We were delighted to welcome yesterday the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Mr. Dimitris Kairidis, at the Accommodation Facility for Unaccompanied Minors on the island of Chios, the only of its kind in the island. This was the first time ever that a Minister visited our facility since the beginning of its operation in 2016.

During his visit, Mr. Kairidis discussed with METAdrasi’s President, Lora Pappa, key topics concerning this particularly vulnerable group of unaccompanied children, as well as reception and integration issues.

Simple and cordial, Mr. Kairidis embraced the two babies of the Facility with open arms, and discussed in Greek with children who go to the local public school, how they share their dreams and ambitions with their new friends, their love for football and affection for the people of Chios, happily integrated in the local community. The Minister also had a conversation with a student from Aleppo, attending the 2nd class of Junior High School in Chios, who shared his personal story, when at the age of five he was forced to flee from his country and is currently separated from his siblings who live in other countries. One of the many stories that unaccompanied children in the Facility have to tell..

We express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Kairidis for his initiative to visit the Facility and wish him all the best in his new post.

METAdrasi’s Accommodation Facility for Unaccompanied Minors in Chios, following the support from EEA Grants, is operating since August 2023 with the support of the Migration and Home Affairs Funds (TAMEY), co-funded by the European Union.