By Cinja Kohler | Project Manager
The Victoria Community Centre (VCC) is a unique building in Athens. It is a collaborative, multifunctional effort of eight specialist partner organisations providing a holistic overview of support to people with refugee backgrounds and the local community. From social services, housing and education to medical care, a women and children’s safe space and a community cafe, Glocal Roots has overall strategic, financial and operational management of this centre. As we enter the second calendar year in our leadership position, we want to share some highlights from the first five months at the VCC:
13'653 total visits
175 visits per day on average
Main nationalities of visitors are Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, Syria and Iran
8650 hot meals served
19750 warm drinks served
Women & Kids Space, Victoria Community Center
Our Women & Kids Space continues to go from strength-to-strength. From activities and workshops to distributions and other forms of critical support to refugee women and children, our project supports women to lead a self-determined and empowered life as a result of the access to information, community networks and support systems in our project. In the first quarter of 2025, our space welcomed 3813 women and children, mainly hailing from Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan and Sierra Leone.
Our services currently include:
a community room where women can relax and socialize with each other
physical workshops (yoga, zumba)
weekly beauty days (nail art, face masks, threading, henna painting, hair, make-up)
monthly community activities (spring party for over 50 women and children)
weekly activity schedule including jewellery making, sewing, creative workshops
distributions of sanitary products and condoms for 300 women per month
distribution of diapers for 180 babies per month
distribution of clothing packs for newborn babies (aged 3 months and under)
distribution of clothes for women and children
weekly visits by a pediatrician for examination and vaccination (in partnership with SAMS) for over 10 children per week
monthly thematic workshops on topics (in partnership with KMOP and SAMs)
Textile Makers 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. Activities include:
reading corner
arts, crafts and creative time
play time, sports and dance activities
after-school programming: Math club and English club
These daily and weekly activities 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 at the VCC.
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