Description
The Municipality of Livadeia, in 2018, was distinguished for its hospitality, solidarity and respect for diversity, with the gold award at the “Best City Awards 2018” in the category “Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility”.
It is the first (non-metropolitan) municipality in Greece, to successfully manage the refugee accommodation program in ‘ESTIA’ apartments and to serve as a model for other cities.
The program was recognized as a good practice nationwide and at European level, establishing a more active role for local governments in refugee management.
The program was implemented by the Public Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Livadeia (KEDIL) with a specialized staff of 32 people.
Impact
The Program in support of the local community with significant qualitative and quantitative benefits:
- Strengthening the social policy of the municipality: Upgrading social structures for vulnerable groups of citizens & Creation of new ones.
- Activation of citizens in matters of volunteering, offering and protection of vulnerable groups.
- Cultivation of cultural coexistence and diversity.
- Channeling more than 4,000,000 euros (2016-2019) in the local market.
- Promoting gender equality by taking into account the local context and ensuring the participation of women in activities in the city.
* The Municipality of Livadeia continues to implement the ESTIA program (ESTIA II and currently ESTIA 2021), which from September 2020 is implemented by the Ministry of Migration & Asylum in cooperation with its partners.
