Migrants and Refugees Support
Athens has welcomed many refugees due to regional conflicts, leading to family separations and the creation of host centers. In this program, you'll visit a local refugee center to engage with teenagers and young people through sports and arts or help with the smooth operation of a social café for refugee children and adults.
Join the Refugee and Migrant Support Program in Athens, Greece! As the capital of Greece, Athens has become a refuge for diverse and unique individuals fleeing conflict in neighboring countries. Over the last few years, the city has seen a significant influx of refugees, many of whom have been separated from their families during their journey. Various organizations have established host centers where refugees are placed until they can reunite with their families or complete their asylum-seeking procedures.
In this program, you will visit a local refugee host center where you will engage with teenagers, young people, and adults in informal ways. Your role will be to create a comfortable and safe space for them to express themselves through sports, arts, or simple social interactions, allowing them to connect with each other and with you. The aim is to help them spend their free time in meaningful and valuable ways.
It’s important to remember that you will be interacting daily with individuals who may be dealing with PTSD, teenagers who have never attended school or experienced a safe family environment, and victims of torture. Building trust may take time, and patience is key to creating a supportive atmosphere.
What to Expect:
- Sports Engagement: Organize and participate in daily sports training, play on outdoor fields, and teach healthy eating habits to encourage physical well-being.
- Arts Engagement: Lead activities such as playing musical instruments, teaching photography and drawing, performing drama classes, and sharing any other artistic skills you have to offer.
- Social Café Support: Help run a social café by preparing and serving coffee, juice, and lunch to the café’s beneficiaries, providing a welcoming space for refugees to relax and socialize.
Daily Tasks:
- Sports Activities: Conduct sports sessions, train participants, and promote healthy lifestyles through physical activities.
- Arts and Crafts: Facilitate art workshops, music sessions, drama classes, and other creative activities that provide a positive outlet for self-expression.
- Café Operations: Prepare and serve food and drinks in the social café, ensuring a friendly and supportive environment for refugee children and adults.
- Build Connections: Engage with refugees through conversation and activities, helping them build trust and feel more integrated into the community.
Why Join?
- Make an Impact: Support refugees in Athens by providing them with meaningful activities and a safe space to express themselves.
- Gain Experience: Develop skills in community engagement, arts, sports, and café operations while working with vulnerable populations.
- Cultural Immersion: Experience the diverse culture of Athens while contributing to the well-being of refugees and asylum seekers.
Ready to Engage and Support Refugees in Athens?
Included
- Airport pickup on Sundays, straight to your accommodation
- Stay in a socially or environmentally impactful hostel—female, male, or mixed dorms
- Access to a common room and free Wi-Fi!
- Three meals a day—veggie, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options available upon request
- Orientation on arrival: culture, volunteering, program details, and safety
- We’ll hook you up with an impactful non-profit project and handle the coordination
- Guided city tour with top tips for exploring
- Ongoing support throughout your stay
- 24/7 emergency support, just in case
FAQ
What is the minimum age to participate in this program? 18+
The minimum age to participate in this program is 18 years.
Do I have to pay money for volunteering?+
You are not paying for your volunteer work itself but for your stay with us overall. The costs for your program further include various elements that are part of your stay such as your accommodation, food, transportation from the airport, guided city tour, local coordination and 24/7 support for emergencies. Check the "Included" section of the program you want to choose for complete information!
How and when do I need to pay for my volunteer program with ImpacTrip?+
The payment of your volunteer program is done by bank transfer. We will kindly ask you to pay 50% of your bill at the time of your booking to secure your spot! The other 50% will be due at least one month before your arrival!
What is the accommodation like? Could I stay in a private room?+
Depending on the program, in most cases, you will stay along with the other volunteers in dormitory-style rooms. Private rooms may be available at your accommodation as well for an extra cost.
Can I cook in the accommodation?+
Yes, the hostel has an eqquiped kitchen where you can cook yourself with the only condition of cleaning everything used afterwards.
How much money should I bring to my program?+
Once you've booked your program, be sure to reach out to your local coordinator to get the scoop on the cost of living in your destination—it can differ quite a bit! And don't forget to budget for public transportation, emergencies, airport drop-off, snacks, fun activities, and a bit of local shopping. Happy planning!
How many people will be I be volunteering with?+
Depending on your program and project, you might be joined by other ImpacTrip volunteers, but usually, you’ll either be on your own or with local volunteers. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with locals and immerse yourself in the community and its lifestyle!
In case of need, how do I get health care?+
All volunteers must arrive with private health insurance that covers the costs of any health service that may arise in their program destination.
With this insurance you can be treated at any private or public medical center. The medical expenses will be paid by you and when you return to your country you will have to present all the invoices to your insurance so don't forget to budget medical emergencies.
In the case of European volunteers, to facilitate the process, it is advisable to come with your European Health Card.
Will I have time for some sight-seeing as well?+
Of course! We want you to really get to know your natural and cultural surroundings and will provide you with useful tips and tricks that will help you discover the location of your stay like a local.
Your shifts will generally last between 3 and 5 hours per day and will take place either in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening, which will leave you with plenty of free time to go explore, take a stroll around your surroundings, catch the most important sites, interact with the locals or simply go and relax! And of course, you will have your weekends off as well!
Do I need to speak the local language?+
No, you don't need to have any previous skills in the local language! All of our programs are run entirely in English and our guides and staff are all comfortable speaking English as well. However, we always encourage our participants to get acquainted with some of the most basic terms and expressions, as even just a simple "Good morning!" in the local language can be a great icebreaker to start interacting with the locals! There are also language lessons available for volunteers that can be booked before or upon arrival.
How and when do I get my volunteer certificate?+
You can request your volunteer certificate to ImpacTrip or the local coordinator at the end of your program.
