Τhe job fair on Chios island was held on 18 May 2023 © UNHCR/Angelina Tsoukala
In a collective effort to connect refugees with local employment opportunities, four job fairs were successfully organized on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Kos during April and May 2023. The initiative, organized by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with the Reception and Identification Service of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, and with the valuable support of more than 15 organizations active on the islands, brought together 535 refugees and asylum-seekers and 67 local businesses.
Employers from various sectors, including agriculture, tourism, restaurants, construction, recycling, and non-profit, enthusiastically participated with a view to identify skilled and diverse personnel. On the other hand, refugees had the opportunity to explore the employment market in Greece and how finding a job works in practice, in an environment that facilitated respectful interactions and the building of networks. “Such kind of initiatives go a long way towards reshaping how our community views refugees while also giving us the opportunity to enrich our workforce”, said one of the employers who participated in the job fairs.
Many success stories emerged from these events, as refugees found employment opportunities that matched their skills and interests. “My dream is to stay in Greece and eventually manage to enrol in university. I hope that the job I found today will be the fresh start I have been longing for”, said K., a young woman from Sierra Leone, who was offered a job in a hotel in Lesvos.
Τhe job fair on Samos island was held on 3 May © UNHCR
Τhe job fair on Kos island was held on 7 April 2023 © UNHCR/Athanasios Stamos
Τhe third job fair on Lesvos island was held on 4 May 2023 © UNHCR/Angelina Tsoukala
The organization of job fairs is part of UNHCR efforts to support refugee integration, so that they can have access to livelihoods, become self-reliant and contribute to their new communities. “Refugees have a lot to offer and can be valuable assets to the workforce in Greece.”, said Reyhaneh Shakibaie, Head of UNHCR Sub-Office on Lesvos. “These job fairs provide an opportunity for local employers to discover people’s rich skills set and culture. It was very encouraging to see smiles of hope on the faces of refugees, who just want to rebuild their life in dignity. UNHCR is very pleased to facilitate refugee access to the future they desire”, she added.
Prior to the job fairs, UNHCR, with the help of partners, facilitated multiple sessions to assist refugees create their own CV, prepare them on job interviews and inform them on employment rights and obligations. While refugees, including those who were not able to find immediate employment, consider their next steps, these resources and knowledge will be valuable for their future endeavours.
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