Πώς συμμετείχαν νέοι πρόσφυγες σε ένα κέντρο χωρίς αποκλεισμούς για πρόσφυγες και σε έναν καινοτόμο ξενώνα στράφηκαν σε επαγγελματίες βιώσιμου τουρισμού
Η Wind of Renewal / Άνεμος Ανανέωση είναι ένας κοινωνικός συνεταιρισμός που ιδρύθηκε το 2014 με στόχο την προώθηση της κοινωνικής και πράσινης οικονομίας, την προστασία του κλίματος και του περιβάλλοντος, τον διαπολιτισμικό διάλογο και τον αειφόρο τουρισμό. Οι δραστηριότητες του οργανισμού καλύπτουν διάφορους τομείς δραστηριότητας, αλλά περιορίζουμε τις πληροφορίες που παρουσιάζονται παρακάτω σε δραστηριότητες που παρέχονται στον τομέα δύο καλών παραδειγμάτων συμμετοχής μεταναστών/προσφύγων στη δημιουργία ενός βιώσιμου μέλλοντος:
– Το κέντρο Welcommon για τους πρόσφυγες – δηλαδή φιλοξενία, ενδυνάμωση και ένταξη ευάλωτων προσφύγων (9/2016 – 2/2018)
– The Welcommon Hoste l, ένας καινοτόμος και χωρίς αποκλεισμούς ξενώνας ανοιχτός σε διάφορα είδη ταξιδιωτών: τουρίστες, erasmus, εθελοντές, νομάδες, μετανάστες και πρόσφυγες (6/2018 – 7/2024).
Welcommon σημαίνει καλωσόρισμα από κοινού, μαζί.
Ημέρες Καλωσορίσματος
Στόχος και κύριοι στόχοι: Το έργο Welcommon ήταν ένα καινοτόμο κέντρο φιλοξενίας, ενδυνάμωσης και ένταξης ευάλωτων προσφύγων. Στόχος των «Days of Welcommon» ήταν η συμμετοχή των νέων προσφύγων στην αλλαγή της ζωής τους και στην προετοιμασία του μέλλοντός τους. Σε 1,5 χρόνο, από 9/2016 έως 2/2018, το Welcommon φιλοξένησε 600 ευάλωτους πρόσφυγες, μεταξύ άλλων 41 νεογέννητα. Το έργο δεν προοριζόταν απλώς για τους πρόσφυγες, αλλά για τους πρόσφυγες – δουλεύοντας μαζί τους προς όφελός τους, καθώς και αυτό της γειτονιάς και της τοπικής κοινωνίας. Έγινε ένα από τα πιο καινοτόμα και δημιουργικά κέντρα φιλοξενίας, ενδυνάμωσης και κοινωνικής ενσωμάτωσης προσφύγων, με βάση την ιδέα της « ενδυνάμωσης μέσω της δημιουργίας κοινοτήτων χωρίς αποκλεισμούς ».
Η ιδέα πίσω από το Welcommon ήταν να συμπεριληφθούν οι ίδιοι οι πρόσφυγες στην οργάνωση της ζωής τους στο κέντρο φιλοξενίας και να είναι πιο ανοιχτοί σε διαφορετικούς πολιτισμούς, να συνδιοργανώσουν διαφορετικά μαθήματα γλώσσας, φροντιστήρια, κινηματογράφο, θέατρο και μαθήματα τέχνης καθώς και επισκέψεις σε μουσεία και γκαλερί.
Το έργο υποστηρίχθηκε από τον Αναπτυξιακό Οργανισμό του Δήμου Αθηναίων και την Ύπατη Αρμοστεία του ΟΗΕ για τους Πρόσφυγες. Αλλά αυτές οι υπηρεσίες αποφάσισαν τον Ιανουάριο του 2018 ότι οι πρόσφυγες θα έπρεπε να φιλοξενούνται μόνο σε διαμερίσματα, δεν χρειάζονταν μεταβατικές δομές. Το κέντρο έκλεισε τον Μάρτιο του 2018.
Hostel Welcommon
Ένα επόμενο έργο – χρησιμοποιώντας το ίδιο κτίριο – ήταν ο ξενώνας Welcommon, ένας ξενώνας για τον αειφόρο τουρισμό, την προσβασιμότητα, την ένταξη, την ενσωμάτωση στην εργασία. Το Welcommon Hostel ήταν ένα επταώροφο κτίριο εγκαταστάσεων στο κέντρο της Αθήνας – το οποίο διευθύνει η Wind of Renewal.
