Glocal Roots

Since 2017 Glocal Roots has the mission to empower people on the move, guiding them on a their journey towards resilience and autonomy. Our vision is to establish networks and structures that foster self-sufficiency among people with refugee backgrounds. The ultimate goal is not only to assist them in rebuilding their lives but to empower them to actively engage and contribute to their adopted societies. Projects in Greece Victoria Community Center Athens: Our women's space provides a clean, calm, and safe community environment for women every day. Simultaneously, the child-friendly space offers a secure and fun place for children equipped with arts and crafts materials, a toy cooking ... read more Since 2017 Glocal Roots has the mission to empower people on the move, guiding them on a their journey towards resilience and autonomy. Our vision is to establish networks and structures that foster self-sufficiency among people with refugee backgrounds. The ultimate goal is not only to assist them in rebuilding their lives but to empower them to actively engage and contribute to their adopted societies. Projects in Greece Victoria Community Center Athens: Our women's space provides a clean, calm, and safe community environment for women every day. Simultaneously, the child-friendly space offers a secure and fun place for children equipped with arts and crafts materials, a toy cooking station, a reading corner, and various playthings. These spaces not only provide essential support but also create opportunities for mothers and fathers to participate in services while their children receive supervised care. In our tailor space we empower women to learn new crafts, undertake personal projects, and pursue meaningful employment. Fully equipped with industrial sewing machines and other tools, the studio facilitates sewing and crochet classes. Additionally, weekly workshops enable the women to learn practical skills such as knotting key rings or bracelets. The Hub, Kos: The Hub, located in Kos town, plays a pivotal role in assisting refugees residing in camps or those who have self-accommodated in the town. Recognizing the challenges refugees face, especially in their initial stages in Greece, the hub focuses on covering basic needs and aiding in their inclusion into society. With a commitment to long-term well-being, the hub offers diverse support, addressing bureaucratic obstacles, and providing a friendly space for refugees to spend their day. Projects in Switzerland Glocal Steps: Glocal Steps supports individuals with a refugee background seeking entry into the Swiss job market. Recognizing the significance of education and employment for social participation, the project emphasizes vocational training as a pathway to sustainable integration. Glocal Meets: The Glocal Meets mentoring program fosters mutual trust and understanding by pairing refugees with citizens of Thurgau in mentoring partnerships. This initiative empowers refugees to step out of isolation, navigate their new environment, and learn about language, culture, as well as the rights and duties of Swiss society. Supper Club: The Glocal Roots 'Supper Club' launched in Zurich and expanded to Basel, promotes social inclusion by creating networks between locals and newcomers in Switzerland. Game Club: The 'Game Club' brings together refugees and locals for card games, further fostering social connections and breaking down barriers. In essence, Glocal Roots is not only addressing immediate needs but also laying the foundation for sustained empowerment, fostering resilience, and nurturing a sense of belonging for displaced individuals in both Greece and Switzerland. Through these diverse initiatives, the organization continues to support people in rebuilding their lives in new countries.