Project Layali

Project Layali is a not-for-profit social enterprise. We create small businesses that employ refugees and migrants in Athens, Greece. Layali aims to help refugees and migrants new to Europe build self-sustaining lifestyles. Furthermore, the project itself will operate as a self-sustaining entity by relying on business revenue to provide social impact. Finally, Project Layali creates spaces designed to increase interaction and understanding between refugees, Greeks, and tourists. The idea for Project Layali stemmed from an examination of the current state of Greece’s refugee crisis. In particular, this examination revealed three areas of concern. First, Greece lacks adequate job training programs focused on helping refugees become self-sufficient. Second, a decrease in media coverage regarding Europe’s refugee crisis has led to a corresponding decrease in donations to NGOs dedicated to assisting refugees. And finally, refugees in Athens lack an appropriate space to share their culture. Founded in 2018, Project Layali will help provided support in all of these areas.