Our 1st board member and founder Serkan Eren was in Greece the last days to coordinate the use of Fynn Kliemann’s donations on site. “We want to make sure that the donations go directly to the people who need the support the most. But above all, we want to ensure more self-determination for the refugees,” he says.
With the 71,000 euros we received from Fynn Kliemann, we are supporting four projects in Athens, each of which is helping to make people’s lives easier in different ways. “By supporting these projects, we have taken a holistic approach – this way we can help ensure that refugees in Athens are being helped in all areas of their lives,” explains Serkan Eren.
Refugees have been relocated from the Greek islands to the mainland for quite some time now. Countless people are already stranded in the Greek capital – especially recognized asylum seekers. Since they no longer have the right to a place in a shelter in Greece, many of them live on the streets and in parks. Without money, without a place to stay, without food and without a future.
We support these aid projects:
Project Armonia
Type of project: Soup Kitchen
Since it had to give up its previous location on the island of Samos, the Greek aid organization “Project Armonia” is opening a soup kitchen in the center of Athens. We had already been working closely with Fiona, the founder of the NGO, when we were on Samos. But because a so-called “closed” camp was set up there, far away from the towns and villages of the island, it was impossible for the refugees to reach the soup kitchen.
In the meantime, many of the needy have already been resettled on the mainland in Athens. Project Armonia therefore decided to move to where the need is greatest. In Athens, the activists have already rented a building for their new soup kitchen. The renovation work is also almost complete.
To ensure that the new soup kitchen can be put into operation as quickly as possible, we are supporting the project by financing the work that still needs to be done in the building. Among other things, a legally required ventilation system for commercial kitchens still needs to be installed and an urgently needed safety system needs to be installed at a cost of 4321.40 euros. Only recently, unknown persons broke into the building and stole expensive building utensils.
In addition, we will take over the monthly rent of 1,100.00 euros until the end of the year.
Total support: 27,769.40 euros
Supermarket vouchers
Type of project: Self-determined shopping
Since a decision by the government in Athens, recognised asylum seekers no longer have the right to official accommodation or access to their cash card. They have to provide for their own place of residence and food. It’s almost impossible. Most of the asylum seekers do not speak Greek. They can’t find a job, have no place to stay, no money and end up on the street. Among them are many toddlers and babies. We were able to provide hundreds of needy people with vouchers from an Arab supermarket. This allows people to shop for themselves and decide what they want to eat
Total support: 10.000,00 Euro (the owner gave us additional vouchers worth 400 Euro)
Love without Borders
Type of project: Housing
The Greek NGO “Love without Borders” is currently building a housing project for refugees in Athens. 30 vulnerable people can soon be taken off the streets and brought to safety thanks to the new project. A wealthy American woman bought a four-story house for 400,000 euros and donated it to our partners of “Love without Borders”. We were able to buy household appliances, fans and beds, among other things, in order to equip the house with the most necessary things.
Total support: 5.000,00 Euro
One-Happy-Family
Type of project: Community Center
A community center for refugees with a café, WiFi, various workshops and educational opportunities, childcare, art projects and psychological support has been operated by the aid organization “One-Happy-Family” on the island of Lesvos. As more and more people were relocated to Athens, OHF also decided to offer its support where the need was greatest. Since April, there has been a Community Center for refugees in Athens. Unfortunately, the otherwise constant donations have collapsed with the war in Ukraine. Since the rent can only be paid for about three months, the project, which has been running successfully for several years, is threatened with extinction. With the funds from Kliemann, we will cover the rental costs for the entire year (+ a part of the incidental expenses) and thus ensure the continuation of the so important contact point for refugees in Athens.
Total support: 28.230,60 Euro
