The project, called “Amaro Magipé”, aims to empower and involve women and young Roma in activities and trainings aimed to improve their socialization, skills development, access to information, violence prevention, psychosocial support, and empowerment. The project, which started in May 2023, is implemented by SolidarityNow, Lighthouse of the World, and the Cultural Educational Association of Roma Women, residents of Drosero Xanthi “The Hope”.

2^nd  of August, Remembrance Day

The first events implemented through “Amaro Magipé” will occur on August 1^st and 2^nd, to commemorate the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. The 2^nd day of August was recognized in 2015 by the European Commission as the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, as on the 2^nd of August 1944, 2,897 women and children of Roma origin were killed in Auschwitz camp. This Holocaust was forgotten and unknown to most of the world for many years and it was only in 1985 that Germany acknowledged that the persecution of the Gypsies in World War II, which cost the lives of more than 500,000 people, was aimed at exterminating their race.

 “Amaro Magippe”, our project, on the side of the Roma

The phrase “Amaro Magipé” in Romani means our pride of our own work and achievement. SolidarityNow, in its 10 years of operation, stands by anyone in need and has always kept open lines of communication with Roma communities, associations, and clubs in Greece. With the aim of supporting Roma, SolidarityNow participates in the National Partnership 2021-2025 for the monitoring of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Social Inclusion of Roma 2021 – 2030 and today, through the action “Amaro Magipé”, it proudly aims to identify mentors who will work in their communities, highlighting and solving chronic problems that plague the Roma. The geographical scope of the project include the settlement of Peleka in Katerini, Dendropotamos, and the Municipality of Pavlos Melas in Thessaloniki and Drosero in Xanthi.

The inaugural Roma Holocaust Memorial Event will take place on Tuesday 1^st of August in Katerini and on Wednesday 2^nd of August in Dendropotamos.

The events are organized in cooperation with the Municipality of Katerini, the Municipality of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, the Roma Annex of Katerini, and the Roma Annex of the Municipality of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni. Participation is free of charge.

Detailed Programme

Tuesday 1^st of August, 12:30

Ekavi Conference and Cultural Centre – 10, 7th Merarchias Street, Katerini

“Anti-Gypsyism & Social Representations: from the Middle Ages to Auschwitz and the Allattini factory of today” Urania T. Rapti, Psychologist, NFE trainer

“Storytelling through art and literature: the case of the Roma Holocaust in Europe”. Akrilenia Kappou, Iphigenia Anastasiadis, members of the Action Group for the Social Integration and Empowerment of Roma

Narratives by children of Peleka – Music – Exhibition of photos from the Roma concentration camps 1939-1944

Wednesday 2 August, 19:30

Agios Nektarios KAPI – Roma Annex Odysseos Androutsou 2, Dendropotamos

“Anti-Gypsyism & Social Representations: from the Middle Ages to Auschwitz and the Allatini factory of today”, Urania T. Rapti, Psychologist, NFE trainer

“The Roma holocaust in education”, Angelos Hadjinikolaou Teacher

Narratives of children of Dendropotamos – Music – Exhibition of photographs from the Roma concentration camps 1939-1944

Buffets with gypsy recipes – discussion about the gypsy cuisine

SolidarityNow is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 to respond to the needs and ensure the rights of the most vulnerable groups in society. The organization’s vision is to improve people’s lives and empower them to claim a more just and inclusive society. From 2013 to date, SolidarityNow has supported through its actions and programs (housing, psychosocial support, legal aid, interpretation, education, child protection) more than 350,000 vulnerable people to claim a life with dignity and prospects.

The Youth Center “Lighthouse of the World” is a place of protection and creative employment for the youth of Dendropotamos. Through its constant and uninterrupted struggle, it has not only highlighted the problems of the region but has found innovative solutions in areas such as education, health, and employment. The “Lighthouse of the World” is constantly by the side of all those who need it and illuminates the path to development and evolution. https://farostoukosmou.com/el

The Cultural and Cultural Association of Roma Women of Drosero Xanthi “The Hope” is a Non-Governmental Organization founded in June 2006, on the initiative of 20 Roma women.

The desire and need of these women were to create an institution through which they could express themselves collectively as Roma women, with rights and obligations within Greek society. https://drosero.eu/

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The Action entitled “Amaro Magipé: Actions for the Empowerment of Women and Young Roma” implemented under the project Small Grant Scheme 1 “Empowerment of Women and Young Roma” of the Program “Social Inclusion and Empowerment of Roma” benefits from a grant of 199.909,69€ from the EEA Grants (Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021) and from national resources, representing the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway to a green, competitive, and inclusive Europe.

The project entitled Amaro Magipé benefits from co-financing of 199.909,69€ from the EEA Grants (European Economic Area Financial Instrument 2014-2021), represents the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe, and from national resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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78 people dead and hundreds missing is the fatal account of the tragedy in Pylos, which comes to be added to a multitude of others that have been recorded in the Mediterranean in recent years.

