Diary

We are grateful to President Barack Obama and the Obama Foundation for supporting our CEO, Sofia Kouvelaki, in changing the lives of lone refugee children, empowering them to integrate and create a future for themselves. We are honored to have you be part of the HOME Project community. #nochildalone

Our staff organized a workshop for girls and minor mothers with their babies, detailing the importance of recycling and the dangers of pollution, with the goal of raising environmental awareness. Together, they watched informative videos and learned about the ways they can contribute to creating a greener future. The girls were tasked with creating and decorating pots using milk cartons and plastic bottles, and planting small indoor plants.

We welcomed Red Noses International to our shelters, where they brought a lot of magic and smiles to children under our care. Their positive energy and enthusiasm created a lively and uplifting atmosphere that brightened everyone's day. 

M. asked for a visit to the Acropolis, so we did it. One of our goals at The HOME Project is to introduce children under our care to Greek culture and history. A big thank you to the Acropolis Museum, The Association of Licensed Tourist Guides and our amazing guide Konstantina Griva for a beautiful day. 

We were happy to welcome Nicole De Moor, Belgium Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, in one of our shelters for girls and minor mothers with their babies, operated in collaboration with Movement On The Ground. Members of The HOME Project team discussed with her the urgent need for an elaborate and effective system of child protection leading to integration for refugee children on a national and international level. 

In collaboration with our partner Hip Hop 4 Hope, we have organized dance workshops in our shelters for girls and minor mothers with their babies. The aim is to create a safe space of interaction where all girls can join, bond as a community, learn about the diverse elements of Hip-Hop culture, build confidence and establish a healthy state of mind. 

Momodou, 18 years old, is from Gambia. Ηe arrived in Greece two years ago and found protection and support in one of our shelters. After a long asylum process, which lasted almost two years, and with the tireless efforts of our legal unit he has been granted asylum. During his stay in the shelter he attended multicultural school and completed a cooking training. Now, he is getting ready to leave to work at Kos island during the summer season. His story inspires us to continue providing child protection services to lone refugee children, empowering them to grow into active citizens.

Following the continuous support of our legal team Ali, a young boy under our care, just received back his legal documents. His asylum request was rejected twice exposing him at risk of being excluded from the public welfare system despite his vulnerable situation as a victim of child labor. Ali arrived in Greece 5 years ago but his immersion into Greek society started when he found a home in our shelters 3 years ago. Today, we are here to reiterate once more our call for an individualized legal approach for every child during the asylum process.

Sofia Kouvelaki, THP CEO, participated at the “The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI)” conference at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. Sofia spoke about the challenges that both our children and our staff are facing on a daily basis around mental health support. Thanks Stavros Niarchos Foundation and Child Mind Institute for providing such platforms where we can voice and share learnings to best empower professionals in supporting children in vulnerable conditions.

Constant training is part of The HOME Project child protection model, ensuring the staff responds to the changing needs of the children under our care. Our Child Protection Unit completed the first capacity building session of the year. The training was focused on the updated child protection protocols and guidelines of our operational manual.

Our educational programs started again this past Saturday. We are grateful for our collaboration with HAEF Athens College - Psychico College, ACS Athens and Moraitis School, enriching the educational aspect of our child protection model. The HOME Project child protection unit along with teachers and staff from the schools are implementing a curriculum designed according to children's needs and age, including language classes and sports, while integrating them with the rest of the student community.

Anna Maria Kountouri, Head of Legal Unit of The HOME Project was invited by WeSolve ProBono as a keynote speaker at the Library of the Law School. She presented our child protection model and our individualized legal approach during asylum and family reunification process to law students who wish to pursue careers on the humanitarian field. 

During the holidays season The HOME Project shelter staff and children decorated and set up Christmas trees. In one of our shelters for minor girls and minor mothers with their babies, this particular tree has a sparkle with ornaments and lights that have fascinated one of our youngest girls.

Youngest children under our care enjoyed the theatrical play “Planet Agents: Attack of the Sea Monsters” aiming to empower children aged 4-12 to take action on environmental issues. At The HOME Project, we aim to teach children social and environmental values necessary for protecting our planet and shaping a better future for everyone. 

Professional rehabilitation is one of the key tools for social integration. We are grateful to our partner ODYSSEA-Greece for offering the opportunity to children under our care who have reached adulthood to develop their skills and talents via vocational and technical training.Two of our youngsters completed a cooking training and have been employed to work at Kos island during the summer season. 

We are grateful to Red Noses International for bringing magic and smiles at The HOME Project shelters. With their artistic and interactive clown interventions they filled our shelters with positive energy. 

