger of eviction, detention, bodily harm). The team prioritises the most vulnerable cases of both Greeks and third country nationals, with the larger percentage of beneficiaries historically belonging to the latter category, specifically Afghans, Iranians, and nationals of sub-Saharan Africa. The team has developed comparative expertise in family reunification cases and court representation – which is not commonly included in most free legal aid services. The support provided includes interview preparation for asylum, family reunification cases, appeals, other residence permits, applications for citizenship, legal counselling, and court representation of gender-based violence victims, legal counselling in civil cases, labour law and pension claims, court representation in magistrates court cases for the correction of personal details in the registry, court representation in cases of change of gender identity and support in penal law cases, legal mediation and extrajudicial resolution of disputes, assistance in depth settlements and assistance in pension cases. The Legal team collaborates closely with the Asylum Service for vulnerable individuals, also accommodated in the centre.

The Accounting Service  the support is focused on providing solutions for key issues that allow access to much needed benefits and entitlements – including tax statements, enrolment for benefits, advisory on tax issues, debt and unemployment, issues of unemployment cards with OAED and transportation (ATHENA) cards.

The Psychologist  and Child Friendly Space (CFS) Facilitator closely collaborate to support adults and children to overcome trauma and address issues through different methods, based on the needs of each person. The psychologist  carry out individual and group counselling, psychotherapy, targeting both local and refugee/migrant population suffering from an array of psychological issues including trauma, anxiety, domestic violence, identity issues and mental health disorders. The support is also empower individuals and support their integration. The operation of a CFS, will act as a space where parents can leave their children while accessing the ASC services, and where children can access tailored activities. The CFS will be open for children to enjoy while their parents receive support, while educational and recreational activities will also be led by the CFS Facilitator and volunteers, bringing together children of different backgrounds together to learn, interact and enjoy themselves.

The work of the teams is supported by the Reception/ First Guidance and Referral team (one staff, supported by interpreters), who are responsible for the first reception and screening of beneficiaries arriving at the Centre. The reception registers new beneficiaries, answers incoming calls and emails, handles appointments, and manages the overall flow of beneficiaries and their requests internally to ASC services and externally through a robust referral system. External referrals are made when the requests cannot be addressed by any of the ASC services (Social Service, Legal Counselling, Employability Service, Accounting Services) or are related to the provision of in-kind support.

Beneficiaries, who don’t speak Greek or English are supported with the assistance of our team of trained interpreters (three people) in French, Arabic, Ukrainian, Farsi, Dari, Pashtu and Urdu. Individuals are provided with information and directions, including printed maps for other NGOs or public sector services, and a list of free services and leaflets in Athens in various languages, including educational activities and institutions, health care services and social pharmacies, helplines for various issues, food kitchens and programmes, information on how to access non-food items (NFI) such as clothes, etc.

During the program implementation period the Athens Solidarity Centre team provided holistic support to individuals at risk of social marginalisation and exclusion, paving the way towards their empowerment and self-reliance. 

The Athens Solidarity Centre provides a comprehensive range of social services to address the diverse needs of its beneficiaries. These services include individual sessions for needs assessment, support and empowerment, and document preparation (e.g., housing applications, asylum applications, child protection cases, and applications for social benefits).

The reception holds a pivotal role in ensuring a streamlined entry and information-sharing process for all. Duties include the initial screening to understand and assess beneficiaries'' needs, as well as the prioritization of these needs based on their urgency or level of vulnerability. The team engages with beneficiaries in a manner that is both compassionate and respectful, offering tailored assistance or making precise referrals to ASC services. When the ASC cannot fully meet the needs of a beneficiary, they are referred externally to suitable organizations capable of providing the necessary assistance. The presence of a cultural mediator is imperative to facilitate precise and comprehensive communication, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the needs of each beneficiary.

The Reception Team maintains an accurate service mapping for the Attica region, offering beneficiaries current and precise information. This includes comprehensive details regarding transportation options within the city, associated expenses, and any potential disruptions stemming from strikes or other events. This commitment ensures that beneficiaries remain well-informed and can adeptly navigate the area. Cultural mediation is provided in 10 languages and dialects (in addition to Greek and English spoken by most of the team).