The idea behind Welcommon Hostel was to offer accommodation for different kinds of travelers, as well as hosting social, cultural and environmental activities, something more than just a nice hostel with social impact. To be a place for social gathering and social experimentation, a center for innovation and art, social and green economy, for social and job integration for Greek locals, migrants and refugees but also a bridge among people who travel for different reasons.
For both projects the aim was the development of a community model for empowerment and inclusion through building communities (welcommon means welcome in common, together) as well as the promotion of coexistence and dialogue between the cultures working with refugees, asylum seekers, tourists, European young volunteers from more than 50 nationalities and ethnicities in a more inclusive framework.
The intercultural courses we offered were more inclusive as all the different travelers could participate in our courses (tourists, guests, volunteers, refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, Erasmus, students, nomads).
The courses were more interactive, all the participants could be at the same time “teachers” and “students”, that means “we learn from each other”, it was not a passive, one way learning process.
Learning from each other
Learning from each other was an important and interesting part of our social project. As many people with different knowledge and skills come together, we try to benefit from each other. The residents of the Welcommon Hostel as well as the volunteers and the pupils participating in our intercultural courses could “teach” using their different skills, transferring knowledge, enhance their capacities and flourish themselves.
Age group: all the different ages with focus on young refugees and young people in general
Number of participants (min – max): a total of 3000 refugees, the majority of them 16-30 years old and 450 volunteers from all over the world almost all of them young people (18-30)
Duration: 10/2016 – 6/2024
Materials (including annexes as specified in the instructions, if applicable): Material used for intercultural classes in Greece, Germany etc as well as material prepared by NGOs, the volunteers by themselves, the participants etc. There was also space for innovation and creativity eg using games of roles, audiovisual and art works, etc.
Instructions (step-by-step): As our work was not only FOR refugees but also WITH refugees, we focused not only on help and support but also on mobilization and empowerment through doing and acting together.
But this community model is interesting not only for refugees but also for other vulnerable social groups.
We work for the empowerment, professional training and promotion of the abilities and qualifications of refugees, especially the young persons, in order to be able to find their way in our societies for the benefit of our society.
We have offered workplaces to young refugees in our innovative Welcommon Hostel. This model is also useful for other young people. caregivers, unemployed persons etc
We invited our guests /travelers, volunteers, personnel, refugees, migrants – pupils of our intercultural courses) to participate in climate actions. We connected our volunteers and guests with climate initiatives and we hosted some meetings and seminars in our hostel.
During COVID-19, we offered in Welcommon Hostel safe accommodation and empowerment courses to many homeless vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers and at the same time we hosted a number of volunteers in Welcommon Hostel.
We promoted coexistence and dialogue between the cultures working with refugees, asylum seekers, and many European young volunteers (more than 450 from more than 30 nationalities and ethnicities) in a more inclusive framework.
Participation and empowerment
Many actors of the social economy, such as cooperatives, social enterprises, work integration social enterprises (WISEs) and associations, include marginalized, vulnerable and disabled people in their daily operation and governance structures, allowing for their participation also in the decision-making of the enterprise or organisation. This is what Wind of Renewal has done. The idea embodies the approach of the social economy in relation to the inclusion of marginalized and often vulnerable individuals: instead of exclusion or relief approach, participation through empowerment. Empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights. The social economy cultivates this by acting not only for vulnerable people but also, and most importantly, with the community model developed by the social cooperative Anemos Ananeosis / Wind of Renewal
Additional info (if needed): Usually in refugee’s camps the people are separated based on religion or origins. Therefore existing stereotypes remain unchanged and the people are not supported in living and working in multicultural societies. In addition, very rarely participate in organizing their daily life and also preparing their future.