We were honored to visit the residence of the U.S. Ambassador in Greece, Mr. George J. Tsunis, and celebrate Thanksgiving together with his family, children under our care, our staff, and members of the U.S. EMBASSY ATHENS. We are grateful to him and his family for offering us the opportunity to spend a wonderful day, play, enjoy a delicious lunch and get inspired by his presence and genuine care throughout the day.

On World Childrens Day we want to take the opportunity and thank all of those who protect children’s undeniable right to education. We are grateful for our educational collaboration with HAEF Athens College - Psychico College, ACS Athens (American Community Schools) and Moraitis School, enriching the educational aspect of our child protection model and the interaction of children under our care with the wider student community.

Children under our care together with members of our staff joined Boutari team in order to participate and run the 5km of the 39th Athens Marathon. The Authentic. We’re beyond proud to be a part of such a diverse group aiming to raise more awareness and support for lone refugee children. 

We participated at “Okeanida 2022”, organized by SailingTeam78 providing the opportunity to children under our care to learn about the marine environment, admire sailing boats, try skateboarding, learn the first steps of surfing with the support of Greek Surfing Academy and enjoy refreshments offered by Desmos.

We were so happy to celebrate “Daphne” shelter second anniversary. “Daphne” shelter officially started its operation two years ago in collaboration with Movement On The Ground in an effort to provide more safe and enabling environments for vulnerable lone children in Greece. Since its opening, 53 girls and minor mothers with their babies have received a holistic network of child protection services including psychological, pedagogical, legal and social support as well as education and employment opportunities after reaching adulthood. Girls and staff shared their feelings and remembered some of the best moments they had together these last two years.

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This week we participate at the 2nd IKEA Foundation Ambassador Hub in Greece along with partners UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Justdiggit, HIGGS, What Design Can Do. Following shelter visits we worked in groups to introduce ambassadors from all over the world to our mission and explore ways to work all together to raise more awareness and support for lone refugee children.

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Thank you Stavros Niarchos Foundation for providing support to one of our shelters for lone refugee children and for sharing the amazing story of Chanel.

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Rosie was a minor when she arrived in Greece and found a home in one of our shelters for unaccompanied girls and minor mothers with their babies. Today, as an adult, she has joined our team as a caregiver and last week she participated as a speaker at the national workshop discussion on “Children’s Alternatives to Detention Protecting their Rights in Europe”. We are proud of her progress and how committed she is to helping and advocating for lone refugee children in Greece.

Our children, staff, volunteers, friends and supporters joined the first community building event organized by Brown Club of Greece aiming to communicate the importance of coexisting and offering in a spirit of respect at the wonderful premises of Organization Earth. Everyone was involved in an outdoor cooking activity with the goal to produce extra food portions to support people in need via Boroume NGO. Children under our care interacted with children in the autism spectrum supported by Avali, enjoyed a bubble show presented by Kokoika, participated in art and jewellery making workshops implemented by our staff, and attended the #Eat4change educational workshop by WWF Greece. A big thank you to Desmos and Café Femenino Greece for supporting us.

We are thrilled to share that Moraitis School will further mobilize the active participation of the school community to support our Little Pugad shelter accommodating children aged 6-12 years old. We strongly believe that every child has the right to education and the opportunity to succeed. Via this initiative, the school community will support children with home tutoring, school supplies while supporting the shelter’s maintenance needs, contributing to the provision of a safe and healing environment.

Thank you Emmanuelle Béart for supporting the children under The HOME Project care and raising awareness about the issue of lone refugee children in Greece. We are grateful to have your humanism and sensitivity bringing us inspiration during these challenging times. We want to extent our gratitude to Ambassade de France en Grèce and Institut français de Grèce for making this happen. It is our honor to welcome you in our shelters and at a Philanthopy Gala organized in collaboration with St. George Lycabettus Hotel.

S., 16 years old from Somalia, came to Greece as a lone refugee child one year ago. When he arrived, his first wish was to enroll in school. Today, he attends the 8th Lyceum of Athens and has developed into an active member of the student community. With the support of his teachers, he presented to his classmates Somalia and discussed aspects of culture, customs, religion and traditional food recipes of the country.

