It was with great pleasure that we welcomed high-level UNHCR officials to our new offices in Athens. As part of their meetings in Greece, they chose to visit METAdrasi and see the organization’s activities up close.
During their visit, they spoke with refugees who are seeking to enter the labor market through counseling, CV preparation, networking with employers, Greek language courses, and other METAdrasi activities. At the same time, participants in the seminar of the Ready4Business entrepreneurship programme had the opportunity to present their business ideas for starting new ventures in Greece.
Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, and Philippe Leclerc, known for his long tenure in Greece and now Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe, accompanied by Maria Clara Martin, UNHCR Representative in Greece, they heard directly about the challenges and difficulties recognized refugees face in their efforts to find employment, such as opening a bank account or obtaining an insurance registration number.
METAdrasi’s President, Lora Pappa, thanked UNHCR for the long-standing cooperation with the organization. She noted: “Despite the significant reduction in resources, we are doing everything we can—mainly with the support of donors and foundations—to continue our efforts to integrate refugees into the labor market. These activities not only help refugees become self-sufficient, but also contribute to meeting the workforce needs of the Greek economy. ”
