Solidarity is not charity, it is doing simple things at your neighborhood and your city to mobilize and challenge the society around you to think that in situations of crisis no one is alone, no one is weak!
Refugees in Greece: risk of homelessness and destitution for thousands during winter
As winter closes in, thousands of refugees in Greece still face homelessness and destitution. While winter always poses a challenge, this year is likely to become one of the most challenging yet due to the ongoing pandemic, a deliberate decrease in the length of support for refugees, and the lack of a comprehensive integration strategy and strategy against homelessness from authorities.
Around 11,000 people who were granted asylum were notified amidst a global pandemic that they were going to face forced exits from apartments for vulnerable people (ESTIA), hotel rooms under the Temporary Shelter and Protection program (FILOXENIA), accommodation in camps on the islands and on the mainland. These forced exits follow a government policy where refugees are forced to ‘stand on their own feet and fend for themselves’ within one month after protection status is granted, resulting in an end to accommodation, access to food support, and EU funded cash assistance.
Μεσόγειος
© Μιχάλης Φωτιάδης 2020
Update: CAMPAIGN FOR THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE SOCIAL LAB OF THALASSA OF SOLIDARITY AND COLLECTION OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
In the context of mutual aid and practical support, we continue in the social workshop of Thalassa of Solidarity, the collection of food, cleaning materials and other essential items for people that are in a difficult financial situation and the families of our students.
Items we are collecting: packaged long-lasting food (pasta, rice, pulses, oil vinegar, spices, tomato sauce, honey, jams, biscuits, rusks, etc.)infant and baby milk, baby diapers from No2 – No6, cleaning materials, soap, shower-gel, shampoos and personal hygiene items.
The collection will take place the dates: Tuesday 8th Dec 6-8pm, Wednesday 9th Dec 6-8pm, Thursday 10th of Dec 10am-1pm Friday 11th of Dec 10am-1pm Tuesday 15th Dec 6-8pm, Wednesday 16th Dec 6-8pm, Thursday 17th of Dec 10am-1pm & 6-8pmFriday 18th of Dec 10am-1pm & 6-8pm at our laboratory at 1770 str., no. 34, in the center of Heraklion.
During those hours you can also visit our workshop for purchasing handicrafts and other items for your Christmas presents and more!
* During the collection we all should wear our masks and keep our distance and everything else needed to protect the health of all of us!
** You can contact us at email info@thalassa-solidarity.org, or by message on our FB page @ThalassaSolidarity for any information
*** You can also financially support our social workshop to cover its running monthly expenses, but also to be able to supplement the above mentioned basic needs, mentioning your preference:
Alpha Bank – Acc. Holder: Thalassa of Solidarity AMKE
IBAN: GR2601406640664002002015824
Suspension of courses due to COVID-19 lockdown measures
DUE to the new COVID-19 lockdown measures our courses are being postponed until the end of November.
HOWEVER we are in constant communication with our students and friends and we provide them online information and assistance.
IN CASE extra needs in food and essential supplies will arise, a new call for support and donations will be shared.
OUR SEWING laboratory will still be able to provide sewing work and repairs, cloth masks, with symbolic fees, to support our lab.
YOU CAN communicate with us by sending a message in our fb page or an email at info@thalassa-solidarity.org
KIND REMINDER: our Lab is supported by solidarity actions and voluntary contributions only! How you can help:
Volunteer your time, skills and expertise to the sewing lab and the seminars we are preparing
Provide equipment for the office, hardware and consumable for the sewing lab and other in kind donations that will help us to jump start our initiative!
Donate any amount you wish to be able to cover part of the running expenses of the sewing lab and for the other activities at the following bank account: Alpha Bank Acc. Holder: Thalassa of Solidarity AMKEBIC: CRBAGRAAIBAN: GR2601406640664002002015824 We keep on helping each other!
Festive Day of Thalassa’s of Solidarity Social Laboratory!
As we complete our first cycle of operation of our social laboratory at Thalassa of Solidarity and as we are taking our summer break until September, we organize a festive day on Friday the 24th of July.
From 12.00 at noon until 8 in the evening, we invite you to the backyard of the Social Space of Kalokairinos Foundation (Monis Agkarathou Str & Kosma Zotou Str, entrance by the side pavement)
Browse the exhibition of Handicrafts made in our sewing workshop, be informed about our classes of basic computer skills and English language for adults, and also:
- at 5 pm students/friends will present hairstyles from different countries of Africa,
- at 6 am will follow a children’s clay workshop with Maria from Terra Mia Ceramic Art, where the children will create the “hands of solidarity”
Workshops and social inclusion initiatives such as ours in Thalassa of Solidarity, remain active due to the love of the people and their participation in solidarity actions!
We will be happy to see you in our Festive Day, even with the necessary hygienic limitations!
The team of Thalassa of Solidarity
* Workshops are for free, however due to the COVID-19, hygiene measures are necessary. The use of mask is recommended.
**During the event we collect food and other essential items for the Social Grocery of Kalokairinos Foundation!
Ιn a generalized financial crisis that touches all of us, the answer of the state should be solidarity and well planned activities, without leaving anyone without protection. Something that we don’t see it is the case.
We join our voices with this initiative too and we express our grave concern about the forthcoming eviction of 8,300 recognized refugees from the accommodation projects in Greece.
We are open!
Our doors in Θάλασσα Αλληλεγγύης – Thalassa of Solidarity are open again with a new weekly timetable, respecting all the existing measures (use of face masks and gloves when necessary, distancing, washing hands, cleaning the lab, up to 4 persons maximum at any given time into the lab, etc.)!
WEEKLY PROGRAM STARTING 12th OF MAY:
Monday 19.00-21.00 Tuesday 10.00-13.00
Wednesday 19.00 – 21.00
Thursday 10.00-13.00
Every second Saturday : 13.00 – 15.00
You can always contact us via our facebook page Facebook and send us an email at info@thalassa-solidarity
For the moment we are running our own Fabric Facemask Project!
* If you want a mask, come and visit us and we can make one together, with a small contribution for the running costs of the workshop, or by donating sewing materials (cotton fabrics, threads, elastic bands, etc.)
** a number of masks will be given to cover the needs of those who are in need and cannot afford it.
*** Extra project: after communication with the Housing program for asylum seekers in Crete, #Estia, trainees and beneficiaries will learn how to make fabric face masks that will be given to the families of the program and wherever else there is a need!
No One is Alone!
We have started today at Thalassa of Solidarity the distribution of basic food stuffs, fruits and veggies, cleaning and personal hygiene items to families that are starting to face serious problems of access to basic commodities.
We are in touch with our students, the migrant communities and solidarity groups to monitor needs and distribute wherever needed.
We will soon let you know about these needs and how you could contribute, if needed, bearing always in mind the measures in place to break the transmission chains of the COVID-19 virus.
Protect the most vulnerable to ensure protection for everyone!
‘Restore legality to protect refugees and the society at large amidst the pandemic’