‘’A House We Share for a Community We Care’’
Neos Kosmos Social House: 2, Murray street
Person Responsible: Tonia Patrikiadou, Project Coordinator – Caritas Hellas

Induction moment: The visitors are welcomed at the Social House and sit together in the hall with the presence of the staff and some guests of the house. The staff will explain the birth and the main stages that led the project has followed in order to reach today’s form. The challenges faced, the modus operandi and the objectives of the project will be further explained in order to portray the reasons why Neos Kosmos is today considered a proper example of a refugee shelter managed through a community-based approach. The meeting will end by planning how and when Neos Kosmos can involve the visitors as volunteers in the activities over the following days and in line with the appointments already present in the program of the visitors.

The general objective of the proposed program is to respond primarily to the needs of the increased number of refugees in the area of Athens through the development of a range of psychosocial services in order to support and assist them during their asylum-seeking processes, alongside mobilizing and raising awareness to the local community and the network of volunteers who will support the project. Working in this direction, the success of this program lies in the sensitization of the local population, while facilitating the harmonious cohabiting and integration of refugees, as well as in combating incidents of exclusion and social isolation.
More specifically, the objectives of the program are to provide relief and cover for the basic needs (including housing, food and clothing) of the vulnerable population of refugees (at least 70 at any given time of the project) and to provide a range of psychosocial support services within the community in the area of Neos Kosmos in Athens. To this end, the Listening and Welcoming program has developed a range of social services activities of socialization (through music, sports and / or other cultural events), individual and family counseling (through the development of a listening center), as well as complementary services for individuals and families with a number of activities (courses, seminars, group meetings, etc.) that have legal, professional, educational and recreational orientation. At the same time, it encourages the involvement of local communities and the network of their volunteers in order to have the best possible impact whilst developing the program activities. The above objectives, help in creating a community orientation to the operation of hospitality structures and also a sense of belonging that is particularly important to the population in need.

*Volunteers are welcomed based on the projects’ capacity at any given time. In the past volunteers have contributed in a number of ways to project and the wider community. Certain activities they have been involved have included the following: Different kind of renovation and repair work (e.g. painting the walls together with the beneficiaries, decorating the premises), gardening, basic social skills training, language classes, helping in community events (e.g. “peace of cake”, excursions, common lunch), help in the Children Friendly Space area and any other work in areas that the volunteer may have particular experience and skills.