Category: HOMEPAGE

“SolidarityNow Rings a Bell!” is the New Educational Program that Invites Students to a Different Classroom!

Posted on Wednesday April 29th, 2020

In the midst of COVID-19, SolidarityNow launches a series of educational and entertainment podcasts and offers online courses

Athens, April 29, 2020

In the time of COVID-19, SolidarityNow is steadily continuing its operations on the side of the most vulnerable groups and creating new, alternative educational tools to provide lessons to both adult refugees and children.

The non-formal education offered by the organization with the support of UNICEF and IOM, at 14 open Accommodation Structures in Greece, has temporarily switched mode of operations to ensure the health and protection of the population living in camps and reduce the risks of spreading the virus.

SolidarityNow’s educational team had to overcome many challenges such as the fact that it was not possible for students to be physically present in the classroom. With the aim of being “as close” as possible to children and their parents, SolidarityNow created a series of educational and entertainment podcasts/recorded messages. The name of this new educational tool is: “SolidarityNow Rings a Bell!”.

“Even under these challenging circumstances of physical distancing, we wanted to get as close as it gets to children and their parents and support them and spend time together creatively,” explain Vasso Katsomaliari and Domniki Georgopoulou, Coordinators of the organization’s educational activities, and continue: “Through this creative way of teaching, as SolidarityNow’s educational team, we help children and parents living in refugee camps to adjust to a new reality. At the same time, we motivate them to continue their education, but also suggest interesting ways of spending creative time together. The success of distance-learning depends on many different factors, but most of all, on the continuation of the relationship between teachers and students”.

The specialized teachers’ team of the organization, having cultivated a constructive relationship with the children, designed an educational tool that meets the specific needs and preferences of this group.

So, the bell… rings and familiar voices – the voices of their teachers – convey to children educational and entertaining “messages” in various languages. Fairy tales, songs, games, current news as well as many other topics that are intended to creatively engage the children and their parents.

  • You can listen to the podcasts at this link:

https://anchor.fm/solidaritynowringsabell?fbclid=IwAR0M-1InOCXIHPrBAWEqoQ4M0RbdiCAjsv979qh655UIYWTNgJLnaHw4D0Y

 

* The Child Friendly Support Hubs project is implemented by SolidarityNow with the support of UNICEF and IOM Greece and funded by the European Commission.

SolidarityNow’s New Edition: ”My Book” is a collection of poems, short stories, lyrics and paintings, created by migrants and refugees.

Posted on Thursday April 23rd, 2020

Through Art, people give shape to all the things that have defined them

The April 23rd is a symbolic date in world literature. It is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare and Miguel Cervantes died. UNESCO decided in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date. On the occasion of this World Book and Copyright Day, SolidarityNow, presents you the “My Book” project. The “My Book” project is a collection of poems, short stories, lyrics, and paintings created by migrants and refugees, beneficiaries of SolidarityNow’s *ESTIA program.

Today, “My Book” is more topical than ever, because it reminds us that in every “pandemic” that can affect humanity – so each and every one of us – are the people and their creativity that give us the strength but also the belief that in the end, together we will succeed.

“Art is not a mirror to hold up to society, but a hammer with which to shape it”, wrote the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. Armond, Ahmad, Ibrahim, Fatima and Abdul, Komel, Wasan and Sana, Zainab, Nakam, Majd and Ali, used words and colors to tell their own story about the past and the present, about what defined them and still does. “My Book” is also distillation of their thoughts, the expression of their fears and hopes for the future – their dreams to live a “normal” life again, free of labels and stigma.

SolidarityNow, through this new publication wants to highlight the artistic work of people who were violently forced to abandon their homeland and are trying to start a new life in another country. We must not forget that these people, along with their luggage, carry their knowledge and talents as well.

“My Book is certainly their book. But it is also Ours. It refutes in a simple way stereotypes and prejudice. The authors transcend their potential and they encourage us to follow. Thus, we can all do better than we thought we could”, stresses Antigone Lyberaki, General Manager of SolidarityNow.

