Greece, a country with economic instability and an influx of refugees, cannot bear this burden alone. This is why we spent our first two years in Greece primarily providing relief: rooms for people to stay, food, clothing and other basic needs. But we know relief is just the start and if done too much or too long can be problematic. We also want to help people integrate into the society (such as refugees) and help them establish themselves and become self-sufficient in Greece. We have a cultural understanding of the refugees we work with, and we can be the bridge that unites them to the local Church and European society. We help people integrate. As Philip, a local pastor in Athens, says, “we need to develop roots that attach us to the city and then build bridges that unite people to the city”. We also want to help with development. We want to see people grow in their context and be able to care for themselves. 

We do relief, integration and development by:

-International teams
-Distribution of food and clothes (when needed)
-Helping refugees with accommodation (as we can)
-Ruth has worked in Faros and the Integration House. Faros works with unaccompannied minors, women, children and the most vulnerable. She also worked in an initiative started by our Church that helps refugees integrate into Greece by helping with life skills, language, culture, find a job and home.