Our Program in Greece OMID started to support marginalized young women in Greece in early 2020, with a focus on Farsi speaking women refugees in Athens and the island of Lesbos. As a first step, it has now a registered OMID charity in Greece. THE CONTEXT IN GREECE Assuming the EU-Turkey Statement continues to be implemented, UNHCR believes that in 2020 the number of asylum applications Greece receives will continue at a steady pace – both from refugees and migrants entering the country via the islands and on land, with some 50,000 refugees and asylum-seekers expected to remain in the country by the end of 2020. According to the UNHCR, the ethnic and linguistic composition of this community in Greece is approx. 47% Farsi speaking, 27% Arabic speaking, and 26% Other. The situation is Lesbos is particularly dire. In the Moria camp which was built to house 3,000 refugees but now is home to over 14,000, the daily reality for hundreds of women and children there is violence, food shortages, lack of basic sanitation, sexual and physical violence, overcrowded camps, endless lines for food and medical attention, and that’s just a start. The camp is particularly exposed to the Covid 19 virus. Social distancing is not logistically possible and with one water tap for every 1,500 refugees, and soap being a luxury that many refugees only dream of, the risk of a deadly spread of the virus is imminent. The governmental and quasi-governmental bodies that are handling asylum applications are materially understaffed, the asylum procedures are lengthy (e.g. arrivals in December 2019 have been given interview dates for 2021 or 2022) as a result of which the transition time between the arrival time of a refugee in Greece and the final determination of her status normally takes several years. This means that many of their needs are not short term. The local authorities and the United Nations struggle to even provide for the basic needs of shelter, food, and medical services of the refugees. Incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, is very prevalent, without there being the necessary infrastructure for dealing with it. With overfilled reception centres and many unlit areas around them, risks are prevalent, especially for single women as well as unaccompanied minors. The same problems exist in the urban centres, the risk of abuse and exploitation is equally challenging. THE OMID APPROACH IN GREECE OMID’s approach in Greece is holistic and trauma informed, because it believes the operations which are not holistic or lack trauma- sensitivity run the risks of: Ignoring the interrelated connections between the various problems that clients face; labelling and pathologizing clients; disempowering and devaluing clients; mis-using or over-using displays of power. As a trauma- informed organization OMID is committed to compassionate and effective practices and organizational reassessments and adapts itself to meet the needs of clients with histories of trauma. All clinicians, educators, the management, and the entire staff therefore are educated and trained on an ongoing basis in trauma-informed practice and care, and how to deliver it. Trauma-informed care is a culturally and linguistically responsive approach to engaging individuals with histories of trauma. It is grounded in, and directed by, a thorough understanding of the neurological, biological, psychological, and social effects of trauma and the prevalence of these experiences in persons who seek and receive mental health and educational services. It takes into account knowledge about trauma, its impact, interpersonal dynamic, and paths to recovery, and incorporates this knowledge into all aspects of service delivery. It is an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves understanding and recognizing all kinds of trauma, so as to be able to identify trauma exposure, whatever its source. Trauma-informed care then uses evidence-based, trauma-specific services and treatments for recovery pathways, and recognizes that traditional service approaches can re-traumatize clients and family members. THE CORNERSTONES OF OMID’S PROGRAM IN GREECE Legal assistance: Providing core legal services to manage and advance the refugee status of our clients. Shelter: Providing “at risk” clients with safe housing and basic subsistence. Therapeutic intervention: Providing client with individual and group therapy in order for them to overcome the traumas of their past. Education: Providing education programs like English language, IT, and Gender Empowerment for clients, both face to face and online. Trauma informed training: Providing training programs on trauma informed care for the staff of other NGOs in Greece in order to improve their effectiveness in dealing with their traumatized clients.