Category: HOMEPAGE

PRESS RELEASE | SolidarityNow organizes the Job Fair “Opportunity Now”!

Posted on Tuesday February 11th, 2025

SolidarityNow organizes on Saturday, 15th February at the Athens Solidarity Center*, the Job Fair “Opportunity Now”, with the support of Eurobank. The reception hours are from 10.00 to 18.00 and admission to the event is free of charge, aiming to promote equal access to the labour market for all.

15 companies from sectors such as tourism, construction, facilities management, catering and personnel management services will offer many jobs of various skills and levels of specialisation.

As part of the Job Fair, participants-job seekers will have the opportunity to talk to company representatives, submit their CVs and undergo on-site interviews. Participation in such a day is for many people an opportunity to gain knowledge of job readiness, to cultivate relevant skills and to test, in a safe environment, their abilities.

Admission to the event is free for all and the registration form is available at: https://shorturl.at/eCDsF

Week of Parallel Actions: Workshops on work

The Job Fair is accompanied by a series of parallel actions-workshops on work-related issues. From 10 to 14 February, workshops targeting different population groups, designed according to their needs, will be held.

The workshops aim to develop skills, prepare former unaccompanied minors for their access to the labour market, train workers supporting unaccompanied children, strengthen the skills of unemployed people and people aged 55+, refugees and migrants. In a society that respects human rights, everyone should have access to them – and access to work is a fundamental human right.

Read more: https://www.solidaritynow.org/job-fair-opportunity-now/

*”Opportunity Now” and the workshops will be held ad the Athens Solidarity Center (ASC), 2 Domokou  str. & Philadelphias str. (opposite Larissa Station). The operation of ASC is supported by the Swiss-Greek Cooperation Programme in Greece (Embassy of Switzerland in Greece) to reducing economic and social disparities in the EU and by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

PRESS RELEASE-INVITATION | “Essential yet Unseen: Shedding Light on the Working Conditions of Migrants”

Posted on Wednesday February 5th, 2025

Discussion and Presentation of research

SolidarityNow and Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality and Diversity invite you to a Roundtable, which will take place on Friday 14 February 2025, at 11:00, at the Athens Solidarity Center (2 Domokou Str.). The purpose of the event is to present the results of the research carried out in the framework of the project Revealing the Unseen Migrant Workers.

The Roundtable will be attended by:

  • Apostolos Kapsalis, Assistant Professor, Panteion University
  • Vassilis Kerasiotis, Attorney, Professor of Law, Panteion University, PhD, Lawyer
  • Yannis Michalas, Special Inspector of Labour Relations of the SEPA DYPA
  • Adla Sasati, Director of the Office of the Migrants Forum
  • Angeliki Serafeim, Legal Advisor for the Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings, General Secretariat for Vulnerable Citizens & Institutional Protection
  • Theodora Stathopoulou, Head of the Department for the Support of Greek Workers Abroad and Equal Treatment at Work, Ministry of Labour
  • Panagiotis Psathas, Head of the Department of Support & Social Integration of Migrants & Refugees, Department of Social Solidarity, Municipality of Athens

A few words about the project and the research

The Revealing the Unseen Migrant Workers* project was launched in December 2023 with the aim of highlighting the precarious working conditions, undeclared work, labor exploitation, as well as the inequalities and discrimination faced by migrant workers in Greece.

The research was carried out with the participation of 228 respondents in Athens and Thessaloniki and offers a comprehensive picture of the reality experienced by migrants in the Greek labor market.

The event aims to open a meaningful dialogue on the institutional protection of migrant workers’ rights and the promotion of solutions that will contribute to reducing inequalities.

The presentation of the research will be available in print and digital format and will be posted on the organizations’ websites.

The event is open to the public.

* The “Revealing the Unseen Migrant Workers” project is implemented jointly by Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality and Diversity and SolidarityNow with the support from the PICUM-Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants’ grant programme on labour rights and labour migration, funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ | Πρόσκληση στην εκδήλωση λήξης του έργου «Τζαφ Ανγκλάλ! Για την ενδυνάμωση της σχολικής φοίτησης των παιδιών Ρομά»

Posted on Thursday January 16th, 2025

Το SolidarityNow και η ΑΜΚΕ REVMA, σας προσκαλούν στην Τελική Εκδήλωση του έργου «Τζαφ Ανγκλάλ! Για την ενδυνάμωση της σχολικής φοίτησης των παιδιών Ρομά» την Πέμπτη 23 Ιανουαρίου 2025 στις 17:00 στα γραφεία του SolidarityNow, Πτολεμαίων 29Α (2ος όροφος) στη Θεσσαλονίκη.

