September 2025
Understanding Realities on the Ground Across Greece
As part of our ongoing work within EmpowerHER the AMIF-funded project strengthening the autonomy and socio-economic inclusion of migrant women victims (or at risk) of trafficking across Italy, Greece, and SpainI travelled to Athens for our first international study visit, hosted by our Greek partner.
This three-day mission allowed me to deepen my understanding of the local protection ecosystem, meet frontline professionals, and see first-hand how shelters, day-centres, and reception services operate.
As the Project Coordinator at Project Ahead, it is always a pleasure to accompany these processes and witness the project come to life through collaboration, expertise, and shared commitment.
Day 1: Understanding the Greek Landscape
The visit began with a warm welcome at the partner’s headquarters, followed by an afternoon of institutional presentations and thematic briefings:
- Overview of the organization and key programmes
- AMIF-related research on human trafficking in Greece
- Presentation of two major protection structures: Nefeli and Kallisti
- Testimonies on homelessness and vulnerabilities affecting migrant populations
This first day grounded our discussions in data, lived realities, and practical insights that will inform upcoming WP activities.
Day 2: Field Visit: Shelters & Day Centre for Trafficking Survivors
The second day was fully dedicated to field work.
Visit to the UAM Shelter in Piraeus
I visited the shelter hosting unaccompanied minors in Piraeus, where the team explained the challenges of reception, integration pathways, and daily life in the facility.
Visit to the A21 Day Center
We then visited the A21 Day Center, a key actor in counter-trafficking efforts in Greece. The session offered a deeper understanding of identification mechanisms, survivor support models, and cooperation with local institutions.
Day 3: Second Shelter Visit
The final day focused on thematic programmes and further institutional exchange:
- Disability inclusion policies
- Educational and cultural support for migrant communities
- Presentation of European programmes previously implemented by KINONIKO EKAV
Visit to the Penteli UAM Shelter
We visited another shelter located in Penteli, meeting the multidisciplinary team and understanding differentiated approaches to psychosocial support, education, and integration.
This visit highlighted the complex, multi-layered work carried out daily by social workers, psychologists, educators, and coordinators.
A Personal Note of Appreciation
Throughout this visit, I was, and continue to be, deeply impressed by the work carried out by Kinoniko EKAV. I had the pleasure of personally meeting Odysseas Voudouris, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Maria Dimitropoulou, whose dedication and long-standing experience in the field are truly remarkable. Listening to their story, understanding the vision behind Kinoniko, and witnessing the impact of their daily work was profoundly inspiring.
Their commitment, humanity, and clarity of purpose reflect exactly the values that EmpowerHER seeks to uphold, and it is an honour to collaborate with partners of such calibre.
Make sure to check out their work here: https://kinonikoekav.gr/index.php/en/
Moments from the Visit
EU Disclaimer
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Read KINONIKO’s original article:
https://kinonikoekav.gr/index.php/en/news-articles/newsletter/1286-study-visit-of-walae-kasmi-to-athens-within-the-framework-of-the-european-project-empowerher-2
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Visit our project page: https://www.pja2001.eu/project/empowerher/
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