The e-news portal in.gr presents the story and the video, of the fourth and last one produced in the context of the #WeAreFamily photo and video project, as part of the overall Home for Hope awareness campaign. This story is about Eleftheria, George, Avin, Kawa and their young daughter from Syria who are hosted in Eleftheria’s home since last April.

See the whole article here

Kathimerini, in both printed and online format, hosts an article for the two out of the 15 participants of the Refugee Team who took part in the Athens Classic Marathon. Fauzi and Samir expressed the desire to take part in an intense training schedule. Therefore, and following the communication of the organization with the team of Panellinios, Fauzi and Samir, have joined the team of Panellinios and are currently trained in the team’s facilities in the center of Athens.

See the whole article here

This extended article in the newspaper Protagon is dedicated to the people as well as to the activities that take place in a workspace in the center of Athens, for the organization’s beneficiaries, mainly for the children but also for the adults.

See the whole article here

Creative activities, sports, and language lessons for children and adult refugees stranded in our country, waiting to relocate at a EU country where they will restart their lives.

These activities are implemented in the context of SolidarityNow Hosting Programme for refugees in Greece.
One of the actions, which are very popular for small groups, it is the craftsmanship. “Children learn how to make paper masks,” explains the head of the program, Liana Markakis. Some of the children show great zeal in the instructions!
“Usually girls show greater diligence in such programs. They like to build things and to paint. Instead, the boys prefer to play ball, she adds. Around the stalls where the masks are made there are many children running, playing and paint. Others ask balloons from the project managers. “In Syria we say “the children’s judge committed suicide.” “This means that it is impossible to satisfy all the wishes of the children altogether” says the translator, who is also trying to satisfy the demands of the young kids. (…)

See here the whole article

This extended article in the newspaper Ethnos is dedicated to the people as well as to the activities that take place in a workspace in the center of Athens, for the organization’s beneficiaries, mainly for the children but also for the adults.

See the whole article here

by Sofia Economopoulos
Contractor for the State Department & SolidarityNow volunteer

According to Amnesty International’s 2016 Refugee’s Welcome Survey, Greece ranks among the top ten countries surveyed that said that they think their government should do more to help those fleeing war, and 3^rd when asked if they would personally accept people fleeing war and persecution into their homes.[1] Paradoxically, a Pew study found that 63 percent of Greeks think diversity makes Greece a worse place to live, an opinion echoed by fellow EU members, Italy (53%), Hungary (41%) and Poland (40%).[2]   In another Pew study, an overwhelming majority of Greeks believe that immigrants are a burden to the country because they “steal jobs and social benefits” and also are to blame for most criminal activity.[3] So where is the disconnect?

There are many. Like most societies worldwide, the conflicting data is a prime example of theory rather than practice logic, and Greek history has illustrated that migrant/refugee populations have been reticently received[4] and that the fear of the “other,” whose origins are a mystery, and are not white or Christian, is still quite prevalent. Factor in the never-ending financial crisis, which is wreaking its 8^th consecutive year of financial havoc in Greece, and you have an irate, and mistrusting local populace. It must be said that the migrant crisis has affected tourism in the islands close to the Turkish sea border (Lesvos, Kos, and Samos, among others)[5] which in turn is making it more difficult for the locals to make money in order to keep up with the never-ending flow of taxes that are constantly being created and/or raised.[6] However, there has been no solid evidence that the migrants have “stolen” jobs that were to have gone to Greeks. One obvious reason is that there have currently been more business closures rather than openings due to the crisis. Nor is there evidence that the refugees are bringing diseases, and causing religious conflict. Right-wing extremist groups all over Europe and the US have seen the migrant crisis as a golden opportunity to propagate their xenophobic rhetoric, and in Greece’s case, to an audience of angry and desperate people, reeling from the financial crisis.  To add insult to injury, Greece is not a volunteer-driven society, so local initiatives are hard pressed for staff and helpers, and government services to refugee populations are limited and poorly organized.

