The pioneering for the Greek standards programme of the Guardianship Network for Unaccompanied Minors is one of the most important and successful activities of METAdrasi supported by the EEA Grants and Bodossaki Foundation.
Since the beginning of the activity in 2014, the specially trained METAdrasi guardians, acting in close cooperation with the Public Prosecutors for Minors and the First Instance Public Prosecutors, have offered valuable and personalized support to thousands of unaccompanied children, taking care of their best interests and ensuring their access to asylum and hospital care, to education and all the activities necessary for their psychosocial development.
In total, METAdrasi’s guardians have supported more than 11,500 children.
This activity has led to systemic changes such as the enactment of Law 4554/2018 which provides for the implementation of the institution of guardianship by the state and has established the cooperation with the competent Prosecutors. However, the creation of a permanent guardianship system with a long-term perspective has not yet been achieved and METAdrasi in these seven years, has been called to support the guardianship programme and the representation of children with the help of donors and Institutions.
From March to May 2022, Bodossaki Foundation supports METAdrasi’s guardianship programme providing for a small group of guardians in Athens, Thessaloniki, Orestiada, Lesvos, Chios and Samos who support the immediate needs of unaccompanied children.