Following the continuous support of our legal team two of our children received positive decisions to their asylum requests. Previous rejected asylum requests had exposed both of them at risk of being excluded from the public health system even though they have serious medical conditions. We reiterate once more our call for an individualized legal approach during the asylum process protecting lone refugee children in Greece according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mustafa, 19-years from Iraq, was under our care for 4 years. With hard work and proper support, he learned Greek and English and gradually developed into a responsible, dynamic and friendly young adult. Today after receiving constant training from our Child Protection Unit, he has been moved to the 18+ shelter of The HOME Project and has been hired as a caregiver in one of our shelters for teenage boys. Our goal is to provide children under our care with the tools to become active and responsible citizens, and be in a position to build a future for themselves.

We are very proud for our Alpha, a young adult who is working as a bakery assistant at Choc Chip Bakery. We would like to thank Alexandra Tsatsou for welcoming him and giving him the opportunity to gain valuable work experience. His story is a vivid example of a child transitioning into adulthood and becoming an active citizen. Because he was able to have access to opportunities after receiving the necessary, care and support.

The ultimate aim of our child protection model is the integration of youth under our care into society. At The HOME Project we enable children and youth to develop their skills and talents to be able to have access to the job market. With the generous support of Al Madad Foundation we have launched a social integration program for our 18+ youth providing them with the opportunity to participate in vocational training. This project aims to promote social inclusion by ensuring access to equal opportunities, enabling youth employability.

“We lay Athens open to all and at no time evict or keep the stranger away.“ (Pericles' Funeral Oration. Thucydides, 430 BC)

At The HOME Project we try to address racism, xenophobia and break social stereotypes by developing healthy ecosystems of mutual support and positive interaction. We are thrilled to share a snapshot from our latest community building event, which took place at Filopappou Hill in the center of Athens, bringing together communities, while sharing values of equality, love and acceptance, while cultivating a sense of belonging for children under our care. A big thank you to Constantin Papakonstantinou, The Flying Seagull Project, Anasa Cultural Center, Mum Institute, Flower Athens and Δεσμός - Desmos for their invaluable contributions in making this event happen.
A big thank you to all the friends that joined us. Stay tuned for our next event.
Video Credit: Iason Photography

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All children should be allowed to join their family. One of the children under our care, a 10-year-old boy from Somalia, arrived last week safe in the Netherlands accompanied by one of our lawyers to reunite with his mother. We are proud of our legal team and the tireless work dedicated to every child, providing access to legal aid and representation, as an integral part of The HOME Project child protection model.

A key priority of our mission is to empower our staff to continuously improve the care and protection services they provide to children under our care. During this month’s capacity building session conducted by our Child Protection Unit we discussed the feedback we received through our staff care evaluation plan. Our aim is to improve the wellbeing in the workplace and reduce any work related stress, health and mental health problems. A big thank you to Σεράφειο Δήμου Αθηναίων - Serafio City of Athens for hosting us.

As part of our Youth Engagement project, The HOME Project intern and Youth Ambassador Amadou Diallo is conducting focus groups at our shelters to discuss our child protection model with children under our care, listen to their needs and worries and share his own experience. Our child protection unit and shelter staff are supporting Amadou at every step of this journey.

M. has been under the care of The HOME Project for the past three years. With hard work and proper structure, he learned Greek and English, which led to the opportunity of getting vocational training. We always pursue the necessary tools to enable children under our care to succeed. Today, as a young adult, he secured a summer job on Kimolos island. We are grateful to Apostolos Ventouris for welcoming him and giving him the opportunity to gain work experience at Kali Kardia "Bohoris" and Postali restaurants.
Photo credit: Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos

Per Heggenes, CEO of our invaluable partner IKEA Foundation, and chairman of our Advisory Board visited us in Athens.
Thanks to IKEA Foundation's extraordinary support this far The HOME Project has provided a safe home to more than 600 lone refugee children.
Per’s genuine care and steadfast leadership inspires us to continue our work into the future. Children and staff caught up with Per and his wife Karen during a wonderful picnic at the National Garden.
Per and Karen, our Home is your Home!

Children under The HOME Project care distributed masks to the people of Shedia that they designed during their participation in environmental awareness workshops delivered in collaboration with WWF Greece. Waterbags produced the children’s drawings and wishes into masks. Giving back to the community in an environmentally conscious way instills these values in the children as they develop into active and mindful members of society.

“At some point all these children are going to turn 18, and integrating them has to be a priority. The biggest challenge for Greece and the EU is recognizing the need to forge ahead with wholesale integration policies.”

A big thank you to Helena Smith and The Guardian for interviewing our CEO Sofia Kouvelaki and some of the young adults working for The HOME Project who were formerly under our care as unaccompanied minors. Their example demonstrates how employment is crucial to integration for refugee children as they reach adulthood and become active, participating members of society.