The project aims to prevent and respond to domestic and sexual violence on Lesvos by improving women’s access to safe support. It combines psychosocial care and women’s empowerment with training for frontline professionals and awareness raising in the local community. The intervention responds to challenges specific to island communities, where geographical isolation, language barriers and fear of stigma can make seeking help more difficult.
Target groups:
Women who have experienced or are at risk of domestic and sexual violence, particularly refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and local women facing multiple vulnerabilities. Additional target groups include frontline professionals and volunteers who may encounter cases of violence, and local community members who can act as active bystanders.
Core activities:
- Train 30 frontline professionals through 3 webinars on early identification of violence, safe responses to disclosures and referral to appropriate services.
- Provide group psychosocial support and empowerment for 50 women through 5 cycles of 10 participants. Each cycle includes 3 weekly two-hour sessions addressing safety, rights and psychological resilience.
- Deliver 3 three-hour safe bystander intervention workshops, targeting a total of 60 community members and strengthening their ability to recognise violence and provide safe support.
- Organise a study visit to Porto for 4 project representatives and exchange expertise with Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto, transferring learning to Lesvos and developing a good practice guide.
- Hold 2 events, at project launch and completion, targeting 40 attendances in total, to inform local stakeholders and present results.
- Carry out 20 online communication activities promoting violence prevention and available pathways to support.