The  social services supported individuals through sessions and faced both challenges and rewards throughout the reporting period. The social service team offered crucial support to numerous beneficiaries, demonstrating their dedication to addressing various needs and enhancing the well-being of those served. This period underscored the team''s commitment and the impactful nature of their work, establishing strong, enduring relationships of trust and cooperation with beneficiaries. Operating with an ''open door'' policy, the social service catered to all beneficiaries without requiring appointments. Social workers conducted comprehensive history intakes to appropriately refer beneficiaries to relevant services. Additionally, they played a crucial role supporting the ASC reception, assisting with unclear requests, managing high volumes of public attendance, and addressing crises or tensions.

Social workers managed requests related to housing, child protection, social benefits, medical appointments, administrative asylum and immigration issues, issuance of administrative documents, enrolling children in schools, and providing counseling and empowerment services. The demographic profile of those seeking social services was diverse, including unaccompanied minors, single-parent families, victims of gender-based violence, individuals without support networks, those with serious or chronic health issues, and LGBTQ+ community members. In terms of the nationality of those supported, there was an increase in individuals from countries including Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The ASC social service faced numerous challenges, including a significant surge in arrivals in Athens from Aegean islands, predominantly from Yemen, Palestine, Sudan, and Afghanistan. These arrivals often encountered complex processes without a supportive network or access to accommodation. Additionally, beneficiaries faced multidimensional vulnerabilities, requiring social workers to create safety frameworks, empower individuals, and connect them with specialized services for holistic care.

The social service also managed an increasing number of requests related to asylum issues, assisting beneficiaries who received rejections of their asylum applications. Support from the social workers included informing and supporting them to request free legal aid for filing appeals and submitting subsequent applications to the Ministry.

Challenges included a lack of interpretation services for certain languages, which hindered adequate preparation and support.

The project¶s emergency and ad-hoc support for beneficiaries was utilized to respond to urgent needs not covered through other interventions. This included costs such as travel tickets for individuals receiving positive placement decisions from the ministry. Such as transportation to camps (train and bus fares) or covering expenses for afternoon public hospital appointments.

The ASC provides psychological support to foster integration, personal development, and empowerment. This includes individual counseling for trauma and other issues (e.g., stress, domestic violence, mental health issues) and group counseling to address common challenges. The psychological support team supported  beneficiaries through sessions over 3 months  and focused on helping individuals process past traumas and navigate daily life complexities, supporting undocumented individuals as well as those requiring psychiatric care with referrals to other NGOs. Special focus was placed on women survivors of gender-based violence, individuals who experienced domestic violence during childhood, and young adults facing acute survival stress. 

The ASCs legal service provides comprehensive legal assistance to beneficiaries through legal counseling sessions, mediation, and representation.

The legal team provided targeted assistance to applicants with high vulnerability profiles. Beneficiaries frequently included asylum seekers who fled their countries due to persecution, torture, imprisonment, or threats of death due to their race, religion, social and political affiliations. Their efforts significantly impacted the lives of refugees and migrants, particularly through preparation for asylum interviews and representation in various legal proceedings.

The legal team also played a crucial role in addressing urgent needs, such as assisting with residence permits, travel documents, and administrative processes. Mediation proved effective in resolving disputes without resorting to lengthy court procedures, particularly in cases involving labor issues, tenancy disputes, and family law matters. ASC legal services emphasized inclusion and support for vulnerable groups, including those experiencing gender dysphoria seeking legal gender recognition. The team successfully represented beneficiaries in court, aiding them in obtaining legal documents that reflect their affirmed gender identity. 

The legal service''s impact extended to assisting with pension issues, labor law disputes, and providing comprehensive support to ensure beneficiaries could navigate complex administrative processes. This holistic approach ensured that individuals received the necessary legal support to enhance their stability and integration within the community.

The operation of the Child Friendly Space (CFS) operated throughout the center¶s operating hours, providing a safe space for parents to leave their children while they received services from the ASC. Moreover, the space served to also support and complement other activities taking place in the center.

