supported by
PIER - Protection, Integration and Education for Refugees
in Greece and Austria
The PIER Program supports cultural and socio-economic integration of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Greece and Austria. It encompasses different types of assistance aiming at their improved protection and mental health, education and integration, with particular focus on helping children, youth and young adults.
COVID-19 INFORMATION
NOTE: The current global COVID-19 pandemic affects us all and also the PIER Program is no exception to that. In order to protect our beneficiaries’ and PIER Program staff’s health and wellbeing, most activities had to temporarily be stopped or adapted to ensure the ongoing support for the people we serve. Here you can find more detailed information about the adapted PIER Program in Greece and Austria.
We hope to be able to support our beneficiaries soon again in direct contact, but in the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing is the most efficient way to stop the spread of this crisis. Together we can overcome this!
Greece
In Greece the program is implemented in Thessaloniki by ARSIS. Within the current PIER Program psychosocial and psycho-logical support, referrals and escorts to other services are offered to adult beneficiaries who have been victims of torture. The main target of this support is that beneficiaries are being able to cope in the best way possible with the terrible things they experienced and further support their integration into the Greek society on the long run.
Austria
Caritas „Lerncafés“ offer free of charge afternoon care and learning support for children and youth aged six to 15 years. Besides the intensive learning support on three to four afternoons per week and within the summer program, the children receive healthy snacks and can take part in a variety of recreational activities. Additionally, children’s parents receive much needed assistance and guidance. Altogether nine „Lerncafés“- one in each diocese – are supported within PIER.
Greece
ARSIS Greece
ARSIS Greece is a non-governmental organization, specializing in the social support of youth who are in difficulty or danger. Further ARSIS actively advocates their rights. The organization´s main target is the prevention of youth marginalization, the elaboration of policies, which defend youth rights and the active social sup-port towards disadvantaged young people.
Austria
Caritas Österreich
At the start of the 20th century, Caritas Austria began its purpose to help those in need. The organization´s first action was to give food and clothing to alleviate the suffering of the people during and after the First World War. More than a century later, Caritas Austria’s broad scope of programs underscores the enduring commitment to prevent and ease the hardships of the poor.
November 27 – Education is the first step to integration
27.11.2018
Education represents the first step for refugees to make to address a proper integration process of the single person within the hosting community.
November 20 – Two days dedicated to children’s rights
20.11.2018
The 18th and the 20th of November that have been set, correspondingly, as the Universal End Child Sex Abuse Day and the Universal Children’s Day, ...
July 30 – World Day against Trafficking in Persons – Children: victims of human smuggling and trafficking
30.07.2018
20 percent of human trafficking victims worldwide are children; in certain areas of Africa and Southeast Asia trafficked children even make up the majority of the victims.