UNHCR and Piraeus Bank launch the Academy for Refugee Women

UNHCR Greece and Piraeus Bank are pleased to announce the official launch of the Academy for Refugee Women, a leading programme that aims to enhance skills and opportunities for refugee women through vocational training. 

According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 20 April 2023, UNHCR and Piraeus Bank join forces to implement this innovative initiative, which aims to provide specialised training and skills development opportunities to refugee women in Greece. The programme facilitates access to decent and sustainable employment in the thriving tourism sector. Furthermore, it will be a valuable tool for similar initiatives by other stakeholders in the future, through the creation of a handbook with information, practical advice and lessons learned. 

Taking into account the specific challenges faced by refugee women, who often face barriers to education and employment opportunities, the Academy for Refugee Women aims to support these women by equipping them with the appropriate skills and knowledge to become self-reliant and contribute to their host communities. 

The Academy’s training programme, which has been developed in collaboration with Odyssea, covers a range of tourism-related topics such as hospitality services, customer service and language learning. Participants will benefit from practical training, professional mentoring and networking opportunities, thereby gaining a comprehensive approach to their professional development. 
 
The CEO of Piraeus Bank, Christos Megalou, stated: 

“The cooperation with UNHCR in Greece is a great honour for Piraeus Bank and an important chapter in the Bank’s Corporate Responsibility activities, adding particular value to the EQUALL programme for a society of equal people. 

This cooperation is already bearing fruit with the launch of the Academy for Refugee Women, aiming to strengthen the culture of inclusion and equal access to employment, especially in sectors where there is a strong demand for skilled labour. 

At Piraeus Bank, alongside our business activities, we consider it our duty to return part of the value we create by implementing actions that serve the needs of society and our vision for a future of sustainable development with prospects and prosperity for all.” 

The Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Greece, Miss Maria Clara Martin, notes: “The launch of the Academy for Refugee Women represents an important step in the efforts to promote economic self-sufficiency and integration of refugee women in Greece. Harnessing the potential of the tourism sector, this programme aims to change their lives, enhance their participation in the Greek labour market and actively contribute to the local economy.” 

For more information about the vocational training programme of the Academy for Refugee Women, implemented by Odyssea, please visit the relevant website. 

 
About UNHCR 
UNHCR is a global organisation with a mission to save lives, protect rights and ensure a better future for people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. UNHCR has been present in Greece since 1952, trying to ensure the protection and integration of refugees and asylum seekers in the country. In this context, UNHCR in Greece has developed initiatives and tools to link refugees to the labour market, implement training, education and livelihood programmes, focus on awareness-raising activities and work with Greek authorities, civil society actors, municipalities, the private sector, local communities and refugee communities to promote inclusion policies at local and national level, so that refugees can prosper and contribute to their new home country.

Athens, July 24th, 2023