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19 Jul 17
A group of volunteers from the US and Canada help our kids truly experience being kids once again. Along with the team, the children participate in arts and crafts exercises and enjoy their summer days.
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12 Jul 17
A group of volunteers from London help build a new garden for one of The HOME Project shelters. The team also organised Enlgish and vocational training lessons as well as therapy sessions for our children.
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30 Jun 17
UNHCR GREECE donates 180 boxes of clothes for girls, boys and babies, and kitchen equipment for The HOME Project shelters.
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27 Jun 17
Storytellers from the Festival LEA – Sol Latino visited and enchanted our children with tales.
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22 Jun 17
Faber-Castell donates art material for the children of The HOME Project shelters.
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19 Jun 17
With the guidance and support of the Seleni Institute, our children attended their first art therapy workshops at The HOME Project shelters. The creation of healing environments within our shelters is a key element of our work.
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15 Jun 17
Our children successfully completed their Youth to Youth Program in collaboration with ACS Athens (American Community Schools). Through this program, our children participated in English, Greek and Maths as well as sports and art classes.
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13 Jun 17The inspirational David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation, visited our shelter for unaccompanied minor girls and babies during his stay in Athens for the Concordia Summit Europe 2017.
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03 Jun 17
Refugee Open Ware organized a robotics workshop, led by Asem Hasna, at a HOME Project shelter operated by Medin in collaboration with ARSIS and Together for Children. The children worked in teams and built their own robots.
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31 May 17
Girls from our shelter participated in the Youth Spark Live Event, "Empowering employment opportunities for women,“ organized by Found.ation in collaboration with Microsoft.
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20 May 17
A team of doctors and dentists examined and vaccinated all the children living in The HOME Project shelters through the “Health for All” program.
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18 May 17
At least 300,000 unaccompanied and separated children have been recorded in 2015-2016, a rise of 500% since 2010 -2011. Of these minors, 75% become victims of slavery, exploitation and engage into illegal actions in attempt to fulfill their dreams.
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15 May 17
According to the latest EKKA and UNICEF report there are more than 1,013 lone refugee children in Greece without a home. Of those 234 children are in detention with no access to basic care, legal support and information on their rights. The numbers of lone refugee children arriving in Europe have been increasing throughout 2017. They are at risk of violence, sexual abuse, exploitation and organ trafficking.The need for a safe Home is now more urgent than ever.
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13 May 17
“More than 1,000 children are suffering from physical and psychological violence. Our mission is to support and educate them.” Sofia Kouvelaki, Executive Director of the HOME Project, shares the stories of invisible children at TEDxAthens 2017.
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09 May 17
Nearly 250 refugees feared dead after two migrant boats sink in Mediterranean, according to a United Nations report. A baby was found among the bodies that washed up on the coasts of Libya. So far in 2017, more than 1,300 people have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe.
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08 May 17
Allied Aid, a US-based organization, created edible gardens at two of our shelters. The organization also donated 400 pairs of socks and 60 pairs of slippers for the children in the shelters.
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03 May 17
The organization Boroume donates a large amount of food and cleaning supplies for one of the HOME Project shelters.
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24 Apr 17
The organizations Carry the Future and Desmos make a large donation of food supplies for our shelters.
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21 Apr 17
The HOME Project team in Athens received 84 letters from students at Valencia High School in California, USA. The letters, addressed to the children living in the HOME Project Shelters, contained words of encouragement and positivity.
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19 Apr 17
937 lone refugee children in Greece have no HOME, according to the latest EKKA (National Center of Social Solidarity) report, a government agency responsible for the registration of unaccompanied in Greece. Of those 202 children are in detention centers with no access to basic services. The remaining kids live in camps, police stations or on the streets.
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17 Apr 17
FXB Center for Health and Human Rights of the Harvard University publishes a report on the exploitation of refugee children in Greece. It provides facts and official academic data proving the extent of sexual, physical, emotional and psychological abuse that is taking place against the most vulnerable of the vulnerable. The HOME Project was set up to support and protect lone refugee children in Greece, who are exposed to violence and sexual abuse.
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12 Apr 17
Moving into our new shelter for 15 girls and 3 babies, operated by Medin in collaboration with ARSIS and Mazi gia to Paidi. Both the girls and the babies will receive a holistic network of services covering food, shelter, material, medical, psychosocial, and legal support as well as support from maternal mental health experts and early childhood learning specialists.
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10 Apr 17A year after the EU-Turkey Deal more than 3,500 people are in limbo on the island of Chios living in dehumanizing conditions. A disproportionate burden for the local population and authorities that have been exhausted by a combination of financial and refugee crisis. 60 homeless lone refugee children on the island of Chios outside of any protection system.
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26 Mar 17
Opening celebration at the new HOME Project shelters, operated by Medin in collaboration with Generation 2.0. Atenistas helped bring life and beauty to walls of the shelters and coordinated painting activities for Greek and refugee children.
