The negative impact of this crisis continues to be counted daily in human lives and translated into pause, loneliness, people without any social or economic protection network. Fear usually overwhelms us and overshadows everything positive. It becomes clear to us every day what separates us: 2 meters distance, a face mask and a pair of gloves. But have we ever wondered what has united us so far?

People living in refugee sites at various parts of Greece have shown us first hand, and already from the beginning of this crisis, what can unite us during this critical period – when access to basic services is often impossible and protection mechanisms cannot respond as before.

I would like to share with you the stories of people who have shrunk the world, and created bridges of solidarity, against the norms. The refugee community, in one of the refugee sites in Northern Greece, responded immediately by supporting three young children, who were left alone when their mother had to be transferred to the hospital. The women of the community cooked for the children while other took care of them in shifts, to make sure they were safe. They supported these children as if they were members of their own family.

At the same time, members of another refugee community at Vagiochori refugee site undertook the “weekly shopping” for the elderly inhabitants but also for people with mobility difficulties. So, they walked for miles carrying double weight, receiving this unique personal satisfaction that only solidarity may give you. The community of refugees at Serres camp completed dozens of “movement and exit” forms (when the state measures were stricter) for people who did not know to write, thus, giving them a small sense of freedom.

Through all these, we understood the importance of a united, cooperative and resilient community that is fueled and developed through substantial solidarity. Elements that accompanied these people all along their long journey from their country of origin, to Greece. The place where many of them want to build a new home, to create a daily routine, even amid this crisis.

At SolidarityNow we are here to support people in the new beginning of their lives. Our goal is not only to provide services to vulnerable people, but through information and empowerment, our vision is to contribute to the effort of people to recognize their skills and to overcome the obstacles that arise along the way.

I am Marina-Isaia Mavridou, Project Officer of Child Protection in Northern Greece. I am working at the “Child & Family Support Hubs” program, which is implemented by SolidarityNow with the support of UNICEF and IOM Greece and funded by the European Commission.

Since April 2, when some of our beneficiaries were tested positive for COVID-19, the situation at Ritsona camp, where I work, has changed radically. Police cars and police teams were patrolling the camp’s entrance. The beneficiaries, now excluded from any service, were in greater need than ever. We continued our presence at the camp, responding daily to the needs of the people; providing them with basic necessities but also taking care not to miss essential services. We couldn’t abandon them.

My presence at the camp stopped as soon as I finished my work. But my daily life was not as it used to be; it had changed. With an almost daily presence at the camp and next to the refugees, I had to protect my relatives and friends at the same time, staying away from them. So, all this time -and apart from going to Ritsona- I remained locked in my apartment without any social contact. As a result, I have not seen my own people, even if with some of them we live in the same building. At the same time, I have not visited my friends and I have significantly reduced my everyday movements to the absolutely necessary. Certainly, this new living context it’s hard for me. But I had the opportunity to “put myself” in confinement and the luck not to live in a small space – in a room or a tent – with up to 10 more people, as often happens in refugee camps.

Restriction within a particular place, inability to meet relatives and friends, reduced travel and limited access to services… Immediately there is a clear parallel that becomes a real fact…

This is the situation for the people we help. They face this situation daily and for a long period of time. They left their homeland, separated from their own people, escaped a war or other life threatening risks, and are now trapped inside camps with limited mobility and access to services, not only because of COVID-19, but because “this is the reality of a refugee”.

My containment will be over and sooner or later, I will return to my daily routine. However, the confinement of these people will continue for a long time.

I am Grigoris Papafragkas and I am a Lawyer and Team Leader at the Ritsona Open Accommodation Center. I am working at the Child & Family Support Hubs project, which is implemented by SolidarityNow with the support of UNICEF and IOM Greece and funded by the European Commission.

Many things have changed during this crisis. All the important activities in the field of labor market and education were “frozen” or suspended. An immediate priority in the Employability Service at the SolidarityNow’s Athens Solidarity Center, was the adjustment to the new reality as to continue being on the side of our beneficiaries; and most importantly, respond effectively to their most urgent needs.

