Intergrating refugees into our community

  • 1. The number of people that can be succesfully intergrated

    1. The number of people that can be succesfully intergrated
    Learning from the model of Tilos, an island with a population of almost 500 people, which intergrated 70 refugees, Kozani a small city with a population of 42.000 residents, can intergrate appoximately 5.900 refugees respectively.
  • 2a. Accomodation

    2a. Accomodation
    Firstly, the mayor could cooperate with local hotels, so that the refugees could stay somewhere more comfortable, at least for a couple of months. The money that has to be given in the hotels could be sponsored by NGOs or donations from the residents of Kozani.
  • 2b. Accomodation

    Furthermore, it would be a useful idea, if refugges stayed in some of the abandoned houses in our town, after they have been renovated. Finally, as people in Tilos did, we could construct a refugee camp in "Niaemeros " for example, with a communal kitchen, a shower block and a playground for the young children. It may not be so comfortable, but it will certainly offer refugees a safe place to stay.
  • 3. The kind of enterpreneurship that can be developed

    3. The kind of enterpreneurship that can be developed
    In order to involve refugees in the daily life we could offer them the opportunity to work. They could work in local shops or in local companies. For example, some of them could work in bakeries and as waiters-waitresses in restaurants and cafes. They could also cooperate with the residents and create an enterprise where they would provide the man power. Finally, we could invite them to help in farming, house cleaning and work as craftsmen.
  • 4a. The ways your school can help

    4a. The ways your school can help
    Our school could encourage students donate old clothes, toys and food. It could also provide refugee children with lessons in greek and encourage older students to help younger refugee school children with homework whenever they can afford the time. Moreover, english teachers could help them communicate with shop owners by translating from greek to english, when they visit the local shops.
  • 4b. The ways your school can help

    Furthermore, it could also organise a concert or a bazaar in order to gain money for the accomodation of the refugees. Finally it should encourage students accept refugee children as thier friends.
  • 5. The potential benefits for local community

    5. The potential benefits for local community
    The refugees will benefit the local community in certain ways. First of all, they will help in economy's development, as they will spend money from the allowance they are given from the UNHCR in local shops and pharmacies. Also ,they will help politically, because they can be intergrated into the community and exchange ideas and tranditions with the residents.