A chocolate unites us!

Undoubtedly, language is a key component of communication, while for refugees and immigrants it constitutes a key element of integration into the host society.

In this context, the Hellenic Open University - DAISSy Research Group and Olympic Training and Consulting Ltd organized on November 1, 2018, the action "A chocolate unites us!" within the framework of EU project WEMIN: Migrant Women Empowerment and Integration. The two organisations offered chocolates to women in a neighborhood at the center of Athens (Greece) with a high density of migrants and refugees, asking them to pronounce the word "chocolate" in their mother tongue. The action was successful and some of the Migrant and Refugee Women chose to offer themselves chocolates to other women. The initial hesitation of women evolved into a smile and finally into action, offering a chocolate and asking other women to write on it the word "chocolate" in their mother tongue.

The action "A chocolate to unite us!" gave the opportunity to MRW as well as native women in Athens to get informed about WEMIN, with the ultimate goal of actively participating in its actions that have started during this autumn. This action was organized in eight European cities in the WEMIN partner countries, aiming at maximizing the awareness of stakeholders and citizens.

As a result of the action, audiovisual material has been produced with the permission of the participants, in order to promote respect for diversity and equality.

The organizers wish to deeply thank the Municipality of Athens and NGOs METAdrasi and Melissa for cooperating in the preparation the action.

The WEMIN project is funded by the European Union's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF-2016-AG-INTE / grant agreement no.776211), and it includes partners from eight EU Member States (Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Germany and Sweden). The project is co-ordinated by DAISSy Research Team of Hellenic Open University (HOU). The WEMIN actions in Greece are being implemented in Athens in collaboration with project partner Olympic Training & Consulting Ltd.

You can be informed about WEMIN implementation, by visiting www.wemin-project.eu

For further information, please contact info@daissy.eap.gr and olykek@olympiakokek.gr