HELLENiQ ENERGY, in collaboration with Doctors of the World, has created a modern and multifunctional space for the empowerment of vulnerable women in the center of Athens.
The “Athena” Women’s Empowerment Center “Athena,” housed within the Médecins Sans Frontières Open Polyclinic, will operate year-round, offering a safe and supportive environment and assisting more than 250 women annually.
Through educational workshops, health promotion initiatives, and professional and social counseling services, it aims to cultivate new skills, strengthen beneficiaries’ connection to the job market, and help educate them about both their rights and gender equality.
The contribution of dozens of HELLENiQ ENERGY volunteers was crucial; they actively participated in upgrading and beautifying the space, creating a functional and welcoming environment.
The project is part of HELLENiQ ENERGY’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to promote equality, inclusion, and the empowerment of women through targeted actions with tangible social impact.
HELLENiQ ENERGY’s Director of Corporate Responsibility, Ms. Georgia Lasanianou, emphasized: “HELLENiQ ENERGY’s long-standing contribution to the empowerment of women is a conscious choice. Through initiatives that address real social needs, we provide the necessary tools so that the beneficiaries can secure a place in the labor market, thereby improving the standard of living for both themselves and their families. “This year, through our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Komotini, we will support at least 400 vulnerable women, who will join the total of approximately 2,000 we have supported over the past three years.”
The Executive Director of Doctors of the World, Ms. Eugenia Thanos, stated:
“This space will serve as a safe haven for women who need support and empowerment. We warmly thank HELLENiQ ENERGY for this meaningful contribution. The new facilities will serve as places of learning, creativity, and hope for many women.”
Additional Initiatives in Thessaloniki and Komotini
At the same time, HELLENiQ ENERGY is implementing targeted initiatives this year in other regions of Greece, in collaboration with the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Greece (SEGE): in Thessaloniki, it is launching a training program for female volunteers who serve in the social services of the Holy Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis on topics related to hygiene and food safety, while in Komotini, it supports the implementation of educational workshops to develop basic digital and professional skills among women.
Long-term support for women’s empowerment
In recent years, HELLENiQ ENERGY has been implementing a cohesive and expanding program of initiatives to support vulnerable women, with interventions that address both basic protection needs and the enhancement of skills and employment opportunities.
In this context, it has contributed, among other things, to upgrading and strengthening shelter and support facilities, such as the “Ramona” run by Doctors of the World, while critical facilities in the region—such as the Shelter for Abused Women in Komotini—have been strengthened. At the same time, in collaboration with the Hellenic Red Cross and the “Iris” Women’s Center, spaces for protection, empowerment, and education have been created and upgraded, supporting thousands of women and their children in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Particular emphasis is also placed on skills development and professional advancement through initiatives such as WEHub in Western Thessaloniki, which, in a short time since its launch, has supported more than 1,000 women by offering training, counseling, and a modern space for collaboration and creative work.