what we do
protection and accommodation of minors
Iliaktida, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF, set the aspiration that no unaccompanied child should stay in Moria’s detention center.
Thus, 9 accommodation facilities for unaccompanied – asylum-seeking minors were created (8 for boys, 1 for girls) and in the fall of 2016, unaccompanied minors vacated Moria.
Under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), Iliaktida continues the effort to minimize the time spent by unaccompanied minors in the Reception and Identification Center (RIC) of Lesvos.
148
Accommodation places
5
Accommodation facilities
4 for boys, 1 for girls
2111
Children hosted
Since April 2016
Since 15/01/2021, Iliaktida, under the fund of the National Programme ΤΑΜΕ, houses 16 year-old unaccompanied minors in supervised apartments, providing health care, psychosocial and legal advice, education and vocational guidance, practicing cleanliness, etc.
20
Accommodation places
5
Accommodation supervised facilities
4 for boys, 1 for girls
148
Hosted Minors
for 2025
2253
Hosted Minors
Since April 2016
Action co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
Helios Junior: Supporting Young Adults in Integration
The "Helios Junior" program (OPS 6002657) is an initiative of the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and specialized housing providers PRAKSIS, SOLIDARITYNOW, METADRASI, VELA GREECE, NOSTOS, FAROS ELPIDAS, and PLOIGOS. The implementation period runs from 15/11/2024 to 31/05/2027.
Its goal is to facilitate the smooth transition of unaccompanied minors into adulthood through secure housing, counseling support, and connection to the labor market. At the same time, it provides education, financial assistance, and empowerment services for social and professional integration.
The project aligns with European and national social inclusion strategies, promoting equal access to living and employment opportunities. It creates a supportive framework for the sustainable development of young adults within Greek society
non-formal educational center
"Kalimera Athina", a non-formal educational center, which currently operates with unaccompanied refugees and asylum-seeking minors that are accommodated at Iliaktida’s facilities, has been in business since September 2019.
The young participants take language courses (both Greek and English), as well as they are taught mathematics and geography.
Furthermore, in the center are conducted educational activities for children with disabilities with the support of a speech therapist, as well as Greek language certification preparation tuitions.
In the past, "Kalimera Athina" supported scholastically refugee and asylum-seeking families with Greek courses, including first writing classes and innovative activities.
The program is implemented byPomoc dětem na útěku
social integration of People with Disabilities and vulnerable groups
Iliaktida continues to support local people with disabilities and of social vulnerability throughout their efforts for social integration, for the prevention of racism – especially due to the latest focus on refugee and immigrant populations.
integration activities with refugees
As more and more beneficiaries are identified as refugees and reside in Greece, it is important to be supported with their gradual integration into the local community and economy.
Therefore, Iliaktida is implementing pilot integration programs, for which –unfortunately–there is not sufficient financing.
specialized services center
The “PYXIDA” Specialized Services Centre of the North Aegean operates within the framework of the Special Action “PYXIDA – Complementary Support Mechanism for the Implementation of the National Strategy for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors in Greece”, under the “MS under pressure – unaccompanied minors” call for proposals of the “Greece Programme – Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund”.
The project aims to establish a complementary mechanism to support the implementation of the National Strategy for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors in Greece and the related protection system, focusing on the provision of high-quality and targeted services, strengthening the capacity of professionals supporting unaccompanied minors, and facilitating children’s participation in all matters that concern and affect them. “PYXIDA – Complementary Support Mechanism for the National Strategy for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors in Greece”, with MIS Code 6010542, under the “Greece Programme – Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2021–2027”.
669
Beneficiaries
Unaccompanied Minors
587
Psychological Support Services
387
Educational Services
Implementation details up to August 2026
The project is co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
HELIOS+ Comprehensive Actions for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals into the Labor Market
HELIOS+ is a portfolio of 13 Regional Integration Projects—one for each Greek region—aimed at promoting the integration of third-country nationals into the Greek labor market and society.
A core commitment of HELIOS+ is to empower beneficiaries of international and temporary protection residing in Greece by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to achieve socio-economic independence and actively participate in the Greek community. Through a range of services tailored to the beneficiaries' needs, their self-reliance is strengthened, and their integration and inclusion into Greek society and the country's economic life are fostered.
ILIAKTIDA Non-Profit Organization, together with the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), is participating as an implementing partner of the program in the North Aegean Region—based in Lesvos—with the aim of effectively integrating refugees through actions focused on the following key pillars:
Finding apartments and supporting independent housing for refugees
Linking with the labor market and enhancing professional skills
Informing and raising awareness among local communities to promote social cohesion.
By providing targeted support, HELIOS+ helps the program’s target group integrate into the Greek labor market and society, strengthens local communities by fostering a shared sense of belonging, and promotes the European way of life through inclusion, cooperation, and sustainable development.
Find more information about the program here.
Designed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of the Greek Government. HELIOS+ is co-funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under the Regional Programmes for the 2021–2027 period and is fully aligned with the country’s National Integration Strategy