You can read the book by visiting the links:

https://issuu.com/solidaritynow/docs/mybook_issue

https://www.solidaritynow.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mybook_issue.pdf

 

* The artists were beneficiaries of SolidarintyNow’s Accommodation program, as part of the ESTIA programme – Emergency Support for Integration and Accommodation, is supported by UNHCR and co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union.

Unemployment protection measures in the middle of the pandemic

Posted on 

What measures have been taken so far to protect the unemployed? See all the information gathered for you by the Employability Service of the Athens  Solidarity Center and concern:

  • Allowances
  • Extension of deadlines
  • Public benefit programs
  • Electronic services of OAED
  • OAED social tourism and camping programs

Read the full document here

The Chinese government and the Chinese Embassy in Greece donate 10,000 health masks to SolidarityNow to confront the pandemic.

Posted on Monday April 13th, 2020

The valuable sanitary material will be provided to support health workers, vulnerable Greek citizens and refugees in accommodation structures

At this critical time for humanity due to the unprecedented pandemic of the coronavirus and its effects on the entire planet, SolidarityNow received today an important and generous donation by the Chinese government, provided by the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Ambassador to Greece Ms. Zhang Qiyue. This donation to address the urgent needs of our country consists of 10,000 health masks to protect against COVID-19.

The sanitary material, will be provided by SolidarityNow in collaboration with the Municipality of Athens, for the protection and safety of the health workers fighting on the front line of COVID-19. Masks will be given as well to the Municipality’s Multipurpose Homeless Center which accommodates 400 homeless fellow citizens. Moreover, a significant part will be allocated for the protection of the people living at the 14 refugee camps where SolidarityNow operates, as well as to our staff who continue working on the field. In this way we ensure that the population will have all the adequate equipment to protect themselves for a sufficient period of time.

The Chairman of SolidarityNow, Stelios Zavvos, stated: “I would like to thank you warmly for this great support that your country offers, primarily to Greece, which is being harshly challenged, but also to SolidarityNow. I express my deepest gratitude on behalf of the Board of Directors of the organization, of our teams that continue every single day to fight on the field against the pandemic but above all, on behalf of the thousands of people who will benefit from your donation. This donation is important because it comes at a time when there is a global shortage of these essential health items, and at a time that our teams struggle to support the most vulnerable fellow citizens and stay safe on their side. These health masks give us a breathing space, as they become our necessary “weapons” and the vital equipment to continue doing our work. In the midst of a global pandemic, it’s our duty, to build global partnerships which promote solidarity aiming always at helping and supporting our fellow human beings”.  

 

SolidarityNow with specialized support to families, mothers, children and unaccompanied minors in accommodation structures to combat COVID-19

Posted on Thursday April 9th, 2020
Anna Pantelia

Refugees accommodated at refugee camps across Greece are among the most vulnerable groups of the population. They are most at risk because they reside in overcrowded camps and more often, they lack the necessary basic material to protect themselves or do not have easy access to hospitals and health care Centers. Solidarityow is already confronted with COVID cases in two open accommodation sites/refugee camps -in Ritsona and Malakasa-, after residents tested positive for coronavirus. A state plan has been activated, placing the two refugee camps under quarantine.

SolidarityNow implements Child protection and Family support programs, with the support of UNICEF, IOM Greece and EU funding, at 14 refugee camps in the mainland, including those of Ritsona and Malakasa. Since the beginning of the pandemic, as an organization we have taken all the necessary measures to protect our staff, while at the same time we have adjusted our activities in accordance with the authorities’ instructions. At the same time, we have presence at the camps, ensuring that refugees are not left without the necessary support. From the moment the public health authorities have locked down the two camps, our teams contributed with their experience and knowledge to take all the necessary measures for families, children and their mothers by providing useful information to the authorities.