SN organized children into three age groups in the CFS, offering both structured and unstructured activities comprising of recreational, educational and creative activities around various themes related to play.  

Additionally, SN organized numerous activities centered around global awareness days, using them as educational reference points for the children. At the Child Friendly Space within the ASC, on the occasion of World Children''s Rights Day (November 20), SN led an activity through which children''s rights were discussed. Through storytelling, SN identified cases in which rights are defended or violated and sent a message to all the children to inform them about their rights». The Child Friendly Space also actively participated in the project addressing gender-based violence within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism, adapting it for children, and raising awareness about this critical issue.

This multifaceted approach not only provided a safe and engaging environment for children but also educated them on important global themes and social issues, ensuring their development and awareness among the young participants. 

ȉhe accounting service requests mainly focused on the issuance of TaxisNet codes and registration with EFKA, including the assignment of an AMKA (Social Security Number). This was essential to enable beneficiaries to access the job market or register with the national unemployment agency (DYPA).  

During the program implementation period, the Athens Solidarity Centre team provided holistic support to individuals at Application Form / Concept Note, project logframe, timeplan and data recorded for project monitoring by project expected risk of social marginalisation and exclusion, paving the way towards their empowerment and self-reliance.  output.

Legal status of the beneficiaries: there continues to be a notable increase in the number of undocumented individuals supported by the center, amounting to  (25%). The remaining were asylum seekers(32%), individuals had residence permits (12%),  were refugees (17%),  Greek Citizens (13%) and  individuals held a Visa or EU identity card (2%). 

Nationalities of the beneficiaries during the reporting period: 27% from sub-Saharan African countries, 16% were from Pakistan, 13% Greek citizens, 9% from Afghanistan, 7% from Ukraine, while the remaining 28% came from 37 different countries. 

The ASC continues to host the Greek Asylum Services (GAS) to carry out the registration of vulnerable individuals and unaccompanied minors.

More specifically:

Reception and cultural mediation 

The ASC Reception holds a pivotal role in ensuring a streamlined entry and information-sharing process for all. Duties include the initial screening to understand and assess beneficiaries'' needs, as well as the prioritization of these needs based on their urgency or level of vulnerability. The team engages with beneficiaries in a manner that is both compassionate and respectful, offering tailored assistance or making precise referrals to ASC services. When the ASC cannot fully meet the needs of a beneficiary, they are referred externally to suitable organizations capable of providing the necessary assistance. The presence of a cultural mediator is imperative to facilitate precise and comprehensive communication, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the needs of each beneficiary.

The Reception Team maintains an accurate service mapping for the Attica region, offering beneficiaries current and precise information. This includes comprehensive details regarding transportation options within the city, associated expenses, and any potential disruptions stemming from strikes or other events. This commitment ensures that beneficiaries remain well-informed and can adeptly navigate the area.

Cultural mediation is provided in the following languages (in addition to Greek and English spoken by most of the team): French, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Urdu, Pashto and Ukrainian. 

Social Service 

Throughout the implementation period, the Social Service team was the central point for all beneficiaries seeking support by the center.  The main requests of the people without legal documents are to register with the Asylum Service or for a first claim, housing, and issuance of social security number (AMKA). 

The Social Service conducted  sessions, supporting beneficiaries.

The ASC social service team is primarily dedicated to conducting face-to-face consultations while administrative tasks are managed during quiet periods. The support services are tailored to address a broad spectrum of needs, spanning from housing requests and asylum registration and support to medical needs and social benefits issuance to specialized child protection cases and the completion of Best Interest Assessments for Family Reunification cases.

A special emphasis is placed on children and families, facilitating their seamless integration into the public education system while addressing their unique educational requirements. Additionally, the team coordinates informative sessions and organizes psychosocial activities to provide additional support to these beneficiaries.

The healthcare referral process is efficient and effective, guiding individuals toward suitable facilities such as public hospitals and clinics.

