Greece
Number of people served in 2020: 4,546
JRS Greece was established in November 2015 and its action is focused on vulnerable people. To promote the social inclusion and integration of refugees and other forced migrants in Greece, JRS engages in projects that support people from the moment of their first arrival and accompanies them in a process towards self-sufficiency and full participation in their new home societies.
For many refugees, Greece has been a gateway to the rest of Europe. Between 2015 and 2016 more than one million refugees arrived in Greece. Since that time, there have been a number of restrictions and rules put into place that have stopped refugees from traveling from Greece to other European nations or even make it to Greece at all. However, many refugees remain in Greece. Currently there are more than 60,000 refugees living in Greece, including about 14,000 living on camps on the Greek islands.
Our Work in Greece
JRS Greece manages three Centres in the heart of Athens:
- Women’s Day Centre, which includes laundry services, showers, and activities. It also includes the collaboration with other organizations to provide primary health care and counseling for new mothers for their baby’s nutrition, as well as children’s rights. This center also focuses on integration through employability.
- Hub Community, which includes activities that encourage integration such as Greek, English, and French lessons, jewelry-making, and computer classes,
- Pedro Arrupe Centre, which focuses on the mission to help welcome refugee and migrant children into Greek society and schools through supplemental education. This center also provides food baskets once a month to the most vulnerable families.
JRS Greece also supports the urban neighborhoods of Athens through the distribution of non-food items (NFIs).