Protection and Support for Starting an Self-Determined Life
SUPPORT PROJECT FOR REFUGEE WOMEN IN ATHENS
Since January 2024, just human has been supporting women in Athens — including trans women and women with children — who are already recognized as refugees and wish to build an independent life in Greece.
Why support is necessary
INITIAL SITUATION
Many recognized refugees receive no support in Greece. They are therefore initially homeless and without resources.
In this situation, they are exposed to all forms of exploitation and violence. Finding a regular job without a residential address is nearly impossible. Likewise, without work and money, finding an apartment is equally hopeless.
In their distress, many women therefore decide to leave Greece. This means starting new asylum procedures in other European countries, waiting again, and experiencing stagnation once more.
How does just human provide support?
OUR SERVICES
just human offers women who wish to stay in Greece and build their lives there:
- financial support for renting a room or an apartment
- assistance with job search and career orientation
- help organizing childcare
- individual counselling and continuous support from the team in Athens
This creates a real opportunity to secure housing, stability, and career prospects — instead of falling back into homelessness, hardship, and flight.
First successes
In June 2024, one of the participating women completed a professional training course in the hotel industry as the best in her class and subsequently secured a job successfully.
Another participant chose training in elderly care, completed a two-week internship, and has been working full-time since January 2025 — now living fully independently.
Currently, six women with children participate in the project. Some have already found their first jobs, while others attend language courses or actively search for affordable housing.
OUR ON-SITE TEAM
To ensure this intensive support, an additional caseworker joined the just human team in Athens at the start of the project. She provides close support to the women — from finding accommodation and vocational training to organizing everyday life.
The project “Schutz und Unterstützung beim Start in ein selbstbestimmtes Leben” (EN: “Protection and Support for Starting an Independent Life”) is funded by “Alltagsheld:innen – Stiftung für die Rechte von Alleinerziehenden” and the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
