Curing the Limbo: from apathy to active citizenship
Year: 2018-2021 | Status: Ongoing | Partners: City of Athens, Athens Development Agency, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), International Rescue Committee (IRC) | Program Budget: 5.000.000 Euros | Funding Institution: European Union/Urban Innovative Actions
Curing the Limbo program capitalizes on the vibrant civil society of Athens to help refugees with asylum overcome the stage of inertia and be back in action. At the heart of the program lies a cycling “gift” system where refugees receive affordable living spaces and in return they give back work for the public benefit supporting the needs of the local communities and participating into activities of the civil society that improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods such as: keeping the blocks clean from tagging and poster pollution, building and managing urban farms on the roof-tops, building food recycling networks, run ethnic cuisine labs, engage with cross cultural choir, participate into theatrical games etc. On-the-job language learning courses, psychological support and soft-skills training will be offered to the target groups during all the phases of the program.
Focusing on refugees who have granted asylum but also on local unemployed, who represent the 27% of the city’s workforce, the program offers an inclusive integration effort helping refugees and underprivileged to move from apathy to motivation, create strong bonds with the local communities, acquire new skills, solve local problems together with active citizens, improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods and acquire self-confidence and self-respect, qualities essential for their development as responsible people and citizens in society.
