About
Emfasis Foundation

Ideology

Who We Are

Emfasis Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2013. Its programs support the homeless, the chronically unemployed, families below the poverty line, socially vulnerable young people, and socially excluded seniors at risk of imminent homelessness or in a street situation.

As part of Emfasis’ Streetwork methodology, our trained network of permanent teams and volunteers work daily on the streets of Attica, providing survival necessities and personalized psychosocial support. We remain firmly independent of state or European programs, relying solely on corporate contributions and private donations.

* Street situation: Wherein individuals spend most of their day on the street due to a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: precarious living conditions, lack of permanent work, temporary housing, anonymity due to debt and shame, lack of a supportive environment, significant changes in family status, lack of a home, and other reasons that vary from person to person.

Principles

Emfasis supports every person on the street and is committed to:

  • Abiding by non-discriminatory practices
  • Demonstrating respect through discretion and confidentiality
  • Remaining continuously adaptive in order to respond appropriately to the unforeseen conditions of the “street”
  • Acting quickly and effectively, circumventing bureaucratic procedures

Streetwork is an internationally recognized social support methodology. It prioritizes the empowerment and protection of vulnerable social groups without a permanent house, strengthening their ability to protect themselves.

Social Streetwork focuses on street-dwelling populations facing adverse living conditions and multiple forms of exclusion.

Emfasis Foundation’s Social Streetworkers often serve as the sole communication channel between community networks and these excluded groups, as they are the ones who, daily with their presence, demonstrate genuine interest and, through their active listening, record the needs of the people they reach.

Social Streetworkers approach marginalized social groups with tolerance and without prejudice, and they seek to give beneficiaries the primary role in developing the relationship built on the principles of trust and encouragement. In practice, this means the beneficiaries decide the “what, how and when”.

Through our support and guidance, we hope to empower the beneficiaries to their access to basic human rights to housing, work and care, the restoration of their dignity and self-confidence, and by improving their overall quality of life.

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Volunteering hours
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People supported anually
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Direct beneficials
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Relief programs
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Shifts of mobile support units

Street social workers can give people in difficulty the power to shape their lives again and move towards a better quality of life, using the values of justice, human dignity and solidarity.

Jean-Marc Delizee,State Secretary for the fight against poverty, Brussels

Our Team

Emfasis Foundation's team is comprised of psychologists, social workers, sociologists, mental health consultants, streetworkers, as well as legal, communications and management professionals. With their experience and expertise, they make the work of Emfasis Foundation possible.

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MARIA KARRA

Founder

APOSTOLOS VAFEAS

Founding Member

KATERINA M.

Administration

MARIA N.

Sociologist

SOFIA S.

Social Worker

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JOANNA P.

Relief Desk

ALEXANDRA P.

Fundraising

Efraimia Mihou

EFRAIMIA M.

Team Leader

GEORGE CH.

Streetworker - Programme Coordinator

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CHRISTINA M.

Streetworker

KON/NOS K.

Fundraising

VAGGELIS L.

Streetworker - MSU Driver

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PANAGIOTIS M.

Streetworker-MSU Driver

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ALEX H.

Streetworker

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ERIK H.

Streetworker

Volunteers

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MARILENA M.

Volunteer

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ANASTASIA G.

Volunteer​

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VASILIS M.

Volunteer​

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GEORGE L.

Volunteer​

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PASCHALIS S.

Volunteer​

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SOFOKLIS T.

Volunteer​

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DESPOINA CH.

Volunteer​

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ALEXANROS N.

Volunteer​

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DIMITRIS K.

Volunteer​

ANASTASIA A.

Volunteer​

AGGELIKI K.

Volunteer​

CLIO T.

Volunteer​

IRO K.

Volunteer​

VASILIS F.

Volunteer​

DESPINA K.

Volunteer​

CHRISA P.

Volunteer​

VALENTINI D.

Volunteer​

AGGELINA M.

Volunteer​

STEFANOS K.

Volunteer​

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CHRYSSA K.

Volunteer​

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KATERINA M.

Volunteer​

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MARA D.

Volunteer​

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FRANCESCO S.

Volunteer​

Valuable Partners

ATHINA S.

Graphic Design

STAMATIS M.

Pickups

VASILIS B.

Video & Film

VASILIS P.

Accounting

SOLONAS M.

Photography

AKIS K.

Graphic Design