Sources:
https://anemosananeosis.gr/en/11-awards_wor/
Welcommon Hostel: www.welcommonhostel.gr
Wind of Renewal: www.anemosananeosis.gr/
www.facebook.com/daysofwelcome
www.instagram.com/welcommonproject
www.Instagram.com/welcommonhostel
www.facebook.com/windofrenewl.socialcooperatives
Social change in our community: www.welcommonhostel.gr/social
Our history: www.welcommonhostel.gr/slider/you-can-feel-the-history-of-welcommon
What the refugees themselves and others told about the role of WELCOMMON (9/2016-2/2018)
– Welcommon, an innovative, model community center for/with refugees
–Documentary “WorkingWithRefugeeCommunities in Greece”, by the “In place of War” (IPOW) in cooperation with Anna Lindh Foundation
–Bibiche, from Kongo, “What you really know about the refugees”
–Beshir, from Syria, “What you really know about the refugees”
–Ghassan, from Syria, “Whatyoureallyknowaboutthe refugees”
– An article published by the e-newsletter «Cooperative news»: «Taking steps to meet the long-term needs of refugees»
–Ourhistory:www.welcommonhostel.gr/slider/you-can-feel-the-history-ofwelcommon
– Social change in our community: www.welcommonhostel.gr/social
We worked on a new model of inclusion and empowerment “through building community” (welcommon means welcome in common, together).
– Our courses were more inclusive. ALL the different travelers could participate in our courses (tourists, guests, volunteers, refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, Erasmus, students, nomads)
– Our courses are more interactive, all the participants could be at the same time “teachers” and “students”. The courses are interactive, that means “we learn from each other”, it is not a passive, one way learning process. Learning from each other is an important and interesting part of our social project. As many people with different knowledge and skills come together, we try to benefit from each other.
– Our work is not only FOR refugees but also WITH REFUGEES
– We focus not only on help and support but also on mobilization and empowerment through doing and acting together. We work for the empowerment, professional training and promotion of the abilities and qualifications of refugees, especially the young persons, in order to be able to find their way in our societies for the benefit of our society.
– Even during COVID-19 we continued on offering the lessons for the empowerment of the participants, in a safe environment, implementing the health regulations.
– 450 volunteers from 2016 until today. The activity “Days of Welcommon” is our volunteering project offering Intercultural and inclusive courses and activities open to refugees, migrants, volunteers, locals (3000 participants until today) with the support of 450 volunteers from all over the world:
– Providing free language classes /intercultural courses for refugees, tourists, volunteers and local Greeks
– Offering a full schedule of inclusive cultural activities
– Empower and raising integration through music, art, comedy and film events
– Combining social and green innovation, environmental awareness and respect to others
– Engaging and supporting any and all projects which align with our focus on social inclusion and climate action – from family picnics to seminars on the green economy and everything in between
– Supporting young people to gain professional qualifications in energy reduction and transition.
– We invited our guests/travelers, volunteers, personnel, refugees, migrants – pupils of our intercultural courses) to participate in climate actions. We connect our volunteers and guests with climate initiatives and we host some meetings and seminars in our hostel.
The residents of the Welcommon Hostel as well as the volunteers and the pupils participating in our intercultural courses could teach their different skills and knowledge they know from their previous education or from their home countries.
Anemos Ananeosis / Wind of Renewal
Anemos Ananeosis / Wind of Renewal was founded as a social cooperative enterprise in Athens in 2014 by a number of environmental and socially active citizens. Born out of a desire to promote social and green innovation and economy, sustainable tourism, climate protection, energy transition, environmental awareness, intercultural dialogue, welcome refugees – providing safe accommodation and social inclusion. The main idea behind the WoR was the implementation of innovative solutions for the social and environmental problems of Greece (and Europe), not only proposals or discussions of them.
For Anemos Ananeosis / Wind of Renewal participation, empowerment, accessibility means equal access to social, political, and economic life, to the same tools, services, institutions and facilities for all, leaving no-one behind.
Our guests were all different travelers (tourists, volunteers, Erasmus students, nomads-workers, newcomers, refugees. migrants). Our vision remains to bring close people from all over the world without discrimination, to enable them to communicate, to respect each other, to be entertained, to co-work and co-create. Our guests had the opportunity to participate directly and indirectly in green, social, humanitarian and inclusive – intercultural projects, events and activities, but also to co-organise such activities. They could also contribute with their ideas and experience. WELCOMMON Hostel means welcome in common – together. We communicated about our offers at EU and global level as our guests were 95% people from EU and the rest of the world.
