Establishment of a Center for the Integration of Migrants and Refugees in Ioannina

Summary

The Municipality of Ioannina recognizes the significant challenges faced by the 900 refugees residing in and around the city and commits to establish a Center for the Integration of Migrants and Refugees (CIMR) on the basis of the Joint Ministerial Decision No. D14/15834/237/08-04-2019. 

The Center will be the one-stop shop for informing, serving, and networking the refugee and migrant population of the municipality. It will offer specialized services to foster inclusion at local level, with emphasis on employment, education, health, protection and welfare, social security, and intercultural mediation / interpretation. 

The mission of the CIMR will be to: 

• Operate as an information hub for various municipal services.
• Foster partnerships between different stakeholders to ensure social inclusion services and programmes.
• Implement actions that promote social cohesion and access to the labor market, such as Greek language courses, and intercultural activities with an emphasis on social coexistence. 

The ultimate objective of the Center is to empower refugees and migrants so they can become self-reliant and contribute to their host communities.