By Cinja Kohler | Project Manager
Glocal Roots is responsible for the strategic, financial and operational management of the VCC as well as the overall building management, responsibility and maintenance. The last quarter was a transitional period at the VCC. Glocal Roots took over the operations of the community cafe and we welcomed Medical Volunteers International (medical practitioners), Meraki (social services) and Just Human (social services for LGBTQ+ refugees). We are excited about what this holistic collaboration can offer to those facing multiple, intersecting crises.
The VCC, shared by eight specialised organisations, is structured as followed:
In 2024, the centre received a total of 43,757 visits. That is an average of 300 visits per day. Our visitors mainly hail from Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt and Palestine, as well as Iran, Somalia and Sudan. In November, Glocal Roots started to manage the community cafe downstairs. We are excited to develop this project and expand our operations of community spaces in the building. In 2024, over 19,070 hot meals were served downstairs as well as 57,566 teas and coffees.
Women & Kids Space, Victoria Community Center:
Since we opened our doors 18 months ago, Glocal Roots’ Women & Kids Space has offered activities, workshops, distributions and other forms of critical support to refugee women and children. The overall goal is to support women in leading a self-determined, empowered life because they have access to information, community networks and support systems through our project. In 2024, our space welcomed a total of 13,954 women and children, mainly hailing from Afghanistan but also Syria, Egypt, Haiti, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Sudan and Sierra Leone.
Our services currently include:
WOMEN SPACE:
KIDS SPACE:
Our child-friendly area provides a safe space for children to learn and develop. Our project aims to improve the mental health and well-being of children by providing them with specific support to aid development and integration. The space is equipped with art and craft materials, a reading corner, and toys. We provide daily and weekly activities for children, including Math club, English club, baking afternoons, nap time, dance time, crafting and jewelry making, to foster skills and provide a sense of structure and routine into their lives. In our kids’ space, we provide supervised child care for mothers and fathers who take part in services provided by us or our partner organizations in the VCC. Activities include Greek, English, IT, and art classes, psychological and legal support sessions, and making use of the community cafe space for parents to relax.
TEXTILE MAKERS SPACE:
Our textile maker space is a social enterprise where we offer refugee women the opportunity to attend sewing courses, sew independently, or become part of our paid sewing project. Currently, three women work between 8 to 20 hours per week in our paid tailor scheme, where we produce items that we sell in Switzerland and Greece. Any profit made from these sales is reinvested directly back into the project and utilised to pay the salaries of the tailors as well as finance other aspects of the project. Our sewing studio aims to give women the opportunity to produce various items, perfect their craft and generate an income, thus promoting their independence and integration. We use recycled fabrics, taken from Eleonas flea market, to produce these creations.
Our women and children’s space was visited 2,721 times in Q4. In 2024, we received a total of 13,954 visits. Women and children spend on average 3-4 hours in our space but it is highly dependent on individualised need. Our space is organised to support all needs. Some women simply stop by to pick up diapers whilst others spend their entire days in the centre, catching up with other visitors and taking part in different activities. The majority of visitors in our space are from Afghanistan, followed by Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Cameroon, Iran, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti. We frequently adapt out activities according to the shifting demographic of visitors. We take feedback sessions throughout the year to ensure our project provides a diverse, needs-based service. This quarter has seen the provision of different workshops, including jewellery-making, crochet, arts and sewings, for women to develop skills for their future, as well as thematic workshops on self-care, financial management and housing in order to support integration efforts and ascertain the rights of women on the move.
Increase of our NFI distributions:
Thanks to our partnership with Christian Refugee Relief, we continue to distribute diapers and wet wipes. Every month we can support 180 women with diapers for their babies and around 50 women with wet wipes. Further we continue our distribution of sanitary towels to 240 women per month, as well as condoms, a starter pack cloth for newborn babies and baby blankets in the winter months. We also secured a donation of baby kits from a partner to provide 30 babies with clothes, bottles, pacifiers and hygiene items. We continue to partner with a second-hand clothing store in Athens and welcome donations from individuals to ensure a steady supply of free clothes and shoes in our wardrobe for women and children to take. Based on occasional donations that we receive, we have distributed items such as milk powder, soaps, shoes and more.
Workshops:
We aim to provide thematic workshops for women on information which facilitates their life in Greece and equips them with tools to make decisions about their future. In October, we hosted a workshop on the importance of self-care in partnership with Ditoima and KMOP. 25 women participated in an activity where they made face masks and then moved into a discussion on wellbeing whilst on the move. In November, we hosted a workshop with Acupuncturist Without Borders on pain management and relaxation techniques. 4 women attended the session where they had an opportunity to relax and learn how to address chronic pain. In December, 8 women attended a session on economic empowerment hosted by KMOP. Attendees were provided with practical information such as how to open a bank account in Greece and received techniques on how to manage a monthly household budget. All workshops aim to provide women with tools and structures to become autonomous again as they embark or continue with their life in Greece.
Tailor project:
In the last three months our tailor project continues to grow, in a Community Centre in Izmir and Athens. We are receiving increased attention to our products, namely through the online shop, markets and exhibitions. All money raised is reinvested directly into the project to support women and children with refugee backgrounds.
Community Events
Community building is at the heart of Glocal Roots’ ethos. In October, we hosted a Park Day for over 40 women and children in the local park in Athens where we ate a picnic, played games and danced. In December, we hosted a Holiday Party in our community cafe with over 60 men, women and children attending for an afternoon of food, games and music.
Links:
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