The Ivorian community in Greece takes care of African refugees.
The Greek territory is often a stopover on the path of migrants fleeing their difficult living conditions on the African continent. Whether they are passing through or whether they finally decide to stay in Greece, the Ivorian Community of Greece is at their service to help them in their daily lives. The association has redoubled its efforts in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owing to the major role played by African diaspora organisations and individuals in the African continent’s development, ADEPT, the Africa-Europe Diaspora Development Platform, is keen to highlight initiatives of the African diaspora based in the EU but also in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Norway. ADEPT works towards achieving a main goal: improving and strengthening the capacity and impact of African diaspora organizations involved in Africa’s development activities. It was therefore only natural to give the Ivorian Community of Greece the visibility it deserves.
The Ivorian community in Greece: an unconditional help to migrants.
The Ivorian Community of Greece (Ιβοριανή Κοινότητα Ελλάδας) is a community organization that was created by Moussa Sangare, an Ivorian entrepreneur and activist. He is the president of the Ivorian Community of Greece, and is also the vice-president of the Greek Refugee Forum. He is also a board member of PICUM (The Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants).
The Ivorian community of Greece has been registered in Greece since 2018.
Its aim is to put in place action plans in favour of migrants to enable them to help each other, to better integrate, to work for a good Ivorian-Greek coalition, to exchange ideas, etc. Beyond these general principles, the association also works to help them find work, as well as to guarantee their education by setting up French and Greek language courses.
The group consists of approximately 5 to 10 full-time volunteers. It is constantly looking for new volunteers to organise sports activities, provide support to refugees, empowerment of women. But also, to set up guards, fundraising, human rights work, etc.
A Facebook group was created in March 2018 for all Ivorians living in Greece, or planning to move or settle there. The purpose of this group is to bring them together, encourage them to live together, share news of Ivorians on Greek territory, inform them, create solidarity etc.
This community is a group of people united by strong common values: passions, ways of life, experiences, principles etc.
“Solidarity for All” a movement that came naturally with the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic spared no one and the Ivorian Community of Greece immediately mobilized to further increase its aid to these particularly vulnerable refugee populations. Its activities under the “Solidarity for All” programme are as follows:
- Inform the community, including Facebook alerts and messages to the medical community,
- Organizing weekly video calls with a member of the community to understand the effects of the pandemic: loss of work, food needs, need for permission to go out, etc.
- Fundraising to provide Ivorians and other communities (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Burundi, etc.) with vouchers and food.
To know the actions or help the Ivorian Community of Greece:
- WhatsApp, Viber, Imo: 00306946500347
- Instagram: Communauté Ivoirienne de Grèce
- YouTube: Communauté Ivoirienne de Grèce
- Email: ivoiro.grec@gmail.com
