The Greek America Foundation sponsored the Holiday Party on December 20 at the PYXIDA Intercultural Center of the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) in the Exarcheia neighborhood of Athens, where families and children from Syria, Ukraine, Congo, Angola, Kurdistan, and Egypt, made ornaments, decorated mugs which they took home, and sang holiday songs in Greek and other languages. The Greek America Foundation provided food and beverages for the party and also sponsored a refugee from Iran to cook traditional dishes for all the guests, bringing different cultures together.
The Greek Council for Refugees welcomes and offers free legal and social advice and services to thousands of refugees and asylum seekers coming from third-world countries who are entitled to international protection in Greece, with particular emphasis on vulnerable cases, such as unaccompanied minors and victims of trafficking. The ultimate goal is to offer the community protection and a smooth path to full integration in Greece.
The Greek America Foundation has a longstanding relationship with GCR, and partners with friends, such as the Hellenic American University (HAU) – Athens, to offer volunteer services that help carry out the center’s mission and services.
Our Greek America Corps Athens-based program director Eleni Anagnostopoulou and HAU faculty Cameron Bell joined HAU student-volunteers and Gregory Pappas to support the festive evening.
The GAF-HAU partnership looks forward to a full program of 2023 activities, including student-led English and Greek language lessons, IT training, and youth mentorship, engaging with our Athens-based supporters, as well as bringing volunteers from the United States and Canada during the winter months.
If you are based in Athens and would like to support our year-round volunteer efforts, please contact Eleni Anagnostopoulou via email here. See below for more photos from the party!
