Prosvasis: Street work project
for homeless children and families
in Greece
SUMMARY
Greece is one of the main entry points for refugees and asylum
seekers arriving in Europe by sea and has received more than 1.5
million people over the past two years. The national asylum and
migration system is overwhelmed. Despite the efforts made to
strengthen the capacity and quality of the national reception
system, many asylum seekers and migrants end up homeless and
often in legal limbo. Unaccompanied and separated children and
families with children make up a significant share of the popula-
tion of migrants living in the streets.
The main goal of the “Prosvasis” street work project is to identify
and protect vulnerable children and to prevent child exploitation,
abuse and trafficking. The project seeks to assist homeless refugee
and migrant children living in the city of Thessaloniki, regardless
of their legal status.
Country: Greece
Location: Thessaloniki
Target group:
Homeless unaccompanied and separated
children and homeless families with children,
regardless of age and residence status
Implemented by:
ARSIS
(Association for the Social Support of Youth)
with support from UNHCR
Funded by:
UNHCR and the EU
Timeframe: 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017
The project provides humanitarian support, including food and
non-food items and protection services. Once they have been
identified, all children are referred to the Association for the So-
cial Support of Youth (ARSIS) where they receive legal assistance
and psychosocial support.
Contact person:
Nefeli Pandiri,
General Coordinator,
[email protected]
The project is implemented with support from the United Nations
Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and funding from the EU.
KEY TOPICS
SUPPORT TO PARENTS/PRIMARY CARE GIVERS PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
FORMAL EDUCATION INFORMAL EDUCATION VOCATIONAL TRAINING
STAFF TRAINING CHILD PARTICIPATION LOCAL COMMUNITY
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