We tried to stay innovative and adapt to new requirements, despite the crisis (financial, health, energy, climate, social)
WELCOMMON HOSTEL was named as the most EXTRAORDINARY Hostel Hero announced by HOSCARS awards 2021, organized by the international network HOSTEL WORLD. Why; As of June 2020, even sustainable tourism collapsed and at the same time thousands of recognized refugees and asylum seekers in Greece were left homeless in the midst of a global pandemic. Wind of Renewal decided to host a number of refugees, the most vulnerable between them, such as survivors of sexual violence, torture and ill treatment, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, pregnant and mothers with new borne babies.
At the same time, although the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions measures had a serious impact on the social cooperative (reducing -80% of its income, almost zero tourists, restriction of in person activities, need for increased and costly health protection measures etc), Wind of Renewal continued on offering in the Welcommon Hostel social empowerment and non-formal education courses with the participation of refugees and volunteers.
All this time Wind of Renewal offered interactive, inclusive, intercultural, non formal education and courses (language lessons, art, environmental and climate awareness, music) and green and social economy workshops open for all: volunteers, refugees, migrants, travelers, nomads workers with the volunteers and migrants / refugees be the protagonists of the activities, not only the participants.
Our services were designed to be accessible to everyone. Our vision was to offer appropriate accommodation and room for interaction and participation, but not only this. Our vision was to bring close people from all over the world, to enable them to communicate, to be entertained, to offer and gain knowledge and experience, and to explore the creative side of Athens. Everyone can contribute with his/her own ideas and experience.
Anemos Ananeosis/Wind of Renewal has a strong commitment to building a better world through social and green innovation and the cooperative business model. We try to improve the working environment as we always have a diverse workforce (unemployed persons, refugees, long-unemployed persons, young persons without job-experience) and many volunteers with different backgrounds. This diverse workforce as well as our model of sustainable tourism is an added value for our Hostel; there are many clients who decide to book a room or organise an event in our hostel because of this socially responsible model.
As a social cooperative enterprise. Wind of Renewal has experienced exclusion and unfair practices related to covid-19 support measures by the national and regional authorities. Therefore, Wind of Renewal tries always to be flexible, innovative and responsible in its plans and practices,
Η πιο ακριβή επένδυση αφορά την εκπαίδευση του προσωπικού μας που πρέπει να συνδυάζει επαγγελματικές με κοινωνικές και περιβαλλοντικές δεξιότητες, ικανότητες και γνώσεις. Κατά τη διάρκεια του COVID-19 η πιο ακριβή επένδυση ήταν να μην απολυθούν οι εργαζόμενοι, κρατήστε το εργατικό δυναμικό, καθώς τα έσοδα από τον τουρισμό ήταν σχεδόν μηδενικά.
Η WoR θέλει να επηρεάσει την κατεύθυνση της κοινωνίας μας ώστε να γίνει πιο βιώσιμη και οικολογικά και κοινωνικά δίκαιη. Και αυτός είναι ο λόγος που το Welcommon Hostel ήταν ανοιχτό για όλους τους ταξιδιώτες και τους ανθρώπους και ήταν περιεκτικό. Παράλληλα, το όραμα είναι να «διδάξουμε» και να «μάθουμε».
Το κοινωνικό μας μοντέλο, οι αξίες μας και η καινοτόμος προσέγγισή μας είναι τα δυνατά σημεία της εμπορικής μας επικοινωνίας. Στις 26 Απριλίου 2021, το Welcommon Hostel αναγνωρίστηκε ως ο « πιο ΕΚΤΑΚΤΟΣ Ήρωας του Ξενώνα » και ένας από τους 5 «Εξαιρετικούς Βιώσιμους Ξενώνες » από τον κορυφαίο Online Travel Agent (OTA) που εστιάζει στην αγορά των ξενώνων, τον Hostelworld .
Εκπροσωπώντας την Ελλάδα, το Welcommon Hostel στέφθηκε ως ο πιο ΕΚΤΑΚΤΟΣ Ήρωας του Ξενώνα από μια επιτροπή ειδικών ταξιδιωτικών κριτών και με περισσότερες από 20.000 ψήφους από ταξιδιώτες ξενώνων σε όλο τον κόσμο. Από το 2016 έχουμε λάβει 11 διεθνή και ευρωπαϊκά βραβεία, βραβεία, διακρίσεις, ειδικές αναγνωρίσεις.