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19 Mar 17
Children from one of The HOME Project shelters volunteered at the Athens Half-Marathon, by giving out water and collecting plastic bottles from the runners for recycling.
The activity was coordinated by the Institute Team for the World Environmental Alliance 2004+ and PwC Greece.
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04 Mar 17
The children from our shelter participated in their first swimming lesson, led by a professional coach. The activity was funded by the organizations Peaceful Warrior and Building Bridges Charity Film Festival.
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01 Mar 17
According to the latest EKKA (National Center of Social Solidarity) report, a government agency responsible for the registration of unaccompanied in Greece, there are 1008 children in Greece without a home. Of those 16 children are in detention centers with no access to basic services. The remaining kids live in camps, police stations or on the streets.
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22 Feb 17
Installing equipment at our second and third shelter which will host 30 children.
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21 Feb 17
Muhammed Muheisen of Associated Press publishes a series of photos which show the tragic reality of lone refugee children without any protection in Serbia.
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17 Feb 17
Benroubi, a small electrical appliances and household goods company, donates equipment and kitchenware for our shelters.
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15 Feb 17
EKKA, the National Center for Social Solidarity responsible for recording unaccompanied minors in Greece, reports that there are currently 1076 lone children without a home in Greece. Innocent children are at risk of violence, sexual abuse, exploitation and organ trafficking. There is an estimated number of 2,100 lone children in Greece at the moment.
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14 Feb 17
Western Union donates laptops worth €3,000 for the HOME Project children, who will use them for coding and language learning classes.
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11 Feb 17
The organizations Building Bridges and Peaceful Warrior funded a day-trip for 18 children. The kids played tennis and visited the Thermopyles Museum where they learned about the epic battle between the Spartans and the Persians.
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23 Jan 17
The HOME Project donates 10 laptop computers to the Education and Recreation for Adults and Children in Sounio Camp Program run by Organization Earth.
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07 Jan 17
- 5,139 unaccompanied minors officially registered entering Greece since the beginning of 2016. 4,697 (91% are boys) and 442 (9% are girls), 460 <14 years old
- 1,443 lone refugee children without a home, of those 309 in closed reception facilities, 15 in protective custody
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06 Jan 17
- 875 Mediterranean arrivals within the first 6 days of 2017
- 11 dead/missing within the first 6 days of 2017
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30 Dec 16
The entertainment company Come & Save Me organized a New Year's Eve Party for 45 lone refugee children in The HOME Project shelter. Professional DJ's and musicians brought music and joy to the shelter.
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28 Dec 16
The National Center for Social Solidarity Announces that 1,443 lone children have no home in Greece. Of those 309 children are kept in closed facilities in prison-like conditions.
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01 Dec 16
The EC released
- Its Fourth Report on the Implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement.
- Its Eighth Report on relocation and resettlement.
- A recommendation to Member States to gradually resume Dublin transfers to Greece under certain circumstances.
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10 Nov 16
The HOME Project has supported the NGO Medical Intervention operating on Samos with the provision of milk for 657 babies and young children.
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09 Nov 16
The European Commission (EC) released their Seventh Report on Relocation and Resettlement (Source: UNHCR) 7,990 lives have been lost while crossing the Mediterranean. According to the UN Children’s Fund many of the dead are believed to be children and many were travelling alone (IOM)
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24 Oct 16
French authorities shut down the refugee camp in Calais.
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06 Oct 16
The European Commission officially launched the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) Agency.
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28 Sep 16
The European Commission released:
- Sixth Report on relocation and resettlement
- Third Recommendation in view of the resumption of Dublin transfers to Greece
- Third Report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement
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19 Sep 16
United Nations General Assembly Summit in New York. Adopts the New York Declaration outlining key commitments to protect refugee and migrant rights.
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16 Sep 16
Informal Bratislava Summit, whereby Leaders set out the priorities at EU-level for the next few months. On migration, they include further bringing down the number of irregular migrants arriving to the EU, controlling external borders effectively, cooperate with non-EU countries and “apply the principles of responsibility and solidarity”.
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14 Sep 16
The European Border and Coast Guard Regulation is formally adopted.
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09 Sep 16
Greek authorities registered over 3,300 unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children arriving in Greece in the first seven months of 2016.
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23 Aug 16
The Greek Asylum Service announced results of the pre-registration exercise, following its completion on 25 July.
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13 Jul 16
The European Commission released:
- Its Proposals to recast the Asylum Procedures Directive, recast the Qualification Directive and amend the Reception Conditions Directive.
- Its proposal on an EU Resettlement Framework.
- Its Fifth Report on relocation and resettlement.
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01 Jul 16
40% of refugee arrivals are children. Of those - we don’t know exactly how many and this is part of the problem- are thousands of children who travel and arrive in Europe all alone. 100,000 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in the European Union in 2015. This is a 4 times larger number than the corresponding period a year ago. 13 percent of them are children younger than 14.
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17 Jun 16
The European Commission:
- Released Fourth Report on Relocation and Resettlement.
- Released Second report on the progress Made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement.