Το έργο ξεκίνησε τον Απρίλιο του 2024 και υλοποιήθηκε στη Βόρεια Ελλάδα στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος “Building a robust and democratic civic space” (BUILD)*, πραγματοποιώντας παρεμβάσεις σε τρεις κοινότητες Ρομά της Κεντρικής Μακεδονίας: τον Δενδροπόταμο -Δήμος Αμπελοκήπων Μενεμένης-, τον Δήμο Παύλου Μελά και τον Πέλεκα του Δήμου Κατερίνης.

Με στόχο την αντιμετώπιση των προκλήσεων που περιορίζουν το δικαίωμα στην εκπαίδευση σήμερα, το έργο εστίασε στην ενίσχυση του ρόλου των γονέων και των εκπαιδευτικών με στόχο την υποστήριξη των παιδιών, ώστε να εξασφαλιστεί η παραμονή τους στο σχολείο και η ολοκλήρωση της βασικής (υποχρεωτικής) εκπαίδευσης. Στο πλαίσιο των δράσεων του έργου ωφελήθηκαν περισσότεροι από 180 συμμετέχοντες (γονείς, εκπαιδευτικοί, παιδιά).

Εκδήλωση Λήξης

Η εκδήλωση θα περιλαμβάνει τα αποτελέσματα του έργου, καλές πρακτικές καθώς και ανοιχτή συζήτηση με εκπαιδευτικούς, γονείς και μαθητές για την εκπαίδευση των παιδιών Ρομά.

Πρόγραμμα

Συντονισμός: Ειρήνη Ράπου, διαμεσολαβήτρια του Παραρτήματος Ρομά Δήμου Παύλου Μελά – Μέλος ΑΜΚΕ REVMA

Χαιρετισμός και παρουσίαση του προγράμματος “Building a robust and democratic civic space” (BUILD)*, Βεατρίκη Γιαννόγλου, Διαχειρίστρια Προγραμμάτων, Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

Χαιρετισμός, Μαριλήν Πολένα, Γενική Διευθύντρια SolidarityNow

Χαιρετισμός, Χριστίνα Κοκκώνη, Ιδρυτικό μέλος ΑΜΚΕ REVMA

Περιγραφή και παρουσίαση αποτελεσμάτων από το SolidarityNow και την AMKE REVMA – Γιώργος Τσιτιρίδης Roma Officer SolidarityNow, Γεωργία Καλπαζίδου, ιδρυτικό μέλος ΑΜΚΕ REVMA 

«Βήματα για να Πάμε Μπροστά»: Πάνελ εκπροσώπων (καθηγητών, γονέων, μαθητών) από τις περιοχές παρέμβασης που συμμετείχαν στο πρόγραμμα.

Συντονισμός:  Γεωργία Καλπαζίδου – Ακριλένια Κάππου, μέλη ΑΜΚΕ REVMA

Ελένη Παπαδοπούλου, Διευθύντρια 3ο Γυμνασίου με Λυκειακές τάξεις «Κωστής Παλαμάς», στον Δενδροπόταμο Θεσσαλονίκης

Αναστασία Κουκίδου, Παιδαγωγός Παραρτήματος Ρομά Δήμου Παύλου Μελά

Τριαντάφυλλος Δεληγιαννίδης, Διευθυντής 18ου Δημοτικού Κατερίνης

Γιάννης Καραγκούνης, Διαμεσολαβητής Παραρτήματος Ρομά Δήμου Κατερίνης

Βαλεντίνα Χαϊδάρογλου, Συμμετέχουσα στο «Τζαφ Ανγκλάλ»

Μαρία Δήμου, Συμμετέχουσα στο «Τζαφ Ανγκλάλ»

Ελένη  Χαϊδάρογλου, Μαθήτρια συμμετέχουσα στο «Τζαφ Ανγκλάλ»

Προβολή της βραβευμένης ταινίας μικρού μήκους «Χρυσά Βαστά» του σκηνοθέτη Φοίβου Κοντογιάννη. Ευχαριστούμε πολύ τον Γρηγόρη Σαράντη και τον Φοίβο Κοντογιάννη για την δωρεάν παραχώρηση της ταινίας.  

