Alkamenous 11b
10439 Athens
Greece
- Democracy and community development
Network for Children’s Rights (NCR) is a Greek non-profit association founded in 2004, with the aim of defending the rights of the child, as defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is run by the Board of Trustees and has an average staff number of 45 employees. It has received funding by UNHCR, UNICEF, the City of Athens, Attica Region, Ministry of Culture, European Commission, Save the Children, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Alstom Foundation, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Open Society Foundation, Latsis Foundation, BeMed, Intersos. It has partners in Greece (i.e IRC, SolidarityNow, EPAPSY, schools) and in Europe (Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Bulgaria, Romania, France). Network has a range of experience and expertise in refugee issues, child protection, non-formal education, training to professionals and support to children, youth and their families.
Its mission is the best interest of the child and the vision of a world where children will grow up healthy and happy, their opinion will be taken into account and their rights will be respected. Through its programs, it not only gives access to non-formal education programs to vulnerable children to acquire skills and access to the arts but also gives them a platform to express their opinion while through awareness and advocacy it aims to defend the rights of the child.
NCR is addressed to all children, regardless of ethnic origin, race, gender, religion and language, organizing and implementing specialized pedagogical programs, creative group activities and non-formal education activities in 4 places in the center of Athens [1.Cultural Lab-Children’s Library / Mobile Library, 2. Youth Center / Young Journalists, 3. Info Center-Support & Mobile Unit for Unaccompanied Minors, 4.Protection for All Minors (unaccompanied and separated minor refugees] At the same time, it runs awareness-raising campaigns and institutional interventions are being developed.
Its projects are recognized in European level as the holistic model in the context of implementing the European program FEAD (accompanying measures) has been included in the European Commission's list of good practices for this program. The Young Journalists' program with the printed and digital Newspaper “Migratory Birds” a journalism program that brings together girls and boys of 12-20 years of age, of different nationalities, recognized as one of the best integration practices and included in the edition of the Council of Europe ('Promoting child-friendly approaches in the area of migration: standards, guidance and current practice', 12/2019, p.92).
The work, professionalism and experience in the refugee filed and more specifically in the unaccompanied refugee minors is recognized as the organization was selected as a main partner in the National Tracing and Protection Mechanism for unaccompanied children in precarious conditions, from the Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and UNHCR, which has been implemented since January 2021. The Child Protection Unit (CPU) for has been active in Athens’ urban area since October 2017, founded by UNHCR.
NCR aligns with the activities of ALF and its network. Starting from the common goal- from empowering young people to promoting intercultural dialogue- NCR has a number of beneficiaries and specialized staff who could participate in the actions. Moreover, NCE can contribute with ideas and activities in Greece. NCR has the Youth Center, a free and safe space where young people participate in a number of activities- recreational, employability, music, arts, educational programs etc, phychosocial support- including the project Young Journalists/Migratory Birds. It is a project which gives voice to young people ( refugees, migrants and host population) with web only articles and a print issue.
NCR aligns with the activities of ALF and its network. NCR participates in all relevant networks, working groups, workshops and meetings, such as Eurochild, Network for the Rights of Children on the Move, Racist Violence Recording Network, Athens Coordination Committee for Migrants and Refugees (ACCMR), UNHCR working groups, Network of Greek Libraries; therefore we believe ALF Network is a network where we should participate in; meeting/collaborating organisations from all over the world. It is useful to participate in a network where you can exchange knowledge, have funding and training opportunities.