In April of 2004 we created in Thessaloniki the Social Center of Immigrants, having in our mind to make it a host to solidarity actions for immigrants, to different political movements and resistances. After five years of action, we took the initiative of creating a new Immigrant’s Place which will be more participatory, open, rich.
We think of the Social Center as a space of active solidarity against the exploitation of the market, the oppression of authorities, racism, sexism and the individualization of consumption. We want it to function on the basis of everyone’s equal participation, volunteering and self-organizing, beyond the logic of profit, dependence and sponsoring. Starting from this point we are open to anything. Besides, our target is not the creation of another political group, but the creation of a social center which will host different groups, actions, initiatives.
The Social Center-Immigrants’ Place is a political meeting place for social movements and solidarity actions for immigrants. It is a place we try our best to be free, open and accessible –all the more so now that our campaign which started with its opening and aimed to make it accessible to physically disabled people has been completed. Finally, it is a completely self-organizing place as it depends exclusively on the volunteering work of all of us who participate in it.
Our café-bar will be open from 19:00 to 23:00 every day, while different actions will take place such as:
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greek, foreign language, music and tango classes
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supporting teaching to Junior High School and High School students
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legal consultancy to refugees and immigrants
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rehearsals/ meetings of theatrical teams
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rehearsals of immigrants’ dance groups
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solidarity cuisine on Saturdays and Sundays
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computer pool and exchange library
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film screenings on Sundays
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discussions, gatherings, concerts, parties
Foster our actions with your participation
Join us to help them come true
Bring to the Social Center your friends and your ideas
Let’s make together the Social Center- Immigrants’ Place the place for political movement our city deserves to have!
(The Social Center- Immigrants’ Place is open every day after 19:00 – more information on its action can be found in its website http://socialcenter.gr. Official FB page: https://www.facebook.com/socialcenterthess, FB group: “Social Center –Immigrants’ Place”)
The following collectivities take part in the Social Center/Immigrants’ Place:
Indigenous People of Biafra
moment drama (theatrical group)
SOS traffic crimes
Sylvia Rivera – Thessaloniki Pride
Antiracist Initiative of Thessaloniki
Network for Unemployed and Precarious Workers
Network for Political and Social Rights
Immigrants’ Union from Senegal and other African Countries
Ethical, Technological & Idealistic Association
Theatrical Group of Immigrants’ Place
Red (political group)
Solidarity Kitchen
Guesthouse of unaccompanied underage refugees ARSIS
Courses «Out of the Classroom»
Lawyer group for the defense of the refugees’
and immigrants’ rights
Tango group of Social Center/ Immigrants’ Place
Georgians’ Association
Union of Conscientious Objectors
Solidarity School “Odysseas”
Grassroot Worker Union of Musicians
Sexuality Festival
Student Group of National Amnesty of Thessaloniki