Under
the framework of promoting its goals, «OikoKoinonia»...
Intervened successfully in the cancellation
of already taken decisions by Municipalities, concerning the
abolition of services for the support of Rom citizens, addressing
to the Prime Minister's Office, Ministries, to the Hellenic
Cross-Municipal Network for the Support of Greek Rom, and
the Hellenic Federation of Greek Rom Associations.
Intervened against the decision for the demolition
of a Rom camp in Thessaloniki, by addressing to the Prime
Minister's Office, the Hellenic cross-municipal Network for
the Support of Greek Rom ("ROM Network") and Hellenic
Federation of Greek Rom Associations.
Intervened against a decision of the Ministry
of Labor, concerning the Local Employment Initiatives Program,
terms of which bounded the Municipalities in selecting only
one target group for their action plans, thus reducing the
possibilities for projects for Rom to be drafted. The intervention
was addressed to the competent bodies and to the Conference
for the Social Inclusion of Rom citizens, organized by the
"ROM Network", the Hellenic Unicef Committee and
the Hellenic Union of Social Workers.
Was invited and participated to the 1st National
Conference for Homelessness under the topic: "Right to
housing: institutional consolidation and practices",
organized by ARSIS -Organization for the Social Support of
Youth, the European Federation of National Organizations working
with the Homeless (FEANTSA), the European Observatory on Homelessness
and the Program of Social Intervention of the Panteio University
in Athens. During the Conference «OikoKoinonia»
informed the representative of the European Observatory on
the living conditions of the homeless Rom citizens in Greece
and highlighted the need to register all tent-dwell Rom as
homeless and therefore eligible for public housing
Was invited and participated in the 5th Conference
of the ROM Network under the topic: "Policy Proposals
for the social inclusion of Greek Rom", co-organized
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office,
the Panteio University and the Region of Attica.
Created an electronic library by collecting
and organizing material on the issue of the social inclusion
of Rom aiming at the creation of an electronic database.
Organized a Conference in co-operation with
FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations working
with the Homeless), on the topic: "The Perspective of
Social Residence in Greece. Looking for viable solutions...
A critical approach of the new National Frame for the residential
rehabilitation of the Greek Rom citizens". In order to
ensure a broad representation, an organizational committee
was formed, in which apart from the aforementioned organizations-
the Rom Network, the Hellenic Federation of Associations for
Greek Rom, ARSIS (Organization for the Social Support of Youth)
and the Thessaloniki Bar Association participated. In the
proceedings of the Conference also took part representatives
from the European Observatory on Homelessness, the Greek Rom
Federation of Macedonia & Thrace.
The aim of the Conference was the re-activation
of a forum for dialogue and consent among the different parties
of social dialogue: the Government, the Local Authorities,
the Rom citizens through their representing bodies and the
citizens active in the NGO field, in order to establish alliances
between the public and social front:
a) through the promotion of institutional and legislative
regulations and the provision of solutions for the implementation
of the National Scheme for the residential rehabilitation
of the homeless Rom, and
b) through organizing and disseminating the know-how for the
planning of an integrated methodology for problem solving
within the rational of social inclusion.
The proceedings of the Conference focused on the integrated
planning for the residential rehabilitation and the social
inclusion of Rom citizens, emphasizing on theoretical and
methodological documentation and in connecting it with actions
already taken and the current developments that could lead
to the implementation of the National Scheme. During the Conference
the moral basis of the social residence was illustrated, as
well as the institutional and legislative basis of the issue,
focusing on the special and numerous problems of Rom homeless
in Greece.
«OikoKoinonia» supported three Municipalities
(Chalastra, Axios and Chalkidona) in preparing and submitting
proposals for the residential development and social inclusion
of the Rom in the aforementioned Municipalities. The proposals
supported by «OikoKoinonia» have been approved
and their implementation has already begun.
Current action
of «OikoKoinonia»:
Participates in two Developmental Collaborations,
one in the area of Kalamaria (at the east end of Thessaloniki)
and one on the wider western area of Thessaloniki, by implementing
the following projects:
1. Organizing -supporting of social economy
cooperative of the unemployed inhabitants (emphasizing on
unemployed Rom).
2. Support to local social bodies and services
on Rom issues. Production of methodological tools, educational
material and personnel formation.
3. Production of sensitization material and
conducting of information campaign to local social services,
entitled: "Rom citizens in NW Thessaloniki, a positive
glance for the mutual understanding and acceptance".
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