OUR THEORY OF CHANGE:
Lone children that arrive in our shelters carry trauma not only due to their long and difficult journey but also because of the violence and exploitation they have experienced in the streets, camps, and detention centers before they found a home. Our Child Protection Unit (CPU) – a team of highly experienced psychologists, social workers, caregivers and educators- develops and implements Individual Development Plans (IDP) for every child we care for. These include both short and long-term interventions based on each child’s particular needs over time.
Across our 13 homes in the center of Athens, we provide a safe, stable and healing environment, where where children can receive the care and support they need to reclaim their childhood, take charge of their lives, and build a future for themselves.
Our Child Protection Model has been established on four pillars:
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Access to Education: All of our children get enrolled to school. Their access to education also includes attending after-school programs and receiving extra support from specialized tutors in our shelters. These aim to help develop their language, behavioural, social and vocational skills. On top of that, our innovative educational programs in partnership with esteemed private schools create safe spaces for interaction between Greek and refugee children.
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Mental Health Support: Refugee children often exhibit antisocial tendencies and post-traumatic stress. Currently, 1 out of every 4 new arrivals requires medical treatment. Our team of experts holds psychiatric and psychological assessments of each child’s biological, mental and medical state, and provides continuous support through both individual and group interventions (e.g.: art therapy, counselling, speech therapy, psychotherapy).
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Legal Support: All of our children receive comprehensive legal support. They usually arrive without legal documents and are often unregistered, so our legal team takes on handling their asylum applications and/or their family reunification procedure. Navigating the complex and bureaucratic Greek legal system can last years, which unavoidably takes an immense toll on the children, and means that we must be there to support them every step of the way.
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Life Skills and Socialization: We strive to develop meaningful ties within the communities in which we operate through events and local engagement, in order to break stereotypes, fight xenophobia and facilitate the development of our children to community-minded citizens. We also invest in outreach and forge partnerships with private businesses, institutions and NGOs to uncover professional opportunities for them as they transition into adulthood.