Selected
Lead Partner: DRÅPEN I HAVET
Co-Partner: ONE HAPPY FAMILY
Project Geographical Location: Athens, Greece
Maximum project grant amount: € 15.000
Duration: September 2023 – March 2024
This bilateral project aimed to enhance collaboration between the Greek organization One Happy Family (OHF) and the Norwegian organization Dråpen i Havet / A Drop in the Ocean (DiH). The two organizations, already working at the Victoria Community Center (VCC) in Athens, seized this opportunity to strengthen their cooperation in communication and advocacy.
The VCC serves as a beacon of hope and support for people on the move within the Victoria Square community. To amplify its impact, OHF and DiH initiated a series of strategic actions to improve outreach, advocacy, and communication. These efforts focused on raising awareness, ensuring marginalized voices are heard, and engaging local, national, and international stakeholders.
Key activities:
- Advocacy and communication workshop:
A key initiative was the workshop on advocacy and communication, held on October 18-19, 2023. Facilitated by experts, this training aimed to empower OHF and DiH staff with enhanced advocacy skills. It provided participants, regardless of their prior experience, with a strong foundation in effective communication strategies. The workshop also established a shared framework and language for advocacy within the VCC, ensuring aligned messaging and collaborative engagement. By refining their skills, participants became better equipped to advocate for the center and its beneficiaries, fostering a stronger, more cohesive support system.
- Joint communication initiatives:
Building on this momentum, a second initiative on February 13, 2024, focused on refining communication strategies for the VCC. This initiative brought together various partners to articulate the center’s significance through a unified written article and a complementary video. These tools aimed to create a consistent and impactful message about the VCC’s role in the community, enhancing advocacy efforts and fostering empathy among stakeholders.
- Online meetings and collaborative actions:
From November 2023 to March 2024, VCC partners held regular online meetings to coordinate efforts, ensuring continuity in communication and joint initiatives. These discussions reinforced the importance of strategic alignment and collective action in advocating for the needs and rights of the communities served by the VCC.
The project significantly strengthened bilateral relations between OHF and DiH by fostering collaboration and mutual commitment. Through joint advocacy and communication initiatives within the Victoria Community Center, the partners deepened their engagement to reinforce the VCC’s mission of providing a safe and supportive space for displaced individuals.
Observations and lessons learned:
Several aspects of the project successfully strengthened bilateral relations:
- Collaborative engagement: Active participation in joint activities fostered shared ownership and responsibility, enhancing trust and cooperation.
- Communication and advocacy: The project improved advocacy strategies, providing a common platform for dialogue. Training sessions with external experts enhanced skills in communications, strategy, and planning.
- Flexibility and adaptability: Adjusting strategies based on feedback and evolving needs was crucial in maintaining momentum and achieving goals.
Areas for improvement:
- Partnership engagement: While the project began with strong collaboration, engagement declined when OHF announced its withdrawal from Greece, shifting focus away from future collaborations.
- Ownership and anchoring: Changes in key staff at OHF between the planning and implementation phases led to a loss of institutional knowledge and motivation, requiring extra effort to regain momentum.
- Sustainability: While the project made progress in strengthening bilateral relations, ensuring long-term sustainability beyond the project duration remains a challenge. Continued engagement from both partners is essential.
- Inclusivity: While key stakeholders were engaged, there are opportunities to further broaden participation, particularly among marginalized communities within the VCC and local area.
In conclusion, the project period strengthened relations among the partners, primarily driven by collaborative efforts and mutual commitment at its outset. While successes were achieved, opportunities for further improvement remain. By addressing lessons learned and refining strategies, future initiatives can continue to advance bilateral relations, ensuring long-term impact and sustainability.