While it’s been painfully obvious that no country has been “ready” to deal with the migrant crisis, among the world’s richest economies, only Germany has accepted the challenge, with a strong government push and a willingness from civil society organizations to work side by side in hosting, integrating, and helping refugees. Oxfam found that while the world’s richest economies (US, UK, France, Germany, China and Japan) have only taken in 2.1 million refugees, Germany has taken in the largest number, 736,000.[7] Among the efforts the German government has made to humanely host the never-ending flows of migrants,[8] German civil society have come up with quite a few initiatives beneficial for their new guests: two websites for refugees, one for legal refugees to match with Germans and Austrians who want to offer a room in their apartment (https://www.refugees-welcome.net/), another which matches refugees with job opportunities based on their skill set (https://www.workeer.de/), as well as an initiative to create an IT programming school for migrants, which will operate through laptop donations and volunteers.[9]

Acknowledging that each country faces a crisis differently, it begs the question of how Greek society can adapt to meet the needs of the present, instead of ignoring it and hoping it will go away? A basic starting point would be a competent, and well-executed government strategy that concentrates on initially hosting refugees (shelter, food, medical services), as well as integrating refugees whose applications are approved into society by offering Greek language and culture classes, which would help prevent a cultural divide seen particularly in Western Europe. It should be noted that this government strategy must have a strong focus on properly supporting, and accepting support from civil society organizations whose ideas and know-how are crucial in finding sustainable solutions to the current issues.

Currently however, the Greek government has instituted no such plans, and NGOs and civil society organizations such as SolidarityNow have had to step up to the plate. For its part, SolidarityNow has made concerted efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis by offering asylum services through its Solidarity Centers, creating a refugee hosting program called “Home for Hope,” as well as awarding grants to other active organizations in the crisis. SolidarityNow has made an important first step: now it is up to fellow Greeks to follow its example and demand more from their government, and from themselves.

[1] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/refugees-welcome-survey-results-2016/

[2] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/12/in-views-of-diversity-many-europeans-are-less-positive-than-americans/

[3] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/24/refugees-stream-into-europe-where-they-are-not-welcomed-with-open-arms/

[4] https://luben.tv/blogosphere/blogs/55395

[5] https://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/08/03/tourist-arrivals-on-greek-island-of-lesvos-drop-by-65/

[6] https://www.iefimerida.gr/news/275714/odoiporiko-toy-iefimerida-sti-lesvo-meros-v-se-apognosi-xenodohoi-kai-epaggelmaties-toy

[7] https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/file_attachments/mb-a-poor-welcome-refugees-180716-en_0.pdf

[8] https://www.fastcodesign.com/3060737/the-race-to-build-refugee-housing-that-feels-like-home

[9] https://blog.migreat.com/2015/07/28/top-3-innovative-initiatives-supporting-refugees-integration-and-rights-in-europe/

by Sofia Economopoulos
Contractor for the State Department & SolidarityNow Volunteer

According to Amnesty International’s 2016 Refugee’s Welcome Survey, Greece ranks among the top ten countries surveyed that said that they think their government should do more to help those fleeing war, and 3^rd when asked if they would personally accept people fleeing war and persecution into their homes.[1] Paradoxically, a Pew study found that 63 percent of Greeks think diversity makes Greece a worse place to live, an opinion echoed by fellow EU members, Italy (53%), Hungary (41%) and Poland (40%).[2]   In another Pew study, an overwhelming majority of Greeks believe that immigrants are a burden to the country because they “steal jobs and social benefits” and also are to blame for most criminal activity.[3] So where is the disconnect?

