What crisis?

The so-called European refugee crisis is not so much a crisis of migration as it is a crisis in reception policy. From the unlawful Rwanda policy, to push-backs in the Mediterranean, the goal of European reception policy is to deny asylum seekers access to their fundamental human rights and to the benefits of European society so as to deter others from seeking to enter Europe.

The Greek problem

In Greece, the latest example of this is the government’s choice to abruptly close its housing assistance programs in favour of camp-based solutions to accommodating the roughly 85,000 displaced people in the country. These camp-based solutions are flawed for myriad reasons: the standard of conditions inside falls short of those required by international law, and they are in effect prisons, located far from city centres, preventing their residents from accessing essential services and work opportunities. It is near impossible for residents to move forwards with their lives, and in effect are forced to choose between imprisonment if they stay and destitution if they leave.

Mazí housing is different

Mazí Housing helps people transition from camp-rooted limbo or street homelessness, to a place where they can support their own accommodation, and make real choices as they engage positively with society. Mazí supports deprioritised demographics, and here in Greece, that means young men who are travelling alone. Often perceived as strong and independent, while also expected to provide, these young men who face barriers to society become vulnerable to exploitation. At Mazí, residents have safe accommodation from where they are supported to address health problems, develop skills, find work and build independence. Find out more about our work here.

Help us stay in the race

Political and economic challenges have limited the funding opportunities available in this space. Alongside the end of state-sponsored programmes, we are seeing the closure of many grassroots organisations, making Mazí one of the few remaining actors offering these kinds of services. But we need your help to keep going. We are running the Marathon for the third year to raise the £20,000 it costs to run one apartment through 2024. And you’re invited to run too (with an individual fundraising target of £500)!

Challenge the narrative

Whether as a runner, or a donor, your contribution is vital to our continued support for young, hopeful men who are displaced in Athens. Joining this community helps us challenge the narrative that deprives young men of choice and forces them down destructive paths. Help us to remove the obstacles that keep these young men from fulfilling their potential, and creating positive lives for themselves and their communities.

To join our band of intrepid runners please complete our expression of interest form, and click start fundraising, or to donate click give now