DUAL ONLINE CENTER
Bank of Good Practices in Social Inclusion through WBL
HELIOS – Integration Support for Beneficiaries of International Protection in Greece
Overview
The HELIOS project was created by IOM Greece to address the integration challenges faced by refugees and beneficiaries of international protection in Greece. It offered support in housing, language, cultural orientation, and especially employability through job-readiness training and WBL opportunities. It supported long-term inclusion by building both personal and professional capacities.
Objectives
The main goal was to facilitate integration and autonomy of refugees in Greece by offering pathways to employment and community engagement. The employability component helped underrepresented groups (particularly those facing language and documentation barriers) prepare for and access WBL, internships, and jobs. It reduced barriers by including career counseling, legal assistance, and employer matching.
Implementation
The HELIOS program combined integration classes (Greek language, cultural orientation) with employability modules. Participants developed Individual Integration Plans, received job counseling, and were matched with WBL opportunities in collaboration with local employers. IOM provided housing support, ongoing mentoring, and employer sensitization on inclusion.
Innovative features
Mentoring, Career Counseling, Matching with Employers, Cultural Mediation, Language Support, Employer Sensitization
Measured outcomes
Thousands of participants completed integration courses; hundreds placed in jobs and internships; increased language and digital skills; improved housing independence.
Challenges and lessons learned
Challenges included legal documentation delays, language barriers, and employer hesitation. These were addressed through IOM’s integrated support services, multilingual staff, and continuous stakeholder engagement and sensitization.
- CountryGreece
- SectorConstruction Hospitality and tourism Management Services Social inclusion
- Target groupMigrants, refugees and asylum seekers
Leading organisation
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Greece
Date
2019, 2023
Key stakeholders
• VET providers and training centers
• NGOs and social organizations: IOM Greece
• Government agencies and policymakers: Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Municipalities, Social Services
• Employers and business networks
• NGOs and social organizations: IOM Greece
• Government agencies and policymakers: Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Municipalities, Social Services
• Employers and business networks
Number of beneficiaries
Over 35,000 refugees (based on IOM reporting from 2019–2023)
