WHO WE ARE
METAdrasi was founded in December 2009 with the mission of facilitating the reception and integration of refugees and migrants in Greece. Believing that migration leads to development, METAdrasi is determined to uphold and protect the fundamental human rights of all those displaced and persecuted. The name METAdrasi is a synthesis of the Greek words “meta” and “drasi, meaning “then + action” and encapsulates our purpose and philosophy.”
Guided by the principles of consistency, efficiency, transparency, and the flexibility to adjust to emerging needs, METAdrasi is active in the following key areas:
• The provision of quality interpretation, enabling vital communication with refugees and migrants through the deployment of over 350 interpreters, trained and certified by METAdrasi in 43 languages and dialects – an activity that lies at the heart of any effective provision of humanitarian support;
• The protection of unaccompanied and separated children, through a comprehensive safety net of activities including accommodation facilities, escorting from precarious conditions to safe spaces and the pioneering activities of guardianship, foster families and supported independent living;
• The protection and support of other vulnerable groups through the provision of legal aid to asylum seekers, certification of victims of torture and deployment of humanitarian aid wherever needed;
• The education and integration of refugees and migrants through educational programmes, Greek language lessons, multilingual support guides and remedial education for children that enables access to the right to education, as well as soft-skills training, traineeship opportunities and work placements.
Safety Net for Unaccompanied Children
Innovating on a national and European level, METAdrasi developed a unique comprehensive safety net for unaccompanied children, including:
Escorting Missions: since 2011
Guardianship: since 2014
Foster Care: since 2015
Transit Accommodation Facilities: since 2015
Supported Independent Living: since 2018
Safety Net for Unaccompanied Children
Innovating on a national and European level, METAdrasi developed a unique comprehensive safety net for unaccompanied children, including:
Escorting Missions: since 2011
Guardianship: since 2014
Foster Care: since 2015
Transit Accommodation Facilities: since 2015
Supported Independent Living: since 2018
MISSION
PRINCIPLES
- Consistency, efficiency and adjustability to emerging needs
- Respect for human rights, national and international law
- The promotion of a comprehensive system for the management of refugee flows, safeguarding social sustainability
- The implementation of innovative activities to address critical and long-standing problems
DISTINCTIONS
- Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize 2019 – METAdrasi was honoured with the world’s largest annual humanitarian prize, for its innovative approach to welcoming refugees and protecting unaccompanied children.
- The North-South Prize 2015 of the Council of Europe awarded to the president of METAdrasi Lora Pappa, for the outstanding work in promoting solidarity, democracy and human rights.
- PILnet’s European Pro Bono Awards 2016: First Prize in the Award for Exemplary Partnership in the Public Interest – METAdrasi was recognized for its cooperation with the American law firm Reed Smith for offering free legal assistance to beneficiaries of international protection in Greece
- Collective Action Award “Models of Excellence 2017: The Citizen’s Movement for an Open Society recognized METAdrasi for its significant volunteer work.
- The “NGO of the Year” award in the category “Society” at “The Hellenic Responsible Business Awards 2018″ for the proven innovative work, with strong social impact, as well as the continuous commitment and efficiency, with measurable results.
- “Legion of Honour” 2017 decoration by the French state to METAdrasi’s president Lora Pappa for her social contribution and exceptional work.
- THI Leadership Award 2016 from the Hellenic Initiative to METAdrasi’s president Lora Pappa for the outstanding contribution.
METADRASI'S PRESIDENT
Since the early 1990s, Lora Pappa’s main interest and focus of work relates to the reception and integration of refugees and migrants. Through all her extensive experience in the field, Lora Pappa was aiming to find the best possible ways for consolidating efforts and facilitating life conditions of refugees and asylum-seekers, and, particularly, unaccompanied minors. In 2010, after seven years as a part of the UNHCR and fifteen years working with NGOs and the National Youth Foundation, Lora Pappa founded NGO METAdrasi – Action for Migration and Development, in order to cover crucial gaps through innovative intervention.
In 2015, Lora Pappa was awarded the North South Prize of the Council of Europe for her outstanding work in promoting solidarity, democracy and human rights.In 2016, she was honoured by the President of the Republic of Portugal with the title of Grand Officer of the Order of Freedom. In 2017, she was awarded the “Legion of Honour” decoration by the French state.
Credits: Fill in the Gap / Vasilis Kouroupis
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maria Iliopoulou, Vice President since 2020, studied psychology in Switzerland at the University of Geneva and did postgraduate studies in Paris, at RENE DESCARTES University, PARIS V, SORBONNE. Since 1985, she has been involved with children and adolescents with learning difficulties, as well as with parental counseling. At the same time, she has a long experience in the training of teachers in psycho-pedagogical issues and has taught pedagogy and pre-school mathematics at the Technological Educational Institute of Athens. Since 2007 she has been the President of the Board of Directors and a founding member of the Hellenic Association for Asperger’s Syndrome. From 2011 to 2014 she was President of the Municipal Nursery of Athens, responsible for the operation of all kindergartens in the municipality. From 2014 to 2019 she served as a municipal councilor and Deputy Mayor for the Child in the Municipality of Athens. During her tenure, among other things, she organized and coordinated the innovative programme “Open Schools of the Municipality of Athens”, a programme recognized on a European level as a best practice in the defense of human rights and the integration of immigrants.
Vasiliki Alexopoulou, METAdrasi’s Treasurer, holds a Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Athens. She has dedicated a great part of her professional life to research and writing of handbooks on education and economics. She has had an extensive career in the Greek civil service. First she served in the Ministry of Education (14 years) and then in the Ministry of Economy and Finance (13 years), where she headed the Directorate of Quality and Efficiency, Documentation and Best Practices, focusing on issues pertaining to the measurement of quality, efficiency and effectiveness of public organizations.
DEPUTY MEMBERS
Markos Komondouros is a deputy member of the board since 2015 and is involved with fundraising and advocacy. He holds an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Imperial College London and master’s degrees in Business Administration and Applied Linguistics from Birkbeck University of London. He is an investment banking professional with a long career at UBS in London, Paris and Istanbul. Since 2006, he has been based in Athens. He speaks Greek, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Turkish.
Saskia Florou-Balke is a member of the board of METAdrasi. She was born in the Netherlands and has been living in Greece since 1989. She has studied history at the American College of Greece and has a Master’s degree in European Studies from the London School of Economics. She has been part of METAdrasi’s mission since its creation.