Irida: Safe space for 650 women at risk in Greece

While her 34th birthday approaches, Athina has a birthday wish which seems simple yet profound: to find a home that allows pets.“Because I have two cats and a dog,” she says with a smile.

It is a small sentence that carries deep meaning. Only a year and a half ago, Athina was living in extreme poverty and homelessness, without any network of support. Now, the fact that she can proudly say, "I can sustain myself, pay my rent, and take care of 3 pets while being in a position to afford a move",  is an extraordinary achievement of strength and resilience.

Athina's story is unique, but sadly, it is not the only one. Today, nearly 3 million people in Greece live at risk of poverty and social exclusion, and more than 1 in 4 women face extreme socio-economic vulnerabilities. In parallel, unemployment affects women disproportionately. Greece holds the lowest employment rate for women in the European Union, and 64% of the total registered unemployed population are women. The situation becomes even more complex for women with lower professional qualifications who face additional barriers to their efforts to access the labor market. Having almost a decade of field experience, we have witnessed how women with limited professional skills struggle to access jobs that provide a steady income and a dignified livelihood. 

Amid these harsh realities, we implement our Livelihoods Program that has a clear goal: to promote dignified living through stable income for vulnerable women via tangible opportunities for change. 

Athina started to attend our skill-building opportunities a few months after entering the Housing and Employment Program, a national program providing housing and reintegration support for people in homelessness. She intended to finally obtain the Certificate of Competency in English she had dreamed of since childhood, but never had the chance to pursue.  

“I was very anxious about the exams,” she recalls. “While attending classes, I was working long hours and irregular shifts. My teacher, Claire, was incredibly supportive. She sent me extra materials and encouraged me every step of the way. On the day of the exam, I had to go to work in the morning and take the oral test right after. I was sure I hadn’t done well. But when I received the results, I couldn’t believe it! I passed the oral part with a perfect 100% and even got a congratulatory letter from the University of Michigan.”

Beyond language and vocational training,  we focus on developing transferable workplace soft skills, abilities that strengthen confidence, communication, and employability. Through individual and group career counseling sessions, Athina learned to write her CV, prepare for interviews, handle difficult questions, and, most importantly, recognize her own worth.

“I learned about my rights as a worker and how to stand up for myself,” she says. 

Today, Athina’s life looks very different.
“It’s not that everything is easy,” she reflects, “but I’m not the same person anymore. I’ve changed and so has the way I see myself. I have a job, a home, and my pets. For now, I’m fine,” she smiles. “But my dream is bigger. I want to learn more languages, get my driver’s license, and one day open my own small business making knitted and embroidered crafts. It’s my passion and my way of expressing myself.”

For Athina,  this was more than a livelihood program. It was, as she says,  “a bridge to opportunity and self-confidence.” And it was even more meaningful because it came from Irida, “a place that stood by me through the hardest moments of my life, with understanding, trust, and safety.”

Her journey is more than a personal success. It is a reminder that behind every statistic, there is a woman with dreams to pursue.

That is the true impact of our work; it has meaningfully transformed the lives of socially and economically vulnerable women in Thessaloniki, offering them the chance to rebuild their lives, find hope, and believe in themselves again.

• Annual Report 2024 (PDF)
  

Dear Friends and Supporters, 

As we reach the halfway point of 2025, we’re excited to share powerful updates from Irida Women’s Center. The first six months of the year have been marked by inspiring new beginnings and meaningful developments, and the continued implementation of critical projects that protect, empower, and support the most socially and economically vulnerable women in Northern Greece.

• Continuing the Art Healing Journey: Empowering Refugee Women through Creativity and Community
  In the first half of 2025, we proudly continue the implementation of Art Healing: Empowering Refugee Women through Creativity and Community, supported by the Alta Mane Foundation. Harnessing the power of art, peer support, and community connection, the project addresses the psychosocial needs of refugee and migrant women through creative expression and collective healing. So far, more than 70 women from 19 different countries have participated in our sessions, using art as a tool to process emotions, foster resilience, and build meaningful social bonds. Together, we are cultivating a sustainable model for empowerment, well-being, and integration via multiple forms of art.

• The SheChange Project and #SheChangeSpeak Campaign
  Our commitment to combating gender-based violence remains among our priorities through the SheChange project and its ongoing campaign, #SheChangeSpeak. In the first half of 2025, we have continued to support an increasing number of women who are survivors or at risk of gender-based violence, providing them with the protection, legal assistance, and court representation, psychological and psychosocial support based on their needs.
  At the same time, we are actively expanding our local network of safe spaces by engaging 50 local businesses across Thessaloniki. This growing network plays a vital role in fostering a safer and more supportive environment for women in public spaces. We have already completed the first round of training with five businesses, equipping them to respond with empathy, awareness, and action when encountering women in distress. Together, we are building a world where no woman is left behind.

• Expanding and Piloting New Cycles in the Livelihoods Department
  In the first half of 2025, we successfully launched and piloted a new cyclical model in the Livelihoods Department, combining intensive language classes, 1:1 employability counseling, and vocational training into closed-group cycles tailored to women’s employability needs. 

  The first “mini-pilot” included two targeted vocational training programs implemented in partnership with Datalabs, a certified by the Greek State VET actor:

  • BREW Cycle (Barista Training – Ukrainian Community):
    Five Ukrainian women completed the Barista vocational training at Datalabs. Four out of five completed the entire Irida cycle, which included four 1:1 employability sessions and two Job Readiness Trainings (JRTs). Employment outcomes include:

    • 1 woman secured a job in the tourism sector in Halkidiki

    • 1 woman was referred for an interview with Paradosiako café (CV submitted)

    • 2 women were already employed and continue to work

    • 100% completed the vocational training, 80% completed the full program, and 20% were employed in the relevant sector
      We also formalized a new employer partnership with Paradosiako, opening additional employment pathways for participants.

  • Office Employee Training (Greek-speaking beneficiaries):
    Seven Greek-speaking women began their vocational training for “Office Employee” at Datalabs. Participants have started their employability sessions with Irini, and the first group Job Readiness Training was held in early June.

  • RISE Cycle (Kitchen Assistant – Arabic-speaking beneficiaries):
    The RISE cycle, our first full pilot of the new integrated model, officially began in June. Seven Arabic-speaking women were selected and are currently participating in intensive Greek language classes, employability counseling, and vocational training to become Kitchen Assistants.

As we move forward into the second half of 2025, we remain deeply committed to fostering resilience, empowerment, and solidarity for all women we serve.

Thank you for standing with us and making our mission possible.
Together, we are creating lasting change for women in Thessaloniki and beyond.

With gratitude,
Lydia Siapardani

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Links:

• #SheChangeSpeak Campaign