WELCommon A community center Yonous Muhammadi, Greek Refugees Forum Nikos Chrysogelos, ANEMOS ANANEOSIS/WIND OF RENEWAL
The reality and the needs About 55.000 refugees blocked inside Greece - Infrastructure and conditions for hosting fail to cover their basic needs in many cases. - Missing policies for integration and social inclusion at the moment Refugees need to rely increasingly on NGOs and solidarity networks. There is an urgent need to increase the capacity to provide shelter and support structures to refugees but also to activate good practices for social inclusion WIND of RENEWAL/ANEMOS ANANEOSIS
WELcommon Welcome in common an innovative community and hosting center for refugees WELCOMMON - the community and hosting center for refugees - is a cooperation between ANEMOS ANANEOSIS/WIND OF RENEWAL (social cooperative) and Athens Development and Destination Management Agency of Municipality of Athens, in the framework of the UNHCR s relocation project. It is based on the initiative and the cooperation of 4 organisations: ANEMOS ANANEOSIS / Wind of Renewal social cooperative, Greek Forum of Refugees, Greek Forum of Migrants ANASA Cultural Centre, and the communities of refugees and migrants. Seeking to offer proper accommodation but also much more Key aims: Social inclusion, empowerment and integration of refugees, cooperation with the local community. Not only for the refugees, but also, with the participation of the refugees themselves (in common) It is a win win and integrated solution for the benefit of both the local population and the refugees WIND of RENEWAL/ANEMOS ANANEOSIS
WELcommon - Main objective Quality housing for 150-250 refugees for a (max) 6 months periods. 66 rooms for independent living and rooms for training, socializing, meetings, painting, dancing, etc. Best practices with respect for the dignity of refugees. Refugees will receive food, clothing, medical care & psycho-social support to cover their basic needs, information and training opportunities, e.g language instruction, to develop their abilities and skills The personnel of the WELCOMMON center (29 persons) are both Greek nationals and migrants /refugees. Volunteers from different countries participate in the program (they must be trained so they are able to participate in an efficient and organized way) Job opportunities through hosting. Promotion of their abilities and skills through the function of the community center. Emphasis on social inclusion, building up bridges with organizations and agencies of the destination s region Contact with local society, the Municipality and businesses. Development of (social) entrepreneurship (reuse schemes, establishment of social cooperatives with the participation of Greeks and refugees/migrants, etc) Non formal education for children and adults, art - music - painting workshops)
Conditions of Accommodation Dignity and Safety, with special attention to vulnerables. More than 60 rooms with WC appropriate for families, accessible rooms for persons with disabilities. The building is accessible. The building we have selected is a former clinic. It is within the urban fabric and with easy access to public transportation to avoid the marginalization of the guests. It is near the main Public Transport Networks (busses, METRO, underground train) Training and participation in the socially and environmentally responsible use of the place (energy efficiency, recycling reuse, sustainable water use etc) Participation in the maintenance and cleanliness of the accommodation on everyday level, reuse and recycling Persons with appropriate skills and abilities assist in maintenance and repair, while the interested persons can acquire knowledge and skills as assistants in similar works, in order to be able to find job or establish a social enterprise.
The building before
Renovation of the building The WELCOMMON center is almost ready to host refugees. As soon as we get the beds offered by the UNHCR, we will start hosting refugees, we hope in the coming week. We are now finishing the renovation and repair work. Although it was a hard work, it took us only 4 weeks to be ready, thanks to the support of many volunteers, additionally to professionals, and the donations. We had to check and repair the electric and hydraulic system, to clean (many times) the rooms and all the spaces, to paint the whole building (3200 m2), to check the heating and cooling system, to install wi-fi network and to use existed or new infrastructure for the rooms.
Renovation of the building (2)
Renovation of the building 3 WIND of RENEWAL/ANEMOS ANANEOSIS
Reception, information & interpretation Reception is on a daily basis, all over the year, in languages of the incoming populations. 4 interpreters (3 men and 1 woman) will act also as cultural / community mediators UNHCR will decide about the hosting population. Particular attention to the most vulnerable groups, e.g. unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, torture or trafficking victims, the disabled, etc. Explanation and written acceptance of the internal regulation of the WELCOMMON center (including both reception and departure of the beneficiaries once the maximum period of stay has been reached). We give emphasis to welcome, in common A registration system, including origin, skills and knowledge WIND of RENEWAL/ANEMOS ANANEOSIS
Medical care & psycho-social support Medical check in cooperation with municipal, social or other clinics. Providing primary health care and psychosocial support, in a suitable and equipped section in the building by doctors of the same sex, with respect to the cultural & religious practices of the refugees. We are now creating a social clinic with Arabic speaking doctors - volunteers of different expertise. A nurse is hired Psycho-social support by 4 professionals (3 social workers, 1 psychologist) and 4 volunteers in WELCOMMON. Referral to appropriate structures if they need treatment or disposal of pharmaceuticals.
Meals / Cooking Food (breakfast and 2 meals) with respect to the nutritional needs and particularities of the guests (e.g. age, habits, religion and the state of their health). It is based on a service contract procurement, but a close cooperation with the hosting population for the menu is one of the conditions of the contract. Collaboration with the guests, with rotating shifts so that everyone contributes to the operation of the dining room Facilitation of guests who already have or acquire appropriate skills to contact restaurants and other businesses in the context of finding job Support for the creation of social or individual enterprise (information on existing programs, financial tools, meeting with locals who may be looking for partners for the creation of such an enterprise, etc.). In the near future (not now): Multicultural dining areas and areas supplying daily necessities at affordable prices operate for the public (social restaurant and mini market) as social enterprises. The income contributes to the financial sustainability of the WELCOMMON.
Clothing, footwear, essentials Collection and sorting of clothing & footwear in a special section of the building Washing machines section and a section of repair and reuse of items. In the near future (not now): Establishment of a social enterprise for the repair and reuse of clothing and footwear, offering jobs to unemployed (either refugees or local population) as well as clothingfootwear at affordable prices. Also, this social enterprise will rent goods such as children's prams, buggies for the disabled, special equipment for patients with chronic diseases (e.g. oxygen devices, special beds etc.) to interested citizens at low cost
Pedagogical, environmental and cultural programs Pedagogical and cultural programs specially designed for refugees, especially children and youth, using education, art, dancing and culture as tools for the empowerment of refugees, Language lessons Familiarity with health issues, social behaviour and environmental responsibility Operation of an artistic workshop: the works (if their creators agree) will be offered for sale, with 50% of revenues intended for the needs of the creators themselves and 50% for the operation of the hostel.
Legal aid Free legal assistance and information including: Information about their legal status and their rights Interpretation in all the languages of the incoming populations. Mediation to the competent authorities Referral for asylum applications and other legal acts, Legal representation, especially of the particularly vulnerable cases.
Connect - connection A database containing information on agencies and individuals looking for particular disciplines or/and interested in coming in contact with people who have specific skills and abilities. The basic objective is to create a bridge between interested agencies and refugees on specializations, professions, skills and employment opportunities (e.g. catering-food, culture-arts, health-care, technical professions such as engineers, educational, weaving, repairs, mode, social media etc.) in Greece or the countries of their destination
Solidarity and cooperation We need your support and solidarity welcommon.project@gmail.com Tel: 00302013810646 www.anemosananeosis.gr Thank you for your attention