During this period, the biggest challenge for me is to continue to provide my services and help people who are having difficulties, while at the same time having to deal with my own challenges. The abrupt adjustment to a new reality, with all the psychological consequences that this may bring along, is something that concerns the people we support and with whom I communicate daily; but it concerns me as well.

In these new conditions, while we were trying to do our best, a new liaison project has emerged between the Employability Service and a large human resources company, which is active in the field of tourism. So, we started to gradually send to the company the resumes of 160 beneficiaries of SolidarityNow and of 9 more NGOs – that is, people who had previously visited our employability counselors seeking for a job. The company, in turn, invites beneficiaries to telephone/or online interviews.

As I took this new initiative, I realized that this businesslike process was developed on very “human terms”. During my communication with the Advisors, there were many moments when we shared our worries, our fears and our anxiety about the most vulnerable people. We also shared our optimism, our gratitude for the existence of this initiative and also, our estimates for the future opening of the tourism market, and the new opportunities that could be created, such as the benefits of teleworking.

The beneficiaries gladly agreed to be interviewed and, in fact, were relieved to find out that the labor market had not “died”. I first contacted them to let them know about their interviews. At the same time, however, I encouraged them and discussed how they experience all this. They wanted me to support and strengthen them – something that helped me as well. I felt their relief in the tone of their voice. It’s unbelievable that after these communications, which involve a lot of personal effort, my fatigue started to disappear.

During this period, I was particularly moved by a beneficiary from Greece. I will call her Maria. Maria is over 45, has no relatives, is unemployed and finds it very difficult to find a job. I did some phone sessions with her so we could prepare her resume and send it to potential employers. The first time we spoke on the phone, she was crying because of the frustration she felt about the “collapse”, as she believed, of the job market, but also about the fact that she was unable to meet even her basic needs. It took an effort on my part to make her understand that her sadness came from her thoughts and beliefs about the job market but also about herself, which were wrong.

We sent many applications together. I referred her and prepared her for a telephone interview with a company of our network, with very good results. I encouraged her to claim and eventually receive, the support allowance for long-term unemployment – she was not aware that she entitled. After many phone calls, sessions, it is now clear that Maria is another person. Not only in terms of her mood, but also in terms of attitude towards life. And that’s one of the things that makes me proud of my job: I can help improve the lives of the people and present them new opportunities. Because opportunities exist, even in the midst of this crisis.

I am Evangelia Tsilimigkra and I am Employability Advisor. I am working at the Employability Service of SolidarityNow’s Athens Solidarity Center. 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.

Working as a psychologist at the Athens Solidarity Center, every day I challenge myself through people’s different and usually, harsh stories. Stories of people facing the effects of poverty, the anxiety of unemployment, the uncertainty of migration, the effects of fear caused by the experience of war or persecution. I often tell people that if we compare our lives with a journey, my role is to be a helpful travelling companion for them until they feel confident enough to continue the journey on their own. When I see my work through this perspective, I feel fortunate for being able to travel through people’s lives and thus enrich myself with experiences, knowledge, and feelings. For all these, I am grateful.

, Currently, we have all been called upon to deal with an unprecedented situation. At the Athens Solidarity Center, we quickly tried to adapt to the new conditions in order to continue providing our services to those who need them most. The team’s lateral thinking, flexibility, and goodwill moves me every single day.

I wondered where all this energy and strength came from. So, I thought that for all those who are seeking help at the Center, the crisis did not start with the coronavirus pandemic. For undocumented individuals, a walk outside was always a scary thing. For the people who don’t have health security, any disease can be threatening. For the people who have been waiting countless years for the completion of their asylum case, uncertainty has always been a part of their life. For homeless people, the message “We stay Home” sounds ironic.

The energy and the strength are part of the skills we need to have in our work so as to bridge the gap caused by fear, threat and uncertainty. The numerous ways that people find to meet and overcome the challenges, their lust for life, all these, are our inspiration.

I am Giannis Kafkas and I am a Phycologist and Coordinator of the Psychological support – Counseling Service at the Athens Solidarity Center, which 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.