Integrating refugees through community-led co-designed activities

• Author: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (European Commission)
• Pages: 48-49

SOCIAL INNOVATION: INSPIRATIONAL PRACTICES

SUPPORTING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES

48

© Curing the Limbo, 2019

A Greek language class at the Seraf‌io of Athens, where the premises of Curing the Limbo are located

Problem addressed

Refugees are oen caught in a vicious circle of inactivity

and end up in a type of ‘limbo’ in their host countries, from

which it is dif‌f‌icult to escape. This is especially visible in the

city of Athens, which is home to an estimated 15 000 to

20 000 refugees. Aer a decade of f‌inancial crisis, the city

is still suf‌fering from high unemployment rates, making it

even more dif‌f‌icult for refugees to enter the labour market.

Innovative solution

The Curing the Limbo project aims to actively support

refugees to move out of inactivity. The project, running from

April 2018 to March 2021, is based on a dynamic model of

action to support the full integration of refugees into local life,

with the active participation of the local community.

The project is innovative in its holistic approach that actively

involves local residents. The project runs a range of activities

for refugees, targeted at enabling them to become socially

active. Benef‌iciaries attend courses on Greek, English and ICT,

connect with active citizen groups and participate voluntarily

in city activities, giving back to the community. They take part

in a training programme that includes psycho-social support

and basic social and so skills. Job counselling services are

provided to increase their chance of entering the Greek labour

market and becoming economically self-suf‌f‌icient.

City activities that refugees can take part in are identif‌ied

by project partners and co-designed with local community

groups. This bridges the gap between locals and new

residents, allowing the community to be part of the solution.

Through its housing facilitation unit, the programme also

addresses the obstacles refuges face when accessing

af‌fordable housing. It acts as an intermediary between

prospective renters and property owners, of‌fering both parties

a range of support services and f‌inancial assurances.

The project is implemented through an innovative partnership

between the city of Athens, as the leading partner, the

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Catholic

Relief Services, the International Rescue Committee and the

Athens Development and Destination Management Agency.

Each agency provides specif‌ic services and, through this

integrated approach, refugees are supported in dif‌ferent

areas of their lives.

Integrating refugees through

community-led co-designed activities

Curing the Limbo

Greece