Trainings Begin in Six Municipalities Across Greece

SolidarityNow and UNICEF are implementing the pilot project titled “Child Responsive Disaster Prepardeness” in collaboration with six municipalities across the country. The aim is to enhance awareness among stakeholders—as well as children and young people themselves—on the prevention and response to natural disasters.

Tomorrow, October 23, 2025, Training Workshops will begin, conducted by the organization’s specialized staff in the selected municipalities. These workshops aim to train all local stakeholders, associations, and volunteer groups active in Civil Protection, education, and child and social welfare.

2025 Training Schedule

• October 23, Municipality of Pyrgos, Ilia – Latsio Municipal Hall, City Council Chamber, 10:00 – 17:00

• November 4, Municipality of Alexandroupoli – Warehouse 1, Port of Alexandroupoli, 08:00 – 13:00

• November 13, Municipality of Chalkida – Regional Council Hall, 08:00 – 13:00

• November 20, Municipality of Polygyros, Thessaloniki – Conference Room of the Regional Unit of Halkidiki, 09:00 – 16:00

• December 4, Municipality of Lemnos – Gkaliouri Hall, 08:00 – 13:00

• December 11, Municipality of Karditsa – KIERION Hotel, 08:00 – 13:00

Admission is free. More information: https://www.solidaritynow.org/drr-project/

SolidarityNow is collaborating for the first time with the L’Oréal Fund for Women to support women in Northern Greece in their journey to access the labor market.

The project “Livelihoods Unlocked: Empowering Women through Employment” provides:

• Tailored empowerment and employability services for women from vulnerable backgrounds, and

• Awareness-raising around the barriers women face in accessing employment opportunities.

This initiative strengthens the ongoing work of the Employment Service at the Thessaloniki Solidarity Center, which consistently stands by the most vulnerable social groups.

Livelihoods Unlocked aims to contribute to reducing the gender gap in employment, which remains significant in Greece. In particular, during the second quarter of 2025, the unemployment rate among women was 10.5%, compared to 6.9% among men, while Greece lags behind the European average in nearly all indicators of workplace gender equality. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), in Greece:

• Women continue to work part-time at significantly higher rates than men.

• Occupational segregation is evident, with women overrepresented in lower-paid sectors with limited advancement opportunities, such as education, healthcare, and social care.

• The Career Prospects Index also shows a disadvantage for women compared both to men and to the European average.

These barriers become even more pronounced for women facing multiple vulnerabilities such as single mothers, survivors of gender-based violence, long-term unemployed, and others. Research shows that these groups face additional obstacles, including limited training opportunities, increased caregiving responsibilities, and often, discrimination by employers. Through this new project, SolidarityNow is taking concrete steps to support women who need it most, helping them access the labor market and regain autonomy and confidence through employment.

by Giorgos Tsitiridis, Head of Programs, Northern Greece, SolidarityNow

Top search engines and websites of foundations and universities announce every year the words that the public has searched for most frequently during the year. Paradoxically, in most of them the top word is Google, the leading search platform. Following are various new definitions and words that describe trends and behaviors. Among those that attract global interest are the terms digital world and artificial intelligence (AI).

There are dozens of articles discussing the problems artificial intelligence can solve and its contribution to writing texts and creating images. Likewise, many refer to the dangers poor usage may pose in the future, and whether it could lead to the extinction of humankind as depicted in science fiction books and movies. What is certain is that AI usage is already widespread and increasingly entering modern life, from entertainment to core professional fields. Some AI technologies appeared as early as the 1970s‑80s. However, advances in technology, computers, and mobile phones now allow faster development and easier use.

Worldwide, the largest educational institutions, institutes, and research centers are investing time and resources in the potentials and innovations AI may bring for the future of humanity. The European Union has made artificial intelligence one of its priorities for the coming years. A group of Greek scientists abroad has joined forces to found “Greeks in AI,” aiming to support new researchers and scientists, to strengthen them, and to create a communication bridge between Greece and knowledge sources and business projects overseas.

The Centre for Public Impact, founded in 2015, aims to develop and promote programs that, through innovative tools, allow their implementation in the public sector.