- Adopted a recommendation on the urgent measures to be taken by Greece in the view of the resumption of transfers to the country under the Dublin III Regulation.
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12 Jun 16
The UNHCR reported that 157,396 refugees arrived by sea through Greece in 2016. 38 per cent of those were children.
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08 Jun 16
The Greek Asylum Service started pre-registration for applications for international protection, supported by UNHCR and EASO.
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01 Jun 16
The closing of the borders has left the children trapped in Greece. All the shelters for unaccompanied minors are full. As a result more than 900 children are homeless residing in the streets, camps, and detention centers. Child -prostitution networks start flourishing in the center of Athens.
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30 May 16
The National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA) announced that there are more than 900 unaccompanied minors in Greece, who are homeless and need urgent assistance from local and European authorities. More than 450 unaccompanied minors are held in detention centers.
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29 May 16
More than 700 people are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean during a period of one week, which was the deadliest seven days for Europe-bound asylum seekers in more than a year.
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18 May 16
- The European Commission adopted its third progress report on the EU’s emergency relocation and resettlement schemes.
- The Turkish President approved the legislative framework regarding the EU-Turkey Statement with regards to the readmission of people from Greece.
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04 May 16
The European Commission released:
- Proposals to reform the Common European Asylum System, with proposals to reform the Dublin Regulation, the EURODAC system and to turn the European Asylum Support Office into an European Union Agency for Asylum.
- Third Progress Report by Turkey in fulfilling the requirements of its visa liberalization roadmap.
- Proposal to grant visa liberalization to Turkish citizens.
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27 Apr 16
Turkey amended labor legislation to grant those holding subsidiary protection work permits.
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18 Apr 16
Fears 400 refugees have drowned in Mediterranean after boats capsize. Reports said the refugees were fleeing to Italy from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea in four boats which were ill-equipped for the journey.
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07 Apr 16
Turkish government amended the Temporary Protection Regulation regarding access to temporary protection for Syrian nationals who irregularly travel to Europe and who are returned to Turkey from Greek islands.
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06 Apr 16
The European Commission (EC) published Communication on reforms to Common European Asylum System (CEAS).
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04 Apr 16
First returns take place under the EU-Turkey Statement: 202 people returned to Turkey from Greece.
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03 Apr 16
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20 Mar 16
Start of the EU-Turkey Statement.
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18 Mar 16
EU-Turkey Deal: EU Heads of State for Government and Turkey agreed to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and replace it instead with legal channels of resettlement of refugees to the European Union.
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30 Jan 16
Europol announces that at least 10,000 unaccompanied child refugees have disappeared after arriving in Europe, according to the EU’s criminal intelligence agency. Many are feared to have fallen into the hands of organized trafficking syndicates.
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30 Dec 15
The UN refugee agency reported that more than one million migrants and refugees had reached Europe by sea during 2015. More than 80% arrived in Greece from Turkey, while most of the others arrived in Italy from Libya. 3,735 people had died or were lost at sea.
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03 Sep 15
The slogan ‘refugees welcome’ goes viral: 250,000 people in 48 hours back an ‘Independent’ petition calling for Britain to take its fair share of refugees.
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02 Sep 15
Photo of drowned little boy goes viral: Pictures of three-year-old Aylan al-Kurdi, drowned in his Syrian family’s attempt to reach Greece from Turkey, provoke a wave of public sympathy for refugees.
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01 Sep 15
Thousands of migrants gathered outside Keleti railway station in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, after police sealed off the terminal to stop them travelling through the EU. The Hungarian government said it was trying to enforce EU law (the Dublin Regulation), which states that refugees should seek asylum in the first EU country they enter. However, the migrants wanted to claim asylum in Germany. For four days, the migrants camped outside the station and were in a stand-off with police. Eventually, hundreds began walking along the motorway to the Austrian border. The Austrian chancellor said Austria and Germany had agreed to let the migrants cross their borders. The Hungarian government abandoned attempts to register the migrants and sent buses to bring them to the border. Some Austrians and Germans gathered to welcome the migrants. A convoy of 140 cars driven by German and Austrian activists also crossed into Hungary to pick up migrants.
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24 Aug 15
Germany announces that it will take in 800,000 migrants that year and becomes the first EU country to suspend a 1990 protocol which forces refugees to seek asylum in the first European country in which they set foot.
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20 Jul 15
EU Accepts Refugees: EU leaders agree to accept 32,256 refugees from Italy and Greece; this is just short of the 40,000 proposed in May by EC president Jean-Claude Juncker.
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29 May 15
More than 700 people drowned in the Mediterranean. The casualties happened in three separate incidents on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after more than 13,000 people set sail from Libya for Italy in an eight-day period.
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12 Apr 15
A boat with up to 550 migrants on board capsized off the coast of Libya. About 400 people are believed to have drowned while about 150 were rescued by the Italian coastguard.
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01 Apr 15
In a number of concurrent wrecks, an unprecedented 1,308 refugees and migrants drowned or went missing in a single month (compared to 42 in April 2014).