Posts in category: Bilateral Initiatives ENG

Lead Partner: PRAKSIS – PROGRAMS OF DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL SUPPORT AND MEDICAL COOPERATION
Co-Partner: CULTURE BREAK BORDERS / KULTUR BRYTER GRENSER

The “Music Embracing Cultures” project, spearheaded by PRAKSIS in collaboration with Global Girl Media Greece and Culture Break Borders, pursued the integration of youth from refugee, migrant, and Greek backgrounds through music, video production, and social awareness training. Each partner played a distinct role in executing workshops that highlighted cultural diversity, gender equity, and human rights. Through these activities, the project aimed to dismantle prejudice and foster cross-cultural understanding, yet encountered notable challenges that influenced the scope of its output.

Lead Partner: Allileggie SolidarityNow
Co-Partner: The European Wergeland Centre

The proposed initiative, entitled “Classrooms against Bullying – CAB”, is a collaboration between NGO SolidarityNow (SN) and the Norwegian resource center European Wergeland Centre (EWC), aiming to cement a bilateral partnership for the promotion of safe and inclusive schools in Greece. The exchange of knowledge and good practices is at the core of this project, aiming to prevent discrimination, bullying and violence in schools, while enabling the inclusion of all children in the education system. EWC’s expertise on promoting a citizen’s democratic capacity through education also includes the production of materials especially adapted for the Greek context through the Schools for All project; SN has long-standing experience in providing direct education to vulnerable children across Greece, as well as in capacity building for educators.
The project implementation will span 12 months, between July 2023-June 2024, and aims to develop an approach to prevent bullying and violence in Greek schools, and promote the integration of all children, regardless of their background and vulnerability. The approach will be developed through the exchange of practical experiences, facilitated by a study visit to Oslo, and the adaptation of already existing materials and international approaches, capitalizing especially on the resources developed by EWC over 15 years on the holistic school approach and development of democratic competences. They will be distilled into a singular publication, widely disseminated to the Greek school community, and accompanied by a relevant training delivered in Athens twice (in vivo) to 30 Greek members of the public school system, including teachers, school administrators, school social workers and psychologists, regional educational advisors, and refugee education coordinators. Beyond the immediate goals of this collaboration, the project aims to build a strong bilateral partnership for further targeted work on inclusive education.

Lead Partner: Allileggie SolidarityNow
Co-Partner: Dråpen i Havet / Drop in the Ocean

This initiative aimed to strengthen the partnership between SolidarityNow and Dråpen i Havet / Drop in the Ocean (DiH) and enhance support for displaced women and children. Its primary focus was sustaining the Female Friendly Space (FFS) in Nea Kavala/Polykastro camp, a safe environment where refugee women access essential information on their rights and benefit from several services. To ensure this goal, SN and DiH reinforced their collaboration through weekly planning meetings, monthly strategic sessions and regular engagement with site management.

Lead Partner: IOM Greece – International Organization for Migration
Co-Partner: Hero Norge AS

This project aimed to enhance Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) through knowledge-sharing between Greece and Norway. Key activities included a study visit by HERO Norge to Athens, the development of a joint recommendations paper, and a closing workshop. By facilitating structured knowledge exchange and collaboration, the project contributed to refining AVRR strategies, strengthening bilateral cooperation, and enhancing voluntary return processes in Norway.

Lead Partner: School Committee of Primary Education 1st Municipal Community of the Municipality of Athens/82nd Kindergarten of Athens
Co-Partner: 1) District Søndre Nordstrand, Oslo Municipality, 2) CITYKIDS – Faculty of Education and International studies, Oslo Metropolitan University

The SPIRAL initiative aimed at fostering bilateral relations between Greece and Norway through collaboration among municipalities, academia, and early childhood educators. Its primary goal was to improve and expand services for refugee children and families. The SPIRAL expanded its network, fostering knowledge-sharing and best practices in refugee integration within urban preschools.

Lead Partner: INTERSOS HELLAS
Co-Partner: University of Bergen

The project aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on asylum seekers and recognized refugees in Athens and Bergen. The partners analyzed the target population’s context, identifying gaps and fostering new operational methodologies, with a focus on food insecurity, mental health, and pandemic-related consequences. Through knowledge exchange, they shared country-specific experiences and best practices.

Lead Partner: MdM-Greece
Co-Partner: HERO Norge

The exchange project facilitated knowledge-sharing and networking between MdM-GR and Hero Norge, fostering future collaboration. It included two intensive working visits, where teams from both organizations engaged in thematic workshops, field visits, and stakeholder meetings in Oslo and Athens. Both visits culminated in drafting a Lessons Learned Report, incorporating feedback, insights, and best practices exchanged throughout the project.

Lead Partner: Dråpen i Havet/ Drop in the Ocean
Co-Partner: One Happy Family

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 through joint communication initiatives, workshops, online meetings and collaborative actions.