Especially in cases of single-parent families, where children are at risk of being left alone, in the event of the hospitalization of the parent, SolidarityNow takes all the necessary steps to ensure that children have the appropriate support, always in cooperation with the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office and services and with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

In the midst of the pandemic, we also support and protect the unaccompanied minors, who reside at the refugee camps, in collaboration with the relevant services.

SolidarityNow is taking all necessary measures as to protect its employees in the field and will assist, if requested by the relevant services, in supporting this extremely difficult situation.

We are very proud of our colleagues who, in the midst of extremely adverse conditions, continue their valuable work.

 

* Child & Family Support Hubs (CFSH) project is implemented by SolidarityNow with the support of UNICEF and IOM Greece and funded by the European Commission.

 

Spread the News, Not the Virus!

Posted on Wednesday April 8th, 2020

SolidarityNow in collaboration with pod.gr provide refugees and migrants

with answers regarding Covid-19

At SolidarityNow, in consistency with our role, responsibility and mission to respond effectively to urgent social conditions, we work closely with pod.gr, the Greek podcast platform, and overcome together the language barrier so as to inform refugees and migrants in an accurate and accessible way.

At this critical moment, we are all confronted with the coronavirus pandemic, and at the same time, we are, or should be, equal in our right for information. Through this new partnership we ensure that refugees and migrants who do not speak Greek have easy access to information about prevention and protection from Covid-19.

A series of short podcasts in 5 languages ​​(Arabic, Farsi, English, French, Urdu) will be released the coming days, under the title “FAQs for Migrants – Spread the News, Not the Virus”. In this way we make the most of the pod.gr team’s know-how and of the new technologies and providing everyone with useful information and discussions concerning issues related to the consequences caused by the pandemic. Users only need to have a cell phone and internet access.

The 1st podcast entitled “Stay Safe” is on air from today and includes information on the 8 basic measures of protection and prevention from coronavirus by the World Health Organization.

 You can listen to the 1st podcast through the SolidarityNow YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3_NlSfsgtzR6_sOKGaN_HmFCTRhICPEi,

on the website, https://www.solidaritynow.org/podcasts/ and on pod.gr, https://www.pod.gr/.

 “How to listen to a podcast”| Further instructions:

The simplest way to listen to podcasts is from your mobile phone. Visit Playstore and download any free podcast application: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts.  Look for “pod.gr” in your preferred application and you will find all podcasts made by pod.gr team. If you have an iPhone, the application is preinstalled on your device and has a purple icon. Search there too and find your favorite Greek podcasts quickly and easily.

Easter Bonus

Posted on Saturday April 4th, 2020

What are the provisions for Easter Bonus? What is changing in view of the corona-virus? The Athens Solidarity Center lawyers and employability advisors are following all latest developments and below they are replying to all your concerns.

For personalised questions, kindly contact us via athens@solidaritynow.org or through our FB page.

Easter Bonus

SolidarityNow psychologists offer psychological support to medical/hospital staff fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, patients and to people in quarantine

Posted on Friday March 20th, 2020
Steven Tangle

In these difficult times, we stand by our fellow human beings who need it the most and we go on together and strong!

Athens, March 20th, 2020

At SolidarityNow we have been following closely the developments regarding the covid-19 pandemic affecting the planet and our country. This period is very challenging for all of us, for our beneficiaries, our colleagues working in the field helping others and for every person. We recognize our role in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, thus we inform everyone that we will continue to respond to the vital needs and will keep safeguarding the rights of all: Greeks, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in our country through our Solidarity Centers in Athens and Thessaloniki.

More specifically, the Solidarity Centers’ psychologists expand their work and provide pro bono support to those being in the frontline against the Covid-19 pandemic and to those who, right now, need it the most.

The organization’s psychologists will provide psychological support and counselling, through teleconference, to medical, nursing and other staff in the country’s hospitals who struggle daily under extremely adverse conditions to restraint the disease and protect public health, as well as to our fellow citizens living in quarantine and experiencing intense stress, anxiety or fear.

