Passion for wood offers a new start in Heraklion, Crete

Mehdi, a 32-year-old asylum seeker from Afghanistan and his wife, Roghaya, made a fresh start in Heraklion, Crete. Mehdi has been working in a carpentry shop just outside the city, while twice a week the couple attends Greek lessons.

Through ESTIA, the Emergency Support To Integration & Accommodation programme, asylum-seekers are provided with housing in apartments and financial support. In Heraklion city the programme is implemented by UNHCR in collaboration with Heraklion Municipality and the Heraklion Development Agency and is co-funded by the European Union.