Athens, Greece - Pathways Center
OVERVIEW
OUR COMMUNITY
Central Athens is an area of diverse needs in a densely populated part of Athens, Greece. Because of its proximity to the Acropolis, it is a thriving tourist spot while also being home to about 70,000 native Greeks and immigrants. Before the pandemic, the weak economy and high immigration numbers contributed to a general feeling of anxiety among not only marginalized people groups in Athens, but local Greeks. The lack of viable employment options throughout the country also led to a sense of hopelessness among the youth of the nation and often teens and young adults still struggle to find purpose and a way of meaningfully contributing to society, leading to aimlessness at best and exploitation at worst. In addition, our community sees high levels of alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, and depression and few public resources to address mental health needs.
Post-pandemic the lack of mental health resources plays an even more destructive role in keeping people in our community from taking advantage of a reviving economy and emerging educational opportunities. This in turn has created even wider gaps in empowerment and access to public resources that could enable steps toward personal and family stability.
In addition to that, Greece is geographically situated to solidify its place as a host to many different people movement patterns. Whether it be well-publicized refugee movements or the more invisible human trafficking crisis, locals and NGOs alike are faced with growing numbers of marginalized people who have experienced significant trauma, but few in the city are equipped in trauma-sensitive practices and often this leads to decreased availability of vital community health resources for locals coupled with an ill-equipped mental health system overwhelmed by the traumatic needs of marginalized people groups in our community.
OUR WORK
In Central Athens, we seek to partner with local believers and churches, businesses, organizations, and schools in the area to see our community transformed by the power of Christ. Not only do we want to address visible and immediate needs of food and clothing, but in the process we want to address the hidden psychological and spiritual needs of our community. Whether living on a park bench or safely in an apartment, we all need connection. Restoring the God-given dignity and humanity of a person is in some cases even more important than providing a hot meal.
Our key partner in Athens is known as Veemata Mazi, which is dedicated to walking alongside those who have experienced trauma, abuse or displacement by providing support services that holistically address the needs of survivors. Veemata Mazi provides services tailored to those wounded by displacement, exploitation, or abuse as well as to helpers who seek to walk alongside those who have been wounded.
Learn more about our work at www.veematamazi.org
INVESTMENT SUMMARY:
Our initial investment alongside Veemata Mazi involves leasing and equipping a space to continue a thriving and growing trauma care center known as the Pathways Center in Central Athens. Pathways strategically brings together the international community to train for, care for, and bring attention to the urgent needs of those who are wounded in our community. We will continue to invest alongside the trauma center as they increase their income from both local services and international grants.
Key Metrics for Growth and Impact:
The Pathways Center will provide care to over 150 people on a weekly basis whom have been displaced and/or experienced significant trauma.
Invested capital will recycle across a 6-year timeframe.
Serves as a central, shared space for entrepreneurial training, workshops, art and community development.
Allows for the mobilization of new One Collective workers to the community
Engages international partners and opens the doors for grants and significant other income sources.
Will provide much-needed training for other trauma-care workers in Greece