There are many. Like most societies worldwide, the conflicting data is a prime example of theory rather than practice logic, and Greek history has illustrated that migrant/refugee populations have been reticently received[4] and that the fear of the “other,” whose origins are a mystery, and are not white or Christian, is still quite prevalent. Factor in the never-ending financial crisis, which is wreaking its 8^th consecutive year of financial havoc in Greece, and you have an irate, and mistrusting local populace. It must be said that the migrant crisis has affected tourism in the islands close to the Turkish sea border (Lesvos, Kos, and Samos, among others)[5] which in turn is making it more difficult for the locals to make money in order to keep up with the never-ending flow of taxes that are constantly being created and/or raised.[6] However, there has been no solid evidence that the migrants have “stolen” jobs that were to have gone to Greeks. One obvious reason is that there have currently been more business closures rather than openings due to the crisis. Nor is there evidence that the refugees are bringing diseases, and causing religious conflict. Right-wing extremist groups all over Europe and the US have seen the migrant crisis as a golden opportunity to propagate their xenophobic rhetoric, and in Greece’s case, to an audience of angry and desperate people, reeling from the financial crisis.  To add insult to injury, Greece is not a volunteer-driven society, so local initiatives are hard pressed for staff and helpers, and government services to refugee populations are limited and poorly organized.

While it’s been painfully obvious that no country has been “ready” to deal with the migrant crisis, among the world’s richest economies, only Germany has accepted the challenge, with a strong government push and a willingness from civil society organizations to work side by side in hosting, integrating, and helping refugees. Oxfam found that while the world’s richest economies (US, UK, France, Germany, China and Japan) have only taken in 2.1 million refugees, Germany has taken in the largest number, 736,000.[7] Among the efforts the German government has made to humanely host the never-ending flows of migrants,[8] German civil society have come up with quite a few initiatives beneficial for their new guests: two websites for refugees, one for legal refugees to match with Germans and Austrians who want to offer a room in their apartment (https://www.refugees-welcome.net/), another which matches refugees with job opportunities based on their skill set (https://www.workeer.de/), as well as an initiative to create an IT programming school for migrants, which will operate through laptop donations and volunteers.[9]

Acknowledging that each country faces a crisis differently, it begs the question of how Greek society can adapt to meet the needs of the present, instead of ignoring it and hoping it will go away? A basic starting point would be a competent, and well-executed government strategy that concentrates on initially hosting refugees (shelter, food, medical services), as well as integrating refugees whose applications are approved into society by offering Greek language and culture classes, which would help prevent a cultural divide seen particularly in Western Europe. It should be noted that this government strategy must have a strong focus on properly supporting, and accepting support from civil society organizations whose ideas and know-how are crucial in finding sustainable solutions to the current issues.

“Currently however, the Greek government has instituted no such plans, and NGOs and civil society organizations such as SolidarityNow have had to step up to the plate. For its part, SolidarityNow has made concerted efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis by offering asylum services through its Solidarity Centers, creating a refugee hosting program called “Home for Hope,” as well as awarding grants to other active organizations in the crisis. SolidarityNow has made an important first step: now it is up to fellow Greeks to follow its example and demand more from their government, and from themselves.”

Some years ago the Athens Classic Marathon was an event that attracted only a limited number of people, mainly professional racers. In 2002, 1,779 athletes ran. However, yesterday, 50.000 people attended the race, coming from 105 countries. They all run. Discharge, solidarity, group psychotherapy, reappropriation of public space? What drives so many people to overcome themselves? …Marathon from all the top sporting events still keeps its magic and symbolism – see the whole article here.

A group of 15 people, all of them from Syria. They are in Greece less than a year. In a few months some of them will be relocated to France, others in Germany and the rest will continue to wait, “imprisoned” in our country. Until then, all of them will participate on Sunday, November 13th, in the original Athens Classic Marathon. It is the first group of refugees who will run in this great historical race. See the whole article here.

SolidarityNow participates in the race of 5 km at this year’s Athens Classic Marathon with the 1st group of refugees in the history of the Marathon! The team comprises of 15 refugees, who are beneficiaries of the organization’s hosting programs. The members of the #SolidarityNow_Refugee_Team, along with their coaches, want to send their own message of solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, through their participation in the Athens Classic Marathon. See the whole article here.