Particularly vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors, the elderly, and pregnant women, receive personalized assistance and accompaniment for accessing healthcare services.  Furthermore, the team offers counseling and empowerment sessions to individuals facing non-clinical social or family-related challenges.

Individual Unaccompanied Minors, mainly from Pakistan and Afghanistan, visited the center with basic requests for accommodation and registration in the asylum service. The team proceeded to refer the requests to the Special Secretariat for the Protection of UAMs.

Witnessed a notable increase in requests for marital status certificates. Our service has identified that third-country nationals without a family status certificate face automatic exclusion from accessing social benefits, enrolling their children in school, and participating in various activities. To address this issue, we''ve introduced a "Confirmation of Family Status" document including detailed social histories and cross-verified with asylum service data.

This document is widely recognized and accepted by key institutions, such as the Municipality of Athens, Social Welfare, Municipal Social Services (e.g., social grocery and social pharmacy), the Primary Education Office, and individual schools. Furthermore, we now receive daily referrals from these institutions for individuals who meet all requirements but lack this specific document. Word has spread within beneficiary communities, resulting in collective referrals from certain communities.

ASC social workers took on an active role in representing the service within the ACCMR (Athens Coordination Center for Migrant and Refugee Issues) working groups. These groups addressed a range of critical topics, such as urbanization and legal matters, women refugees, and gender-related issues. Additionally, the social service was fostered collaborations with other programs and initiatives. Referrals are being received from public sector services, particularly public hospitals such as Alexandra, Thriasio, and Evaggelismos, as well as civil society organizations

ASC social workers took on an active role in representing the service within the ACCMR (Athens Coordination Center for Migrant and Refugee Issues) working groups. These groups addressed a range of critical topics, such as urbanization and legal matters, women refugees, and gender-related issues. Additionally, the social service was fostered collaborations with other programs and initiatives. Referrals are being received from public sector services, particularly public hospitals such as Alexandra, Thriasio, and Evaggelismos, as well as civil society organizations.

Employability service 

The employability service provided beneficiaries with employability counseling through  sessions.

Regarding the job sectors where beneficiaries find jobs, the main sectors are i. 48% Tourism (Hotels and Restaurants), followed by ii. 16% Cleaning/Domestic work (cleaning, housekeeping, babysitters), iii. 8% retail, iv 3% Humanitarian sector (interpreters) and v. 3% Agricultural (farmers). Even though some sectors such as tourism, restaurants and NGOs are particularly relevant for our beneficiary group, their skills are diverse, rich, and unique and can lead to them also securing jobs in sectors such as Health (1%), Technical sectors (2%), and IT (2%) supported accordingly.

The Employability Service faced various challenges, particularly in supporting unaccompanied minors. Greek law requires them to move to remote camps at age 18, often cutting them off from support systems. To help, the ASC team held group sessions in shelters to prepare them for life outside, focusing on education and labor rights. Supporting UaMs in this transition stage of their lives can be very successful, as demonstrated through three Afghan minors who secured job interviews after attending a job fair.

We also recognized the link between informal education and career planning. To support this, we designed workshops for the Saffron Kitchen Project, a program that teaches refugees culinary skills. Our team helped create resumes and informed participants about job opportunities in hospitality.

To meet the diverse needs of all our beneficiaries, we offer a variety of workshops and one-on-one sessions aiming to equip beneficiaries with the tools required for job market success. These include:

Basic employability and work rights

Job search strategies

Basic computer skills 

Interview preparation

In our collaborative efforts with various companies and organizations, our foremost priorities have been to ensure the safe placement of candidates'' working rights and the provision of good working conditions. 

Looking ahead, language barriers remain a hurdle. Although companies in the tourism sector have been more lenient now with language requirements the rest of the sectors are not so. Nonetheless We also see a need to connect with migrant communities in Athens, to extend the reach of our services. 

 The ASC Employability Service has achieved significant progress through a multifaceted approach that includes providing tailored support, conducting workshops, engaging in research, and participating in conferences, developing toolkits, delivering trainings, and fostering collaborations with companies. These endeavors have had a positive impact on our beneficiaries, empowering them to navigate the labor market effectively and enhance their employability skills.