Melissa: Diktyo Metanastrion Stin Ellada

Founded in 2014, Melissa is a network of migrant and refugee women living in Greece. The organization strives to address the double marginalization that migrant and refugee women face—both as displaced persons in Greek society and as women in their own and Greek communities—and equip them to act as agents of change. Central to Melissa’s approach is its focus on supporting the leadership of and community building among refugee and migrant women so that they can play an active role in shaping their individual and collective futures.

Melissa’s community center in Athens provides members with a holistic integration program, which seeks to address the various needs of refugee and migrant women as they integrate into Greek society. The center provides language and literacy education, psychosocial support, media and advocacy support, as well as skills and capacity building. It also provides a physical space where refugee and migrant women can convene, organize, and strategize with their communities toward shared goals to advance social change.

Since the center opened, more than 2,900 refugee and migrant women and children from places including Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Kenya, Congo, and Cameroon have participated in its program.