Athens, Geece, 29 February 2024 — On Tuesday, 20 February 2024, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Filippo Grandi, visited the "Kypseli" center, which is operated by IRC Hellas, in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and supports young adults aged between 18-23 years old of refugee background in their empowerment process through targeted interventions.
Mr Grandi engaged with four young refugees and asylum-seekers supported by the Center hearing about their stories, daily lives, dreams, and the challenges they face. The young refugees shared their plans, concerns, and dreams for their future, and described the support they have received, highlighting the vital contribution of the programme in building a new life.
"I hope this programme continues", said a young asylum seeker who secured her first employment with the support of the "Kypseli" Centre.
“You are the best ambassadors for this centre,” Mr Grandi reassured her, wishing everyone good luck. "I wish you every success in becoming chefs, entrepreneurs or whatever your job may be, and in continuing your education, which is very important."
The Director of IRC Hellas, Dimitra Kalogeropoulou, said: "A system of holistic support exists for the unaccompanied children until they turn 18 years old; from then on there is no longer any supporting environment for them, and they are facing significant challenges such as in securing housing and employment by themselves. The programme responds to this gap by providing them with a supportive network they need to gradually become fully independent."
The "Kypseli" center has been operating since May 2023, offering various integration services to young refugees and asylum seekers aged between 18 to 23 years old, mainly former unaccompanied minors. A similar youth empowerment programme has been operating in Thessaloniki since August 2023 in collaboration with UNHCR and the Migrant Integration Centre of the Municipality of Thessaloniki. Integration services include Greek language courses, psychosocial support, job counselling, vocational training, support in securing housing, scholarships and networking with employment opportunities. In Athens, a total of 120 young people have been empowered so far, of them, twenty found work, ten managed to secure housing, fourteen people enrolled in a formal public educational system, and eight received scholarships to study at the private educational institution named IEK Alpha.