Official release of the documentary “Common People, Common Ground” at the online event for the Athens Solidarity Center by SolidarityNow


 Event for the completion of the second grant period of EEA Grants at the Athens Solidarity Center

On the occasion of the completion of the second grant period for the operation of the Athens Solidarity Center* by the financial mechanism EEA Grants, SolidarityNow organizes an online event and a premiere, on Tuesday, June 29 at 16.00.

The event will be broadcast on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/2kueB3rnH and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SolidarityNowGreece.

The financial support by the EEA Grants entitled “Increased opportunities for integration and social inclusion for vulnerable individuals”** started in May 2019 and will end next month. The Athens Solidarity Center was supported to continue to provide cohesive social welfare services to all and over the two years has achieved significant results supporting people in need.

The challenge of the period was the Center’s response to the emergency conditions created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Beside the pandemic, the Athens Solidarity Center succeeded in providing support to more than 6,500 people. The total number of services offered exceeds 24,600.

Official release of the documentary “Common People, Common Ground”

On Tuesday, June 29 at 16.00, SolidarityNow will present for the first time the work carried out at the Athens Solidarity Center through the documentary “Common People, Common Ground”, a production of the Norwegian Embassy in Athens. Director Theodore Scrivanos will make a brief introduction to the world of his film, using the realistic depiction of the accomplished work and the beneficiaries’ human stories and testimonies.

The event will be addressed by the Ambassador of Norway to Greece, Mr. Frode Overland Andersen, Mr. Epaminondas Farmakis, Co-founder and General Manager HumanRights360, Director of the “Local Development and Poverty Reduction” and “Asylum and Migration” programs in Greece, EEA Grants, 2014–2021 and Mr. Stelios Zavvos, Chairman of the SolidarityNow Board of Directors.

*Since May 2019, the Athens Solidarity Center is financed by EEA Grants, with SOL CROWE and HumanRights360 as Fund Operator. The Center is also supported by the Municipality of Athens.** The project

“Increased opportunities for integration and social inclusion for vulnerable individuals” by Athens Solidarity Centre (ASC) is being implemented under the “Local Development and Poverty Reduction” programme.

About EEA Grants

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway towards a green, competitive, and inclusive Europe. There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics. The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA Grants amount to €1.55 billion. The priorities for this period are: 1) Innovation, Research, Education and Competitiveness, 2) Social Inclusion, Youth Employment and Poverty Reduction, 3) Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy, 4) Culture, Civil Society, Good Governance and Fundamental Rights, 5) Justice and Home Affairs. The EEA Grants are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, whose contributions are based on their GDP. Eligibility for the Grants mirror the criteria set for the EU Cohesion Fund aimed at member countries where the Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average. More information: www.eeagrants.org & www.eeagrants.gr

About Program I: “Local Development and Poverty Reduction”

The “Local Development and Poverty Reduction” programme in Greece, financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, was awarded a total budget of 6,5 million euros as part of the EEA Grants 2014 – 2021. The program aspires to contribute to enhancement of social cohesion and reduction of economic and social disparities. The Fund Operator for the “Local Development and Poverty Reduction” programme in Greece is SOL Consulting S.A in partnership with HumanRights360. More information: https://www.asylumandmigration-eeagrants.gr