“There’s solidarity and understanding. We listen and we try to understand one another”. Pepi, Social Worker at The HOME Project
Pepi was drawn to social work by her strong desire to help others in a way that is structured, ethical, and sustainable. She chose the humanitarian field because, as she explains, “there is a great need for care, protection, and support”. That commitment has guided her work at The HOME Project for the past six years, where she has been supporting unaccompanied refugee boys aged 12 to 18 years old.
She joined The HOME Project in December 2019, in her first professional role in the sector. From the outset, what stood out to her was the organization’s culture. “The working environment, the quality of the staff, and the holistic approach to child protection and integration, that’s what set this team apart and what stayed with me”, she admits.
For Pepi, working with lone refugee children requires recognizing the heightened vulnerability created by the absence of a family environment. Care, in her view, cannot be fragmented. “Safety, stability, psychological support, legal protection, access to education, and human relationships must exist at the same time”, she says. “It’s not theoretical; it’s the only way to support a child so they can truly move forward”. This understanding closely aligned with her professional values and confirmed her decision to work at The HOME Project.
One experience in particular helped crystallize this approach. Pepi recalls a child who avoided all contact during his early days at the shelter. Over time, through the coordinated work of educators, psychologists, social workers, caregivers, interpreters, and the legal team, gradual positive changes began to emerge. “That’s when I realized that progress doesn’t come from a single intervention”, she reflects, “but from the overall sense of safety and trust created by everyone working together”.
This work, however, takes place within a broader context of ongoing systemic challenges. Legal barriers, gaps in education, and obstacles in accessing healthcare affect every aspect of a child’s life. “In education, for instance, there isn’t an inclusive and structured system that allows children to engage, understand, and make progress, while in healthcare, there is no interpretation in hospitals”, Pepi notes. These challenges are deeply interconnected. “Even when you’re not handling a case directly, the outcome still affects a child’s psychology, daily life, and future”. In response, the team continues to seek solutions, alternatives, and ways forward.
Collaboration and mutual support within the team are essential to sustaining this work. “Even on the hardest days, we support each other”, Pepi says. “There’s solidarity and understanding. We listen and we try to understand one another”. This collaboration extends across all roles and is built on respect for each person’s expertise. “It’s a professional framework that places people and care at its center”.
Working within a stable and responsive organizational structure has also been decisive. In a period of broader socio-economic uncertainty, employment stability, trust in staff, and the ability to adapt quickly create a sense of security. “These are all important factors that enable us to be present and make better decisions for the children, especially in critical moments”, she explains.
Despite the obstacles, Pepi finds meaning in small, everyday steps forward. “Seeing a child learn Greek, enroll in a sport they enjoy, or simply have the space to experience childhood, those moments matter”, she emphasizes. For her, these quiet victories are a reminder of why creating a safe and supportive environment for the most vulnerable children is so essential, and why she is determined to keep going.