“THERE ARE NO FOREIGNERS, ONLY FRIENDS YOU HAVE NOT MET YET”
CARITAS ATHENS’ EVENT AT LYCEE LEONIN
With the motto “There are no foreigners, only friends you have not met yet”, Caritas Athens co-hosted an event with the Athens’ Lycée Léonin to introduce innovative programs run by means of its Refugee Program, on Wednesday, March 28.The event took place at Lycée Léonin’s auditorium.
The event aimed at supporting the integration for almost 900 recognized refugees/asylum-seekers, who are accommodated at the Organization’s forty-four (44) shelters and creating friendly encounters among families of our local community and refugees, through the power of friendship which helps bridge people, religions and cultures!
In particular, we introduced our projects Buddy Program, Integration& Livelihoods, and Refugee Coaching, held within the framework of Caritas Internationalis’ global campaign “Share the Journey” that Pope Francis launched last September and runs until 2019!
Children of all school grades took the leading roles of the musical program dedicated to love and friendship: both students and alumni of the Athens’Lycée Léonin, children of refugees from Caritas Athens’ shelters, directed by the volunteer teacher Katerina Defterevou of the Classical & Contemporary Music Conservatory and members of the multicultural youth orchestra El Sistema Greece with the participation of a Caritas Athens’ beneficiary, conveyed in a unique way their message on how friendship overcomes prejudice and borders!
It is worth noting, that the Buddy Program, which launched at previous year-end, enhances friendships among Greek and refugee families through mutual communication and joint participation in entertainment activities, the development of interpersonal and intercultural skills, as well as the support topracticalities. Greek families have already responded to the call, creating social encounters with families from Syria and Afghanistan, while participating in activities together.
The Integration & Livelihoods Program entails an array of activities addressed to adults, such as intensive courses on modern Greek, job-readinesstraining to familiarize with respective environments of European standards, to develop tools for communicating with employers (CV drafting), to attractemployers and to support job seekersthroughout the interview and hiring procedures, as well as English, computers, drama therapy, and gym classes. It also includes activities for children, indicatively tutoring, courses on English and German languages, computers, music, theater play, and handcrafts with the use of recycled materials.
Finally, Caritas Athens -through its innovative and unique Refugee Coaching program “From now on…what?”- fosters the support of adult beneficiaries to explore/fulfilltheir goals, with the participation of volunteers-members of the Hellenic Institute of Coaching Greece & Cyprus.
The event attended His Excellency, Athens’ Catholic Archbishop and Caritas Athens’ Chairman,
Fr. Sevastianos Rossolatos, the Organization’s Vice-Chairman and Director, Fr. Ioannis Patsis, the vicar of Aghia Theresia parish, Fr. Alekos Psaltis, frère Mariste, George Roussos, Head of Athens’ Lycée Léonin, Mr. Nikos Noulas, Acting Head, Christos Nakis, Mr. the President of Lycée Léonin’s Alumni
Association, Mr. Panagiotis Mamalis, the Pastoral Officer Danae Anagnostopoulou, members of Caritas Athens’ Board, Mses. Elissavet Ioustinianou-Merritt and Helen Carabott, the member of the Refugee Program’s Steering Committee, Ms. Georgia Fonsou, Caritas Athens’ and Caritas Hellas’ employees, members, friends, volunteers and beneficiaries of the Organization, teachers and parents!
