PROJECTS
WELCOME OFFICE
social consultation for integration
In Mytilini, capital of the island our Welcome Office assists with bureaucratic steps into the Greek society (how to get a tax number, social insurance and unemployment card). Further we have an open consultation space and through networking with other actors we try to find solution for every individual – where to find a lawyer, how to get into public schools, how to rent a flat, how to find a job etc. With our Welcome Office we wish to be a central point for refugees and locals to connect and support each other with dignity and respect. We provide:
- Low level – easy access support for refugees – daily open office(mondays to fridays)
- Support for integration (assist with getting a tax number, social insurance number, unemployment card etc), copies of documents, filling in forms – all the bureaucratic paperwork besides the asylum case
- Assisting with writing CVs
- Assisting with finding an apartment
- Supporting with specific needs of the beneficiaries ( e.g. school enrolment of children or finding a football club to play etc.)
- Encouraging setting up ideas of the community within the space e.g. starting a workshop – Greek language club
- Provide a safe space in the city center for creative use in the afternoons
FAMILY SUPPORT
appartments for families
We used to conduct many classes for refugee children the last years because there was no access to public school, this changed now and since 2022 there are spaces available in the public school – so we are reviewed the needs of the families with their children we know and how we can best support them – conclusion: social work and housing.
We currently are able to offer six appartments to refugee families that needed to move out of the camp. The living conditions there are still not suitable for children, especially the small ones. We also provide assistance to refugees to rent a house e.g. paying for the first guarantee – fee of the flat, or an electricity bill that came up too high, many of the already recognized refugees have many difficulties to find a stable income to make a living ( that is also true for all other local residents actually). For more information please contact us.
We still have a teacher that can support learning of Greek and English at our office – and we provide some individual support also for children already enrolled in school but having trouble to follow up.
PROTI STASSI
first reception in the (north)east of the island
In the north and northeast of the island we used to be engaged in the first reception of refugees: Proti Stassi (Greek for “First Stop”) wishes to make the life of the just arriving humans in flimsy dingy boats a bit easier. This used to be transportation from the shore to the first reception area, providence of a warm space and of dry clothes, water, a snack, some information and most important a welcoming friendly face within the whole emergency situation. We wanted to welcome refugees and act united as humans without borders – give them a friendly start in Europe. Under the current political situation it is forbidden. We can that for only assist the with a warehouse and other supplies that we hand out to other organisations working with new arrivals. We also keep observing the situation of course and we supply not only new arrivals but also refugees living in the camp or in Mytilini center.
ADVOCACY and partners
networking and supporting self organized initiatives
Especially within the new changes and the ongoing trend of a “fortress Europe” that doesn’t respect the human rights. We need to keep informing what is happening at the borders. Transparency and education – facts and stories of migrants and refugees will show that we need to build bridges instead of walls.
- We report about the things we see, via mail or via phone but also in person, we make “tours” for visitors in Lesbos that want to learn about the situation of refugees, locals and the many projects
- We are available for researchers, journalists, politicians, supporters and all kind of visitors
- We provide other initiatives and projects with support in Greek burocracy, finding local solutions, connecting to local networks etc.
- We try to negiotiate with authorities or other actors if we find a problem
- We refer cases to other actors in and outside Greece to try to find solutions
- We currently support several self organized smaller iniatives, such as a women collective, a free radio station, several independet actors that support refugees on the island with our infrastructure. We would like to focus more on including refugees into the decision taking of the humanitarian sector and give as much voice to the ones that are refugees themselves rather than to organisation just working “for them”.
Aristarxou 15, 81100 Mytilini, Lesbos, Greece
info@borderlinelesvos.org