Athens, 21 December 2015. Last Saturday on the 19th of December, a special multicultural Christmas celebration was enjoyed by more than 300 children who came accompanied by their parents at the Athens Solidarity Center. At the SolidarityNow Center all the staff, partners and volunteers welcomed the guests in a festive spirit to a party organized for their youngest friends.
The celebration had it all: music, carols and songs by the children’s choir- Christopher the Magician bearing a tall hat and pigeon tricks enchanted young and old alike!  African regional dishes from the Association of Nigerian Women filled the room with flavors and colors! Everyone, voluntarily offered their services and contributed to create a truly cheerful atmosphere for the children.
“Since the Solidarity Center in Athens began operating in 2014, we have welcomed around 30,000 beneficiaries; having offered 60,000 services: medical, legal, consultations, psycho-social support. The Center is open to all – and it suffices to say that our beneficiaries originate from 123 countries of the world” said Giorgos Karagiannis, Coordinator of the Solidarity Center Program. “To be close to them, especially to children, during the holidays, is a great opportunity to share joy and blessings with those who trust us every day. This day has symbolic value for us as well and something we need equally to our beneficiaries”.
The celebration became a reality thanks to precious partners of SolidarityNow offering their services daily at the Athens Solidarity Center: Praksis, Network for Children’s Rights, ARSIS- Association for the Social Support of Youth, Union «Together for Children», and the Asylum Service.
* The Athens Solidarity Center operates with the financial support of the Open Society Foundations, the EEA Norway Grants, the Embassy of Norway in Greece and in collaboration with the Municipality of Athens.