Η εκδήλωση θα ολοκληρωθεί με την προσφορά τσιγγάνικων εδεσμάτων.

Το έργο «Τζαφ Ανγκλάλ» υλοποιείται στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος BUILD, με φορέα υλοποίησης το SolidarityNow και εταίρο την ΑΜΚΕ REVMA. Το πρόγραμμα «Building a robust and democratic civic space» (BUILD) έχει ως στόχο την προστασία, την προώθηση και την ευρεία αναγνώριση των θεμελιωδών δικαιωμάτων και αξιών της Ε.Ε., μέσω της στήριξης οργανώσεων της Κοινωνίας των Πολιτών (OKοιΠ) στην Ελλάδα και την Κύπρο και της ενίσχυσης των ικανοτήτων και της βιωσιμότητάς τους. Το BUILD συγχρηματοδοτείται από την Ευρωπαϊκή ‘Ενωση, μέσω του προγράμματος Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV), το Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη και το Κέντρο Στήριξης ΜΚΟ Κύπρου με συνολικό ποσό επιχορήγησης €2,9 εκ. Συντονιστής του BUILD είναι το Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη (Ελλάδα) σε σύμπραξη με το Κέντρο Στήριξης ΜΚΟ (Κύπρος).

Με τη χρηματοδότηση της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Οι απόψεις και οι γνώμες που διατυπώνονται εκφράζουν αποκλειστικά τις απόψεις των συντακτών και δεν αντιπροσωπεύουν κατ’ ανάγκη τις απόψεις της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, του Ευρωπαϊκού Εκτελεστικού Οργανισμού Εκπαίδευσης και Πολιτισμού (EACEA) ή του Ιδρύματος Μποδοσάκη. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και ο EACEA δεν μπορούν να θεωρηθούν υπεύθυνοι για τις εκφραζόμενες απόψεις.

STELIOS ZAVVOS, CHAIRMAN OF THE BoD & SOLIDARITYNOW FAREWELL YIANNIS BOUTARIS

Posted on Sunday November 10th, 2024
Copyright Aggelos Barai

One last greeting for our friend Yiannis Boutaris.

Yiannis Boutaris was the embodiment of civil society and open society – what we need now more than ever.

As Mayor of Thessaloniki, he stood by our initiative to establish SolidarityNow’s first Solidarity Centre in Thessaloniki 11 years ago. He supported us from the very first moment, unstintingly, to overcome adversity and opposition, defying personal and political costs. He honored us with his presence and action as a member of the Board of Directors of the organization.

He was a politician in the essence of the word, seeing politics as the art of institutionalizing a public space open to all. Open-minded to the currents of the times, pioneering in conceiving and implementing what was necessary and feasible, Boutaris always aimed at open horizons. He had the courage to open new paths with action that went beyond the narrow party walls.

As mayor of Thessaloniki – a city he dreamed of as a beacon of great culture – he avoided easy solutions and narrow-minded introspection, giving his work an ecumenical character. With his determination and his example, he leaves us all a valuable and multi-dimensional legacy.

I will always be grateful to him for honouring me with his friendship. For us at SolidarityNow, his vision of an inclusive society is a legacy and a duty. We pledge to continue his work, keeping the bar he set so high.

My best wishes go out to his family whom he so honoured with his achievements.

Stelios Zavvos,
Chairman of the SolidarityNow BoD

PRESS RELEASE | Invitation to an opening party: A woman from Iraq creates her own “myth” in Thessaloniki

Posted on Friday October 25th, 2024
Copyright SolidarityNow

UNHCR and SolidarityNow invite you to celebrate with her!

“Ustura”, which means “myth” in Arabic, is the name of the restaurant that Shaimaa Al Kinani is opening, and she is celebrating with an opening party on October 31st at 15:30, 29 Valaoritou Street, in the center of Thessaloniki.

