1. What is the definition of a lone refugee child?
A lone refugee child, also known as an unaccompanied minor, is a child who has fled their home country due to conflict, persecution, or other forms of violence, and has arrived in a foreign country without the presence or care of a parent or legal guardian. These children are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and other risks, as they lack the protection and support systems that would typically be provided by family members or caregivers.
2. Who is an asylum seeker?
In the EU context, an asylum seeker is a third-country national or stateless person who has made an application for protection under the Geneva Refugee Convention and Protocol in respect of which a final decision has not yet been taken.
(Source: Migration and Home Affairs – EU)
An asylum-seeker is someone who is seeking international protection. Their request for refugee status, or complementary protection status, has yet to be processed, or they may not yet have requested asylum but they intend to do so.
(Source: UNHCR)
3. Who is a refugee?
A refugee is a third-country national or stateless person who has made an application for protection under the Geneva Refugee Convention and Protocol in respect of which a final decision has been taken and has been granted refugee status.
4. How do you choose which unaccompanied minors will be housed and supported in The HOME Project shelters?
Unaccompanied minors are placed in our shelters following the submission of a relevant placement form from the Housing and Relocation Request Management Unit of the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
All minors arriving in Greek territory are recorded as unaccompanied at the country's entry points and are included in the nominal lists of the aforementioned Unit, with the aim of planning their referral to available accommodation slots in shelters.
In cases of limited availability of spaces, a prioritization process is applied based on criteria that, although not explicitly predefined, usually include the following:
- Their age and gender (children under 12 years old as well as girls tend to be prioritized)
- The presence of chronic illness or other health problems (physical or mental), or a history of abuse in Greece
- Their family situation (e.g.: pregnant girls, siblings)
- The presence of a first-degree relative in the area where a shelter is located
- Other exceptional reasons (e.g.: an urgent judicial order)
After the placement form is sent to the shelter and the local Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office has been notified, the medical examination of the unaccompanied child is scheduled to test for contagious diseases and skin conditions. Following that, the child is transferred to a shelter facility, accompanied by a representative of the NGO that has been tasked with escorting unaccompanied minors from the country's borders. Depending on the availability of medical personnel and escorts, this process may take up to two months. It’s important to highlight, that upon arrival at the shelter, most unaccompanied minors do not have a file containing the relevant medical, social, or educational information.
5. What’s the journey that unaccompanied minors typically follow from their moment of arrival in Greece until they get referred for placement to an appropriate shelter facility?
Upon their arrival in Greek territory, lone refugee children are initially recorded as unaccompanied minors. When possible, they are temporarily housed in a safe zone or safe area within the CCAC (Closed Controlled Access Center), which is the first reception facility, essentially a camp. It is required for all unaccompanied minors to receive a First Reception Kit, which should include basic non-food items (NFIs), such as clothing, shoes, and personal hygiene items.
The next step is their registration (photography, fingerprinting, and vulnerability assessment). This process typically involves the collection of detailed information, such as their exact date of birth, checking for the potential presence of any relatives in Greece or another EU member state, the reasons that forced them to flee their country of origin, and the verification of their national and ethnic origin. At the same time, the first official statement regarding the minor's application for international protection (asylum) in Greece is made on their behalf. Following this, an individual file number (D.I.K.A.) is issued. This is necessary throughout the entire legal process that follows.
If the asylum interview takes place within the facility, an Asylum Seeker Card is issued, which includes their asylum case number. This card serves as the primary identification document for the minor during their stay in the country, and/or until a final decision is made in regards to their international protection application.
After the completion of the above procedures, the unaccompanied child remains in the safe zone or safe area within the camp, or anywhere else the authorities determine if no safe zone or safe area is available, until they are transferred to an appropriate facility in the mainland (such as The Home Project shelters) based on the relevant placement form.
6. How many lone refugee children live in The HOME Project shelters?
The HOME Project currently houses and cares for 170 unaccompanied minors and youth across our 13 shelters. Since 2016, we have supported more than 1,400 children and youth from over 40 countries.
7. What is the importance of child protection and integration?
The protection of every child, regardless of their origin, legal status, or circumstances of arrival, is a fundamental obligation of every rule-of-law state and one of the fundamental pillars of the international and European legal framework for human rights. Ensuring conditions of safety, dignity, and meaningful support for children in cases of displacement, and particularly for unaccompanied minors, is crucial to preventing all forms of exploitation, neglect, and abuse.
Integrating them into reception and accommodation facilities with organized, child-centric services marks the beginning of their comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation, access to education, and smooth social integration. At the same time, registration, legal support, healthcare, and an individualized approach, tailored to the unique needs of each child are instrumental to protecting their rights and creating conditions that will enable them to fulfill their full potential.
Prioritizing child protection is not only a moral imperative but also an institutional obligation and an investment in the shared future of our societies. Moreover, the successful integration of these children brings significant benefits to the local community: it strengthens social cohesion, it promotes multicultural understanding, and it contributes to fostering open and resilient societies. Their participation in education, sports, and local life offers new opportunities for exchange, creativity, and cooperation, while cultivating an environment of solidarity and respect.
8. Why does The HOME Project provide scholarships? Can refugee children not attend school without these scholarships?
All of our children are enrolled into public, intercultural or private schools. Their access to education also includes attending after-school programs and receiving extra support from specialized tutors in our shelters.
We collaborate with leading private schools like ACS Athens and Athens College to provide scholarships for children who not only have an academic inclination, but are also deemed psychodynamically able (as assessed both from our team of experts and the schools themselves) to handle the high pressure environment and demanding curriculum of these schools.
This way we are also able unlock more opportunities for them to obtain additional scholarships should they want to further their studies at university, both within Greece and abroad.
9. Does The HOME Project work with volunteers?
Yes. Since 2016, we have received voluntary, in service support from 350 individuals. This has included 150 volunteers and 200 student interns from universities around the world. Volunteers and interns provide two distinct types of support: volunteers typically contribute about one day per week, while interns commit to a full semester with a daily presence.
10. Why is this a solvable problem and what opportunity does it present?
By 2050, Europe will require approximately 50 million additional active workers in order to make up for its rapidly aging population and low birth rates, which have put immense pressure on social welfare systems, economic productivity and long-term sustainability. The paradox we’re currently experiencing is that Europe is closing its borders to the very people who could become the solution to its demographic crisis. Refugees, who often come from younger populations, can contribute to addressing these challenges by filling labor gaps, supporting economic growth and sustaining public services.
More specifically, Greece faces significant shortages in certain sectors like agriculture, construction and the tourism industry. Despite being instrumental for our economy, jobs in these sectors are in seasonal and labor-intensive, and attract low interest from the local population.
What’s important to realize is that refugee flows are like water. We cannot stop them, because these people aren’t fleeing their homes out of choice. They are forced to leave in order to survive. So when we shut all legal routes for them, they will have no other choice but to seek out illegal ones. Instead of treating them as a burden, we need to start to view refugees as an asset. By integrating them into the workforce, supporting them in contributing to the economy and enabling them to reach their full potential, we can address labor shortages, enhance growth, and enrich our society. The key to unlocking these benefits lies in effective integration policies that support language acquisition, skills development, social inclusion, and access to employment opportunities.
And it all starts with the care, guidance and support we provide to the children who arrive to Greece alone. That’s why our work is so important.