Working together with refugee communities
Working together with refugee communities
Outreach Volunteers
UNHCR identifies refugees who are interested in becoming outreach volunteers and act as the connecting link between their community on the one hand, and humanitarian agencies and authorities on the other. They help disseminate valuable information in urban areas, including on available services and how to access them, the roles and responsibilities of different actors, and how to get specific types of help.
Moreover, UNHCR is running a street outreach programme in central Athens establishing links with refugees living in the city, either directly or by approaching shops and other venues owned and/or visited by refugees, sharing useful information and identifying several cases in need of support.
Working with refugee-led organizations
UNHCR is meeting regularly with refugee communities and refugee-led organizations (RLOs) active in Athens to promote networking, share information, discuss challenges and issues of concern to the community members and explore solutions together.
Moreover, Greece is one of the countries that have participated since its beginning in a global UNHCR partnership programme with RLOs, which includes the provision of direct grant funding and contribution to RLOs’ capacity development. Five organizations have been supported in Greece as of the end of 2023 through this programme, focusing on activities that promote the resilience and inclusion of their members in host communities.
Refugees transform experiences into strength to support others: read the story HERE.
"Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety is the most effective way to help them restart their lives and contribute to the countries hosting them.
In real terms, this means ensuring that refugees can apply for jobs, enroll in schools, and access services like housing and health care. It also means fostering a sense of belonging and welcome that gives hope to refugees uprooted from their homes."
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, June 2023