Greece
Greece: wortundtat helps refugees
The Greek state is currently facing enormous economic problems and political challenges. People on the so-called ‘fringes of society’ disappear even quicker from the view of general interest as might be the case otherwise. But the work, which is supported by wortundtat in Athens, is going on much longer than Greece’s current economic and financial crisis: the Hellenic Ministries organisation has been looking after people in need in Greece’s Capital since the early eighties.
However, during the past years, the work among refugees has gained in increasingly more significance. For people, who have left their home countries mainly because of oppression, persecution or lack of freedom, Greece has become an important interim destination: coming from North Africa or the Middle East, many of them, who cross the Turkish-Greek border, touch the ground of the European Union for the first time. There - so they have heard - peace, security and jobs are readily available. However, for most of them Greece is not their final destination. Almost all refugees want to go to the north of Europe. However, it is only a handful who manage to reach their desired destination. Due to the European asylum law, they have to remain in Greece until their application for asylum has been processed. During this period they hardly receive any support, most of them have to fend for themselves and quite a few gradually lose hope for a life, which they hoped would be better than the one they originally wanted to escape from.
Care and first aid for homeless children and grown-ups
wortundtat is taking care of these people, who do not have a home and often hardly any prospects: in the diaconal-missionary centre, right in the centre of Athens, employees of Hellenic Ministries have set up shower and washing facilities. Each day the centre provides a free evening meal -always for different groups of people in need. Before the meal, the visitors at Hellenic Ministries learn something about the Good Message of the Gospel. And they discover that there are people who look after and take care of them - an experience they normally don’t come across in the streets of Athens. Since autumn 2012, we have a dedicated house, where women and their children not only receive medical aid and education offers, but also get the opportunity to recover from the strains of everyday life.