The psychologists of the organization’s Solidarity Centers will offer their services through teleconference:

Athens Solidarity Center: Anyone interested can contact the Athens Solidarity Center Facebook page, email to athens@solidaritynow.org or phone to 210 8220883 (10.00-13.00). One of our psychologists will contact you as soon as possible. Currently, this service is only available in Greek and English.

Thessaloniki Solidarity Center: Anyone interested can contact by email to thessaloniki@solidaritynow.org or phone to 2310 50 1030. One of our psychologists will contact you as soon as possible. Currently, this service is only provided in Greek and English.

“Isolation and quarantine cause anxiety and fear. Within a short timeframe, we were confronted with an unprecedented situation, which will certainly affect our psychology. In SolidarityNow we know it is our duty and this is why we have decided to create one more communication channel with the society, by offering psychological support to all those feeling vulnerable, reminding them that they are not alone; they will find us on their side”, says Antigone Lyberaki, General Manager of SolidarityNow.

 

Information: please see https://www.solidaritynow.org/en/emergency/ all changes to the organization’s Solidarity Centers in Athens and Thessaloniki caused by the covid-19 pandemic.

Since May, 2019 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.

Thessaloniki Solidarity Center was established and is supported by Open Society Foundations.

EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT: Changes in the mode of operation of the Solidarity Centers due to the covid-19 pandemic

Posted on Wednesday March 18th, 2020

We remain by your side in solidarity and we combat this together!

Athens -Thessaloniki, 18th of March 2020. At SolidarityNow we have been following closely the developments regarding the covid-19 pandemic affecting the planet and our country, more specifically. We all recognize that these are challenging times for our beneficiaries, and for our colleagues working in the field helping others and especially the vulnerable. We recognize our role in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, thus we want to inform you that we will continue to respond to the vital needs and will keep safeguarding the rights of all: Greeks, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in our country through our Solidarity Centers.

Our teams will continue to support population groups following the national guidelines of #StayHome campaign and all the necessary procedures in order to safeguard public health for the protection and common good.

We remain by your side in solidarity and we combat this together!

In this context, and in compliance with the official national measures in order to limit the transmission of the covid-19 virus, our Solidarity Centers in Athens and Thessaloniki will operate in the following manner effective today:

Athens Solidarity Center

The Athens Solidarity Center team will provide updated information, and will be available to answer the public’s questions regarding all of its Services sent to athens@solidaritynow.org as well as to its Facebook page https://facebook.com/athenssolidaritycenter/

More specifically per Service:

Employability Service: the counselors are continuing to offer their services and support the beneficiaries through our dedicated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Employability-Service-by-SolidarityNow-583793971990063/. Through this page, beneficiaries can receive information on job advertisements, educational programs and every relevant information regarding employment. Moreover, they can contact the counselors individually with specific questions and requests. In addition, we are continuing, whenever deemed necessary, our contact with both the beneficiaries and the employers.

Accounting Service: the service remains available to clarify matters such as tax returns or issues related to the submission and renewal of social benefits, through the email athens@solidaritynow.org and the Facebook page https://facebook.com/athenssolidaritycenter/.

Social Service: the service will continue online to stand by vulnerable groups, answering questions submitted through the Facebook page https://facebook.com/athenssolidaritycenter/ or by email at athens@solidaritynow.org.

Legal team: the lawyers of Athens Solidarity Center continue to support and follow up their cases and they remain at your disposal for the clarification of any questions concerning the temporary suspension of administrative services of certain public authorities. Any beneficiary who wishes to be informed about the progress of his case or about the necessary actions to be undertaken when the suspension is lifted, is advised to contact us by email at athens@solidaritynow.org or inbox the present Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/athenssolidaritycenter/. We will monitor the situation and provided detailed information about the operation of the Courts, the District Government Offices, the Asylum Service, the Dublin Unit and the Appeals’ Authority.

