The celebration of the birthday, especially of a child, is very important for its smooth personal and social development. Many children of refugee origin who are hosted with their mothers at the “A Step Forward” Open Accommodation Center have never had the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays. So the team, with the help of their mothers and their children, organized parties to celebrate the children’s birthdays, with songs, cakes and lots of dancing.
Mary’s surprise party!
Mary is a 6 year old girl, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and now living in Greece. A few days before her birthday, Mary’s mother confided to the program’s psychologist that she would like to celebrate her daughter’s birthday, but she did not know how. So the AsF team took action! Buying the ingredients, the mother made Mary’s favorite cake, which she distributed to all the beneficiaries and children of the hostel, and also helped decorate the place, blowing up balloons and hanging garlands! Just before Mary returned from school, the staff and beneficiaries of the hostel hid to surprise her. Facing all the children and mothers greeting her with good wishes, Mary felt a deep emotion and joy that she wanted to share with everyone. Even when it was time to blow out the candles on her cake, she asked her dear friend to do it together. The rest was full of dancing and fun.
Involving mothers in celebrating their children’s birthdays helps them to integrate into the group and enhances their own and their children’s social skills. Through the group celebrations organised by the action group, women and children are able to interact with each other and connect on a more personal level.
The project “A step Forward” is implemented in the framework of the “Asylum and Migration” programme, implemented by Médecins du Monde. The “Asylum and Migration” programme, worth €16.5 million, is funded by the European Economic Area (EEA Grants) 2014 – 2021. The programme aspires to help ensure legal protection, support and care for the most vulnerable asylum seekers, with a focus on unaccompanied children. Fund operator for the Asylum and Migration Programme in Greece is SOL Crowe in partnership with HumanRights360. More information: https://www.asylumandmigration-eeagrants.gr
