Support refugee mothers and newborns in Athens

Summer is over, but not our work!

We are pleased to share another four months during which we continued to operate safely, providing for the basic needs of our beneficiaries.

Our housing program remains strong. Despite the summer heat, we continued to support our community by maintaining and caring for our apartments. We are happy to report that two families have moved into independent housing, which represents a huge milestone and a clear reflection of what we set out to achieve: safe, stable housing for refugee mothers and pregnant women, and a path toward independence.

In July, we said goodbye to one of our beloved caseworkers. Her contribution to CRIBS was invaluable and will not be forgotten. We have since welcomed a new caseworker to the team, who brings fresh insight and perspective while continuing to support our community with the same dedication.

At the end of August, we welcomed a new baby into the CRIBS community. The baby's parents, recognised refugees, had been forced to leave their accommodation while the mother was pregnant, with a toddler in tow and nowhere else to turn. We were able to secure a safe home for the family, allowing the mother to prepare safely for the birth of her child.

There is good news ahead! Thanks to the dedication of our caseworkers, a total of 24 children have been enrolled in school this year: 14 in nursery, 6 in kindergarten, and 4 in primary school. Navigating the education system in Greece is no small task, so this represents a major milestone for our community, which will help ensure these children receive the dignified support and education they deserve.

Our Community Space and partner collaborations remained active in the lead-up to summer, with numerous activities organised alongside our partner organisations, including community-building and outdoor events. Among our major events:

1. One-on-one English classes continued with an excellent attendance rate.
2. Women's Space activities were well-received. Highlights included:a joint picnic and collective art activity at the park with Action for Women and Amame, a beauty and ice cream session, a beauty and pizza session, and a lovely day at the beach. 
3. Individual psychosocial support (PSS) sessions held on demand from our community.

Our Free Shop has remained lively. We managed to provide more appointments and reduce the waiting list numbers of 87.5%. This remarkable improvement allows us to expand our network of support: more appointments mean more people reached, and more impact made. We also renovated our children and breastfeeding corner, so that mothers can take their time during their appointments, finding a place of comfort and rest, in order to have a better and more dignified shopping experience. 

Your support was key up to this point. There is still much work to be done, and with your continued donations, we can extend our support to even more women and children in need.

Thank you for being a part of it all and making it happen!