After four years in Greece, Iraqi refugee Shaimaa Al Kinani made her dream come true by opening her own Arabic restaurant Ustura in downtown Thessaloniki. Supporting her each step of the way was the Blue Refugee Center (BRC) – the support hub of SolidarityNow, an NGO committed to improving the lives of vulnerable social groups in Greece.

Through the BRC Livelihoods program, funded by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Shaimaa received guidance from BRC job counselors on how to navigate Greece’s business landscape, including assistance with documentation and permits. The center’s counselors also provided Shaimaa with emotional and logistical support to help bring Ustura, meaning “myth” in Arabic, to life.

If you find yourself feeling peckish in downtown Thessaloniki, support Shaimaa by visiting Ustura, at 29 Valaoritou Street.

About SolidarityNow

SolidarityNow is a non-governmental organization established in 2013 to respond to the needs and ensure the rights of the most vulnerable social groups. The organization’s vision is to improve people’s lives and empower them to fight for a more justice and inclusive society. From 2013 until today, SolidarityNow has supported through its actions and programs (housing, psychosocial support, legal assistance, interpretation, education, child protection) more than 350,000 of our vulnerable fellow human beings to claim a life with dignity and prospects.

About UNHCR

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We are present in Greece since 1952, trying to ensure the protection and integration of refugees and asylum-seekers in the country. UNHCR has developed initiatives and tools to link refugees in Greece with the labour market, implements vocational training, education and livelihoods programmes. The Office in Greece also focuses on awareness-raising activities and works with the Greek authorities, civil society actors, cities and municipalities, the private sector and the local and refugee communities to promote inclusion policies at local and national level so that refugees can thrive in and contribute to their new home.