Meeting between partner organizations: Afghan Community – Migrants & Refugees – Greece took part in a discussion with several associations and NGOs in Athens to better coordinate support for Afghan families.
The goal was simple: get to know each other better, share information from the field and build joint actions to support Afghan families.
Why was this meeting important?
Each organization sees one part of the reality: access to housing, legal procedures, health, school, language, integration…
By bringing everyone around the same table, we were able to:
- share the difficulties seen in the field;
- identify the “gaps” in families’ journeys (for example after the asylum application or when leaving the camps);
- clarify who does what, so that people are not sent from one service to another without a solution.
This meeting helps create a clearer and more effective network to serve refugees.
Topics discussed during the meeting
During the meeting, several practical topics were discussed:
- Housing & shelter: emergency shelters, rent support programs, temporary solutions.
- Health & mental health support: access to free clinics, support for people who have experienced trauma.
- Education & languages: Greek classes, school support for children, community workshops.
- Rights & procedures: asylum procedure, renewal of residence permits, legal guidance.
- Cultural life & participation: intercultural events, activities for young people, art workshops.
Each organization presented its services and its limits, so that families can be referred more fairly and more quickly.
What this changes for Afghan families
For Afghan refugee families in Greece, this kind of meeting has a direct impact:
- fewer unnecessary referrals from one organization to another;
- better flow of information between organizations;
- faster responses in urgent situations (housing, health, child protection);
- more opportunities to take part in educational, language or cultural activities.
Our role is also to pass on the reality on the ground and the specific needs of the Afghan community.
Some helpful organizations
If you need help, these organizations can also give you information (content in English or Greek):
- UNHCR Help Greece – Information on rights, asylum and services available in Greece:
UNHCR Help Greece - SolidarityNow – Support centers in Athens and Thessaloniki (social services, health, legal support):
SolidarityNow - Caritas Hellas – Social support, assistance and integration activities:
Caritas Hellas
Afghan Community will keep taking part in meetings like this to strengthen cooperation between organizations and improve support for Afghan people living in Greece.
