The Streetwork team for unaccompanied minors has been operating since January 2017 in the region of Thessaloniki with the aim of locating and supporting unaccompanied children at risk. The team intervenes in the city streets as well as wider urban areas, where unaccompanied minors reside under conditions of precariousness/homelessness. These children comprise a population with increased vulnerability and specific support needs, which are exacerbated by the precarious living conditions and the fact that they are often on the move. Furthermore, as they are under age and unprotected, they are exposed to the danger of becoming a victim of violence and exploitation in many forms.
At the premises of the Streetwork project, the minors are offered access to food, showers, clean clothes, relaxation and educational/recreational activities. The main services provided include information on their rights, conduction of their best interests assessment, immediate referral to safe accommodation, legal support as well as assistance in dealing with urgent medical needs. Awareness-raising activities for the children are also organized in the same premises.
As of January 2021, ARSIS acts as implementing partner of the National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM) of the General Secretariat of Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection (former Special Secretariat for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors) of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
In this new context, the Streetwork activities were structured in two divisions: a Mobile Unit for the identification of unaccompanied minors and their accompaniment to suitable accommodation facilities and an Info Desk serving as a steady place of reception, support as well as connection of the minors with the NERM and other child protection services. At the same time, a new action was undertaken through a team of professionals conducting Best Interests Assessments of the minors hosted in the Emergency Accommodation Facility for Unaccompanied Minors - Safe Zone of Vagiochori Volvi. This action was completed in December 2021.
The Streetwork Mobile Unit and Info Desk carried on intensively throughout 2022, in the course of which NERM’s system of referral and housing of unaccompanied minors in emergency (or other suitable) accommodation facilities also reached its full development. Indicatively, a total of 808 children were escorted by ARSIS to accommodation facilities during the year. At the same time, in view of the ongoing Ukraine refugee crisis, a further team of experienced and specialized collaborators joined the regular team and was active between April and September at the Promachonas Border Station in Serres, conducting Best Interests Assessments of displaced children from Ukraine travelling without their parents, either alone (unaccompanied) or escorted by third persons. Since October 2022, cases of separated children from Ukraine are mainly handled remotely through the Info Desk. In the event of unaccompanied children arriving at Promachonas Border Station, the ARSIS team is mobilized to meet and support them on the spot.
ARSIS Streetwork, including all its activities and operations, was implemented up to the end of 2022 in cooperation with UNHCR and co-funded by the European Union.
As of January 2023, the Streetwork activities according to a programmatic agreement with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum are integrated in the project “Operational Assistance to the Project of the National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM)”.
The activities were funded between January 2023 and April 2024 by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA Grants 2014 - 2021). As of May 2024, they run under the SWISS - GREEK Cooperation Programme. More specifically, the project “National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM)” is supported by the Swiss contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the EU and by the Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum and is implemented by the Arsis in cooperation with the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection - Ministry of Migration and Asylum
You can follow Streetwork activities for unaccompanied minors at https://www.facebook.com/arsis.streetwork.uam/?locale=el_GR https://www.facebook.com/arsis.streetwork.uam/?locale=el_GR
The team of Streetworkers is active morning and afternoon hours in two shifts, thus enabling the provision of its services from Monday to Friday from 10:00-22:00. The Info Desk operates Monday to Friday from 10.00-18.00 on the ground floor of 6 Orfanidou Street, Thessaloniki.
Additionally, the Streetwork team is available from Monday to Friday at 10:00-22:00 under the following telephone number: 0030-6908070490.
At the same time, NERM operates a hotline for the identification and location of children in need (0030-2132128888 and 0030-6942773030 via WhatsApp or Viber), which is available in six languages and operates: Monday - Friday 08:00 - 22:00, Saturday 11:00 - 19:00. The hotline does not operate on national and public holidays.
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