In this context, in cooperation with Google.org AI Opportunity Fund Europe, which supports organizations and associations to deliver AI skills, the Centre for Public Impact has selected non‑profit organizations and civil society actors in over 23 countries, including Greece, to train groups of citizens in basic AI courses designed by Google. These groups include, for example, in Turkey those affected by earthquakes; in Ukraine, professionals affected by the ongoing war. In other countries, training includes unemployed people; LGBTQI+ persons; workers in agriculture and livestock; people with dyslexia, people with disabilities; journalists; artists; young people with fewer employment and educational opportunities; persons with hearing problems; single‑parent families; refugees; migrants; etc.

Standing beside the most vulnerable to bridge the gap

In Greece, SolidarityNow and Odyssea were selected by the Centre for Public Impact to receive funding from the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Europe, to equip workers from vulnerable social groups with AI knowledge and tools necessary for their long‑term professional success. Through the program, the two organizations receive support to provide targeted AI education to vulnerable Greek citizens and people with migration/refugee backgrounds.

Initial results have shown the vast scope of AI, but equal access must be ensured for everyone. SolidarityNow and Odyssea support vulnerable social groups including Greek citizens and migrants/refugees who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Through their regular programs, they offer services of professional integration, such as counseling, support in administrative procedures, and liaison with employers. This new program offers AI training in Athens and Thessaloniki, allowing the beneficiaries of the two organizations to develop their digital skills and gain a competitive advantage in the job market. To ease participation, interpretation services and childcare during training are provided.

Marilyn Polena, General Manager of SolidarityNow, states about the program: “We are committed to helping our beneficiaries adapt to the constantly changing demands of the labor market. Through this initiative, we hope to make a small step toward bridging the digital divide, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society.” SolidarityNow, through its Centers of Solidarity in Athens and Thessaloniki, has succeeded in supporting 97,000 beneficiaries, and through free services and non‑formal learning activities more than 350,000 people.

Lukas Oikonomakis, Co‑Founder and CTO of Odyssea, notes: “Artificial intelligence is radically changing the labor market, and the digital skills gap threatens to leave behind the most vulnerable social groups. Through this partnership, we are giving our students the essential tools to adapt to the new reality. We are turning this challenge into an opportunity for them to thrive in a future based on AI.”

The first two cycles of training have been completed, with over 50 individuals in Athens and Thessaloniki obtaining certification from the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund. The next cycle begins soon, and registrations are open.

Results from the previous cycles showed that participants found the training particularly engaging, as it consists of exercises and practical applications of AI in everyday life, across four sessions of interactive learning. Moreover, the multicultural characteristics of the groups contributed to creating a different atmosphere, allowing contact between people of diverse origin, age, and socioeconomic background, etc.

The 3rd cycle is taking place at the:

– Thessaloniki Solidarity Center, I. Koletti 25D, One Salonica area

– Athens Solidarity Center, Domokou 2, in the city center.

The training dates for Thessaloniki are:

Monday 29/9/2025

Tuesday 7/10/2025

Tuesday 14/10/2025

Tuesday 21/10/2025

The training dates for Athens are:

Friday 3/10/2025

Friday 10/10/2025

Thursday 16/10/2025

Thursday 23/10/2025

Morning session (11:00) and afternoon session (17:00) are available depending on participants.

For more information and registration you may contact: cdotsa@solidaritynow.org or +30 2310 555266.

During the summer of 2025, more than 500 beneficiaries turned to the accounting service of the Blue Solidarity Center in Thessaloniki -the only free service of its kind in Northern Greece- for assistance with filing their tax returns. Many also sought support for related issues such as insurance contribution verification and debt settlement arrangements.

Challenges

While no major changes were introduced this year compared to 2024, one new regulation required the use of a bank account only in cases where there was a tax refund or rental return. This measure -scheduled to be applied automatically every November- was largely unknown to most beneficiaries, prompting many to seek guidance and clarification from the Center.

A key challenge was the automatic tax filing system launched in 2024. Many returns were submitted with incorrect data, as beneficiaries were unaware of the process—either due to outdated contact information or language barriers that limited their understanding. The Center’s accounting team submitted corrective declarations wherever possible, helping beneficiaries avoid penalties for mistakes beyond their control.

A Trusted Point of Support

The Blue Solidarity Center continues to serve as a vital point of reference for hundreds of people who would otherwise lack access to specialized support. Thanks to its consistent presence and expertise, the Center bridges critical gaps and facilitates access to complex bureaucratic procedures.

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