After four years in Greece, Shaimaa’s love for cooking and her need to create her own space led her to seek support from the Employability Service of the Blue Refugee Centre (BRC) of SolidarityNow in Thessaloniki.

There, through the BRC Livelihoods programme, implemented in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the employability counselors stood by Shaimaa’s side, step by step, helping her turn her dream into reality.

From obtaining the necessary permits and documents, to communicating with the relevant authorities, offering advice on entrepreneurship in Greece, and providing daily emotional support to a woman striving for autonomy through her work, the Employment Service counselors were Shaimaa’s allies.

Therefore, together, Shaimaa and the partners from SolidarityNow and UNHCR invite the residents of Thessaloniki to a celebration for the opening of her restaurant, which is also an invitation to a celebration of cultures, acceptance, and recognition!

We look forward to seeing you!

PRESS RELEASE | €15 million for Civil Society in Greece: The Active Citizens Fund Greece programme has been completed by Bodossaki Foundation and SolidarityNow

Posted on Thursday October 24th, 2024

The programme was successfully completed with the Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow, serving as the Fund Operator.

Survivors of gender-based violence, people with disabilities and psychosocial difficulties, victims of torture, human trafficking, asylum seekers and refugees, second-generation migrants, Roma, prison inmates, the elderly, LGBTQ+ individuals, people living below the poverty line, students, teachers, parents, guardians, and young people are just some of the groups supported by the Active Citizens Fund Greece programme.

The €15 million Active Citizens Fund Greece, which began in 2019 and concludes today, represents the largest investment ever in Greek civil society. Funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as part of the European Economic Area financial mechanism (EEA Grants), the aim of the programme was to empower civil society, improve its sustainability and highlight its crucial role in promoting democratic processes, increasing citizen participation, and protecting human rights. The Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow.

In total 208 entities – including civil society organisations, informal groups, universities and local authorities – were funded through the programme. As a result 128 projects were implemented in major urban centres such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and Ioannina, as well as in rural, island, and remote areas of Greece, including Epirus, Western and Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Cyclades, and Northern and Southern Aegean. The programme has directly benefited over 152,000 people, while more than 4.3 million people were reached through 702 awareness-raising activities under the programme about issues related to rights, equality, and good governance.

The projects implemented under the programme were selected from 586 proposals submitted by civil society organisations in response to seven open calls. These projects focused on enhancing citizen participation, strengthening civil society’s role in advocacy and oversight, defending human rights, promoting gender equality, combating gender-based violence, empowering vulnerable groups, and reinforcing civil society organisations and the sector as a whole.

The success stories and transformative impact of the programme were celebrated during the Closing Ceremony at the Athens Conservatoire on October 22, with civil society representatives and donor country delegates in attendance. The event featured a photography exhibition, documentary screenings, and storytelling sessions. Ambassador Lajla Brandt Jakhelln of Norway, Athena Dessypri, President of the Bodossaki Foundation, and Stelios Zavvos, President of SolidarityNow, shared insights on the programme’s significance and the vital role of civil society.

Ambassador Lajla Brandt Jakhelln:

“If we want Europe to continue being a beacon of democracy and freedom in our world, we need a stronger and more cohesive Civil Society sector. A sector that will focus on the core principles of democracy and the rule of law, combating corruption, and promoting transparency and human rights. For the past 30 years, Norway and Greece have worked together under the EEA Agreement to reduce social and economic inequalities, while also strengthening our bilateral relations based on shared values and goals. In the new funding period of the EEA Grants, €159 million will be made available to Greece by 2031, with €15 million specifically directed towards supporting Civil Society. We will continue working together for a green, competitive, and inclusive Europe.”

Athena Desypri:

“History has demonstrated that in times of crisis, the role of civil society becomes increasingly vital. Today, as the world confronts numerous challenges, the contribution of civil society to maintaining a healthy democracy—rooted in the values of freedom, equality, the rule of law, and human rights—is more crucial than ever. It is therefore highly significant that the donor countries of the EEA Grants—namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway—have prioritised civil society through the Active Citizens Fund, dedicating €15 million to this programme.”

