A Drop in the Ocean has since 2015 contributed with humanitarian assistance among refugees in Greece. The organisation will now open a Drop-in Centre with pre-integration activities for asylum seekers who have been given relocation to Norway. At the Centre, the asylum seekers will get an opportunity to learn their first words in Norwegian and get a taste of Norwegian culture.
To remedy the situation in Greece, Norway is welcoming around 750 asylum seekers currently in the country. They will be sent to Norway to have their asylum applications processed there. The asylum seekers relocating to Norway primarily come from Syria.
After the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration has selected who is eligible for relocation, the asylum seekers will have to wait in Athens for approximately two months before they can travel to Norway.
At the Centre, Norwegian volunteers will help the asylum seekers learn their first words in Norwegian and give them a taste of Norwegian culture. The Drop-in Centre is organised like a language café, where the asylum seekers will have an opportunity to discuss Norwegian traditions, ideals and values with volunteers from A Drop in the Ocean.
The Centre is located at Myrtillo cafe, close to a peaceful park in the center of Athens.
“It is particularly exciting that we can open our Drop-in Centre here, since the place has a Norwegian connection dating back to 1957. To help people injured in the Greek Civil War, Norwegian authorities funded the construction of the park and the premises”, says Trude Jacobsen, Secretary-General of A Drop in the Ocean.
Today, Myrtillo cafe provides Greeks with reduced working capacity an opportunity to participate in the working life. A Drop in the Ocean was met with enthusiasm from the management of the café, and we are looking forward to further cooperation.
On Wednesday 10th of May, the Drop-in Centre will be officially opened, with serving of Norwegian waffles and brown cheese. “The Norwegian Embassy in Greece, Norwegians living in Athens, asylum seekers who have been given relocation to Norway and volunteers from A Drop in the Ocean are invited to the opening ceremony”, says Trude Jacobsen.
Contact:
Trude Jacobsen, Secretary-General of A Drop in the Ocean
E-mail: trude@drapenihavet.no
Phone: (+47) 48172718
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