Context
The City of Karditsa has hosted refugees and asylum seekers since 2017. There is a great demand for labour in the wider region of Thessaly, whose economy is mainly based on the agricultural and livestock sector. Asylum seekers and recognised refugees benefit from employment opportunities in these sectors in Karditsa.
Description
Through its development agency ANKA, the Municipality of Karditsa identified employment opportunities and developed initiatives that promote refugee employment in the agricultural developed sector. More specifically, local agricultural cooperatives and local farmers were approached and informed. At the same time, selected refugees were offered information sessions, followed by individual consultations with the assistance of interpreters. During COVID-19, information and consultation sessions continued through teleconferencing.
Impact
At the Intercultural Centre “Stavrodromi”, beneficiaries can access basic public services and are encouraged to attend Greek lessons. Every year since 2017, twenty-five-fifty people have been employed to harvest peppers and other vegetables.