Stelios Zavvos:

“The Active Citizens Fund has served as a catalyst for change, providing civil society organisations with the opportunity to grow, empower themselves, and take on a central role in advancing social justice in Greece. The collaboration between SolidarityNow and the Bodossaki Foundation, as grant managers, along with the bilateral partnerships established with the donor countries—Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway—have demonstrated that shared values and a common vision for a fairer, more inclusive society can drive real and lasting change.”

The results in these thematic areas have been significant, with far-reaching impact. Over 113,400 individuals from vulnerable groups benefited from targeted actions aimed at their empowerment and social integration. Additionally, 14,700 people received training on human rights issues, and more than 4,000 public servants participated in capacity-building training to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights.

The results achieved in the above thematic areas are significant, and the impact of the projects has been extensive. More than 113,400 people from vulnerable groups benefited from specially designed actions aimed at their empowerment and social integration. Additionally, 14,700 people received training on human rights issues, while over 4,000 public servants participated in capacity-building training for the protection and promotion of human rights.

To foster transparency, accountability, and good governance, the programme supported 53 advocacy campaigns and 44 initiatives for active citizen participation in public life.

The programme also played a crucial role in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Greece and donor countries—specifically Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. A total of 49 initiatives supported cross-border collaboration between Greek organisations and their counterparts in these donor countries, with more than 750 participants.

Moreover, the programme actively promoted regional cooperation among benefiting countries in the EEA, facilitating knowledge exchange between more than 200 Greek and international civil society organisations. This collaboration brought together over 500 participants, encouraging the adoption of best practices and innovative solutions. Notably, a groundbreaking study by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) measured, for the first time in Greece, the contribution of Civil Society to the national economy, with the findings now available online here.

Detailed results of the programme can be found on the programme website, here.

EU: AMENDMENT OF THE DIRECTIVE TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

Posted on Thursday October 17th, 2024

On June 13th, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe issued Directive 2024/1712 to member states, addressing the fight against human trafficking. This Directive updates the previous Directive 2011/36, which had already been incorporated into Greek law through Law 4198/2013 – Government Gazette A 215/11.10.2013.

With these amendments, the existing legislation is enhanced, providing public authorities with more tools to improve support for trafficking victims and to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, including those taking place online.

Some key amendments include:

  1. New forms of exploitation recognized as components of human trafficking, such as forced marriage, surrogate motherhood, and illegal adoption, are added to the existing forms.
  2. Digital skills and relevant expertise among authorities are to be improved to address the rapid spread of human trafficking through technology.
  3. The need for a stricter criminal framework is emphasized, with judicial authorities urged to consider the dissemination of images, videos, or similar sexual content material related to the victim through information and communication technologies as an aggravating factor in human trafficking convictions.
  4. The promotion of training for professionals who may encounter potential trafficking victims and ensuring the development of technological skills among professionals.
  5. Member states are also called to ensure coordination between national referral mechanisms for trafficking victims and asylum authorities.

Member states have two years (until July 15, 2026) to align their national legislation with the Directive.

SolidarityNow closely follows legislative developments at the European Union level to combat human trafficking and protect victims. Updating legal provisions at both European and national levels is essential as human trafficking continues to be a rapidly growing crime, with an increasing number of cases being committed or facilitated through information and communication technologies.

Together against human trafficking

SolidarityNow collaborates with the Family and Child Care Center (KMOP) and the National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA) with the goal of strengthening the protective environment for victims and potential victims of human trafficking who are third-country nationals. The initiative also facilitates access to their rights while promoting the prevention, early identification, and response to human trafficking.

As part of the PROCAP project, SolidarityNow provides comprehensive psychosocial and legal support services through individualized case management and group interventions aimed at preventing the re-victimization of trafficking victims or those at risk of exploitation.

The organization’s services are delivered through mobile units that regularly visit shelters and temporary reception facilities in both Northern and Southern Greece. The organization is also present at community centers in Athens and Thessaloniki, supporting urban populations (Blue Refugee Center/Athens Solidarity Center). 

*The “PROCAP / Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking, Capacity Building, and Support to Key Social Partners” project is co-funded by the European Union under the “Greece Program – Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund 2021-2027” as a Special Action for the provision of services to trafficking victims who are third-country nationals, under OPS Code 6002554.