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1. The number of people that can be successfully integrated
Following Tilos' example, Kozani can integrate about 7000 people, with the help of the locals. -
2. Accommodation
The municipality of Kozani can offer any vacant, abandoned building to the refugees, like the old hotel Xenias. NGOs can undertake to pay a nominal rent. Also, the UN can provide them with a modest allowance, to help them rent an apartment. -
3. The kind of entrepreneurship than can be developed
We should provide them with suggestions or employment opportunities, so that they can feel useful to our community. Women can be employed at the local restaurants or in house cleaning. Men can be employed in farming, the mainstay of the area's economy, or as craftsmen at the local businesses. -
4. The ways our school can help
Our school can help them in many ways. We can provide refugee children with lessons in greek, in order to communicate easier. The older students can be encouraged to help younger refugee children with homework whenever they can afford the time. We can ask refugee children to join us when we do sports or when we go out. We can encourage our schoolmates and friends to accept the refugee children. Our school can organize a welcoming event for them, or a fundraising event (a charity, a bazaar etc.). -
5. The potential benefits for the local community
First of all, the integration of refugees in our town can boost the local economy. The refugees will spend money in local shops and they will provide the manpower for many local businesses. Also, the locals will meet people from different countries, with different background and cultures.