Bridging the gap in child protection
by Sofia Kouvelaki, Chief Executive Officer, The HOME Project
In an ideal world, governments would prioritize human rights, and make provisions for the protection and care of the most vulnerable. The reality we are facing in 2025, though, is alarmingly different. Across Europe, far-right and xenophobic parties are gaining ground, pushing anti-refugee policies and stoking division. Several countries across the globe are seeing a rise in populism, while scapegoating refugees as a threat to national identity and security. These developments signal a broader shift towards violence and the “survival of the fittest”, with dehumanizing policies aimed at deterring asylum seekers and criminalizing immigration.
In light of the increasingly aggressive narrative towards refugees, and the lack of political will to defend their safety and dignity, The HOME Project, remains determined to do whatever it takes to safeguard the rights of lone refugee children and give them every possible opportunity to reclaim their childhood.
Since 2016, we have been providing child protection services to unaccompanied minors whose families and lives have been wrecked by war and persecution. We rescue children from the streets, camps, police stations and detention centers, and welcome them in the safety of our 13 shelters across Athens. We have developed a unique child protection model, which through the implementation of individual development plans, addresses the specific needs of each child. We provide comprehensive mental health support, legal support, access to education and key life skills so that these children can integrate into society and become active citizens of the world.
We have already transformed the lives of over 1,400 children, and have achieved important systemic and institutional changes for the protection of unaccompanied minors, nationally and internationally. Additionally, through community building work, we strive to develop meaningful ties within the communities where we operate, while breaking stereotypes and promoting social integration.
On this critical point, with refugee flows constantly rising and the hostile institutional and political landscape that’s unfolding before our eyes, our work to bridge the gap in child protection is more crucial than ever before.
*This article was published in in the Footprint edition of the annual report by Zepos & Yannopoulos law firm, whose generous financial and pro bono support on legal operational matters, has strengthened our organizational capacity.