*UPDATE* We are thrilled to announce the arrival of 160 refugees to Elpída Home in Thessaloniki Greece. An enormous thank you to everyone who helped make this project happen.
In partnership with the Greek Ministry of Migration, the Radcliffe Foundation is working with on-the-ground partners to open the Elpída Center to house refugees in northern Greece. Frank Giustra, Canadian philanthropist, businessman and founder of the Radcliffe Foundation, along with American philanthropist Amed Khan, finalized the paperwork to provide housing for 800 refugees – many of them women and children.
This pilot project, which is rehabilitating an abandoned clothing factory 20 minutes north of Thessaloniki, envisions an official camp designed with a humane approach, bringing together lessons learned and best practices from groups currently working in refugee camps in Greece. Collaboration with the refugees themselves runs throughout the process, giving them a say in their own welfare.
“We have spent time with our team asking what the refugees themselves want,” said project manager Mike Zuckerman. “We want to include them as much as possible in the process.” The refuge will consist of 140 units, which will house no more than six people each.
READ THE ELPIDA PROJECT PRESS RELEASE
Learn About the Project's Progress: WATCH "THE ELPIDA HOME FOR REFUGEES" FILM
Frank Giustra & Amed Khan talk about The Elpída Project: the first of its kind, raising the level of living conditions for refugees.
WATCH "THE ELPIDA PROJECT"...
Frank Giustra, President & Founder of The Radcliffe Foundation, visits the Elpída Factory in Thessaloniki, Greece.
WATCH "THE HOPE FACTORY"...
Project Manager Mike Zuckerman discusses the Radcliffe Foundation's strategy to rehabilitate Greece's abandoned infrastructure to aid in solving both the Economic Crisis and the Refugee Crisis at the same time.
WATCH THE "FACTORY RENOVATIONS"...
Time lapse video of renovations that occurred in an abandoned Elpída clothing factory.