Psychological Service: the psychologists continue to provide their services through teleconference for our current beneficiaries that have access to video-call applications. The following days one of our psychologists will contact you in order to arrange an appointment and guide you. You can also make your request on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/athenssolidaritycenter/ or email to athens@solidaritynow.org. Currently, this service is only available in Greek and English.

At the same time our Centre’s psychologists will provide psychological support and counselling, through teleconference, to medical, paramedical and hospital staff that are currently giving the battle against the covid-19. This service is also available for people experiencing stress, fear and anxiety as a consequence of the covid-19 pandemic and the quarantine isolation. Those interested can make their request on our Facebook page and one of our psychologists will contact you as soon as possible. Currently, this service is only available in Greek and English.

Such services -in Greek- are also provided by:

  • Medical Association of Athens: Helpline with volunteer doctors, psychologists, social workers for vulnerable groups at 214 214 2020.
  • Aiginiteio University Hospital: Psychological support telephone line and conference call for citizens experiencing the effects of the pandemic:
  • Monday to Friday at 210 7297 957 from 10.00am to 04.00 pm*
  • Saturday and Sunday at 210 7289 240 from 10.00 am to 04.00 pm*
  • Klimaka NGO: Support and medical counseling for people with mental health problems at 2103417162-3.

Thessaloniki Solidarity Center

For the next period of time, the services of the Thessaloniki Solidarity Center will be provided remotely, by telephone or via skype. The team will continue to stand by the side of the most vulnerable in order to cover emergencies and provide support to scheduled appointments.

More specifically, the Center’s employees will continue to be in contact with beneficiaries about their scheduled appointments. For any further information you can contact at thessaloniki@solidaritynow.org or by phone 2310 501030.

Refugee Support Center – Blue Refugee Center, Thessaloniki

The services of the Refugee Support Center – Blue Refugee Center in Thessaloniki will be provided remotely for the next period of time. The team will continue to be on the side of the most vulnerable in order to respond to emergencies and provide support to scheduled appointments. At the same time, services will be available via skype.

The Center’s staff will continue to receive your questions and receive requests by phone. You can reach us at 2310555263, 2310555264, 2310555266. You can also send us a message at our inbox here https://www.facebook.com/Blue_Refugee_Center_by_SolidarityNow-1702920630002785/.

For any further information or communication, you can contact us at thebluecenter@solidaritynow.org

* Since May 2019 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.

** Thessaloniki Solidarity Center was established and is supported by Open Society Foundations.

*** The Blue Refugee Center’s operation is supported by UNHCR and UNICEF and funded by ECHO (European Commission – Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations).

8 March_International Women’s Day #STRONGALONE_Women who are Winners!

Posted on Friday March 6th, 2020

Migrant, refugee, redundant, abused, detained, marginalized women. Borders are closing, labor and individual rights are being violated, anti-abortion campaigns are being activated and hate speech has prevailed. Everything that has been claimed has been lost in recent years. Victims of these changes are mainly women, as they experience the most difficulties.

According to the European Commission, 33% of women in the European Union have been victims of physical or sexual abuse, while 55% have been sexually harassed. In the education and labor sectors, despite the fact that 61% of women have a University degree, they earn 16% less money than men, something that in the future will increase the gender gap by 40%.

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8th. It is a good occasion for us to remember the progress that has been made. However, March 8th, 2020 must be a turning point for the things that have remained stagnant, for the lost or wined battles, and for the new struggles against discrimination and inequality.

At SolidarityNow, as a human rights defender, we decided to give a tribute to the #StrongAlone-beneficiaries of our programs who found the strength to seek help and stand up, proud.

We spoke with Anna, Dominika, Nadwa, Asia, Lena and Maria, women who live among us, who wait every morning at the bus stops, who remain invisible; women who know only the word ‘work’’, who are stressed on how they will raise their children and whether they will have a home to stay; women who have dreams, who have a new country, who smile, who have survived; women who are winners.