AMAKA in partnership with Mercy Corps designed the program ART EMERGENCY, an art therapy program, an answer to the refugee crisis, which since August 2015, touched Greece, too.

Despite the various services which are being offered by the state and other bodies to refugees that end up in our country, they are lacking in psychological support to this vulnerable group, especially in younger age groups such as teenagers.

From this perspective, art, symbolic expression, new media and photography come to support young refugees throughout Greece and help them regain their stolen joy and self-confidence. The participants share a segment of their memories from their journey up to our country, express their dreams for the future and analyze through quality tools the surrounding conditions.

Since June 2016, the first model of the Art Therapy Workshops has been operating at the Filippiada camp and at the reception area at Moria, Mytilene, while throughout the summer months the program has been expanding to the camp at Tsepelovo, Ioannina, and to three camps in Attica: Ag. Andreas, Malakasa and Lavrio.

In January 2017 ART EMERGENCY expands in three different locations- Kos island, Leros island and Athens and it broadens its scope, always in collaboration with Mercy Corps. Apart from the cycle of workshops for young refugees, AMAKA will offer an intensive three-day workshop for professional in the field, who work with young refugees. A selection of 4-5 participants will then function as assistants to the AMAKA facilitators in the workshops in Kos, Leros and Athens. More info here.

After weekly meetings with special educators, therapists and artists, the program aims to help these young refugees be integrated into Greek society in an organic way -for as long as they stay in our country- and create social support and community assistance networks.

Its main objective is to continue and extend the effort to even more camps and wherever else there might be a need for them. As a new pilot program ART EMERGENCY is open to ideas and collaborations with individuals, institutions, volunteers and mainly with the local communities where the camps are based.

The open and innovative character of the program promises many more actions open to the public, such as exhibitions, talks, workshops etc.

The first Online Story Map for the first art exhibition by ART EMERGENCY participants in Filippiada, will be shortly posted on the AMAKA website.

The NGO AMAKA regularly organizes training seminars on Art Therapy for professionals of this field and non-professionals.