“At SolidarityNow we express our deepest sorrow for the loss of so many lives and our undivided support to the relatives of the victims and the missing. The Mediterranean Sea continues to be the most dangerous passage in Europe for thousands of people, who risk their lives in search of safety”, Marilyn Polena, General Manager.

The absence of safe and legal migration routes forces people to be exposed to conditions of exploitation by traffickers by embarking on journeys that put their lives at risk. The tragedy of Pylos, which ironically took place after the agreement on the two main pillars of asylum and migration reform on June 8^th by the Council of Europe, reinstates the need for an agreement on migration and asylum based primarily on the respect for human life.

SolidarityNow argues that the institutions involved should take immediate action to prevent further loss of life and ensure a people-centered immigration and asylum management system. For this purpose, it is considered necessary to create safe and legal migration routes, since the possibility of legal entry into the member states of the European Union will offer people who were forced to leave their homes due to persecution, conflicts, violence, human rights violations, the opportunity to seek protection and safety, thereby reducing the risks associated with illegal immigration.

At the same time, the European Union must introduce an effective and mandatory mechanism of cooperation and solidarity between member states to help host countries face humanitarian challenges. In the context of compliance with international law, Greece, as a border country, is a recipient of migration flows, but has an obligation to respect international law and act with respect for human rights, ensuring fair and effective asylum procedures.

In the context of a people-centered European migration and asylum policy, establishing safe and legal pathways for people on the move is one way.

SolidarityNow, with a vision to support the most vulnerable members of society without discrimination and with a belief in the value and power of solidarity, supports Athens Pride 2023. SolidarityNow employees and volunteers will meet on Saturday 10 June at 19.00 at Kotzia Square, to proudly walk by the side of the LGBTQI+ community the path towards acceptance and equality.

“Once upon a time …I claimed, and I got.” With this as this year’s motto and with the hope that the struggles of the LGBTQI+ community will be the beginning of a fairy tale with a happy ending in the future, Athens Pride is demanding civil marriage for all, adoption and the right to recognition of LGBTQI+ children, the elimination of stereotypes and homophobic verbal and physical attacks, the right to self-determination of body and identity, and the prevention of interventions on intersex people.

10 years by the side of anyone in need

SolidarityNow to date has actively supported more than 350,000 people, without discrimination. The mission of the organization is to stand by the side of anyone in need and of course anyone who is censored for their choices, denied the right to self-determination.

In its 10-year journey, the organization has implemented specialized support and care programs for refugees and migrants, members of the LGBTQI+ community, who face double stigma both because of their gender identity and nationality. Through specific actions SolidarityNow has provided assistance (housing and psychosocial support) to more than 90 refugees, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and has trained more than 150 field professionals on legal and other issues concerning LGBTQI+ asylum seekers.

In addition, through the services offered free of charge (psychological, social, accounting, employment) at the organization’s Athens Solidarity Center, members of the LGBTQI+ community, regardless of country or origin, benefit in various ways. Noteworthy is the assistance of the Center’s Legal Service in the process of legal recognition of gender identity, an issue of utmost importance for which there were legal gaps until recently. To date, the Legal Service has supported more than 39 people to complete the process and now live as they wish.

With smaller or larger interventions, SolidarityNow always seeks to be there for both the LGBTQI+ community and the workers/experts who support this population.  Through such an intervention, the organization published recently “A Useful Guide for Professionals in the LGBTQI+ Migrant, Refugee, Asylum Seeker field”, which is available here (only in Greek).

SolidarityNow signed the Diversity Charter for Greek businesses of KEAN -Cell of Alternative Youth Activities and joined the Diversity Charter Greece.

“We are very happy that as of today we became a member of the European Diversity Initiative and of Diversity Charter Greece. At SolidarityNow we envision an open, inclusive society where diversity has a positive sign and enhances the lives of all of us. For us, inclusion is the fundamental value we defend through the programs and actions we implement“, underlined Marilyn Polena, General Manager of the organization.

“SolidarityNow works to improve the living conditions of our vulnerable fellow human beings, so that they can rebuild their lives with dignity and prospects, has signed the Diversity Charter for Greek businesses. The organization that has in its philosophy the respect, defense, and protection of human rights, is more than reasonable to become a member of the Diversity Charter. We welcome them with happiness“, said Stavros Milionis, President of KEAN, and Founder of the Diversity Charter Greece.

The Diversity Charter, an initiative of the European Commission to promote Diversity in business, was established in Greece in 2019. Greece became the 23^rd country to sign the Charter. Its aim is to act as a means of commitment to the implementation of equal opportunities, and diversity in every working environment in Greece. In Greece, the Diversity Charter is implemented by KEAN in collaboration with the Institute for Diversity and Integration – D & I.