The event for the completion of the “Empower YOUth”* project took place on January 18th, in a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere. The project, launched in 2022, was implemented by SolidarityNow in collaboration with the Norwegian organization Norsensus Mediaforum. “Empower YOUth” aimed to empower 28 young individuals from various vulnerable groups, including Roma, migrants/asylum seekers, refugees, young people with disabilities, and individuals residing in remote areas facing poverty, LGBTQI+, serving as agents of positive change within their respective communities.
“Be the change you want to see.”
The 28 young participants attended a series of training and workshops where they implemented some of their ideas into small-scale activities and community-level interventions. These initiatives were presented during the celebration event!
The four interventions implemented, concerned:
- Combatting stereotypes about the Roma community
- Establishing a self-help group for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Addressing gender and ethnic discrimination against Pomak women &
- Empowering learning opportunities for refugee children.
The event received a warm welcome from Prodromos Pyrros, Secretary General for Social Solidarity & Fight Against Poverty, Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family Affairs, and Gelly Aroni, Representative of the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons & Institutional Protection of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Maria Tsene, Assistant Director of the Active Citizens Fund Program at the Bodossaki Foundation, and Christina Psarra, General Director of Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) Greece, shared insights into the profound impact of programs dedicated to empowering young people. The project’s outcomes were presented by the coordinators of SolidarityNow and the representative of Norsensus Mediaforum.
The empowerment story of the young participants in a video.
The journey of empowering young participants in the “Empower YOUth” project has been beautifully captured in a video by director Vera-Iona Papadopoulou. This compelling video, unveiled at the event, provides a vivid portrayal of the transformative process undergone by these young individuals. You can watch the video by following this link: https://youtu.be/2HbWHZSvVaI?si=HoGqinWxoBoz3FA2
The next step
“Empower YOUth is a milestone for the empowerment of young people from vulnerable groups, who are a strategic target of the organization. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by young adults in navigating the transition to adulthood, SolidarityNow aims to provide a supportive framework for managing responsibilities safely. The focus remains on empowering both young adults and the professionals who support them by strengthening the involvement and contribution of young people in resolving social issues and at all stages of implementing social actions”, Marilyn Polena, General Manager.
The Active Citizens Fund in Greece is supported through a € 15 m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as part of the EEA Grants 2014 – 2021. The programme aims to develop the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector in Greece and to strengthen its role in promoting and safeguarding democratic procedures, active citizenship, and human rights. The Fund Operator for the Active Citizens fund in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow. More information: https://www.activecitizensfund.gr/en/