Welfare and Educational Case Worker At Better Days Greece

• Location: Athens
• Status: Part time (6h/day) position, evening shifts, or a shift-schedule may be required.
• Starting Date: January 2025*
• Duration: 3 months with possibility of extension

*Please note that due to the Christmas holiday season, applications will be reviewed between the 9-17 of January and only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.

About Better Days

Founded on the Greek island of Lesvos in 2016, Better Days works for the well-being of children and youth affected by displacement or conflict.

We design and implement protection and education programs aiming to offer each individual the assistance and opportunities they need to thrive. By connecting with local initiatives and institutional efforts, we foster inclusive responses in complex and volatile environments.

Children are the caretakers and leaders of our future and only alongside them can we build a more resilient society.

Chronology of projects:

• The Olive Grove, 2015-2016: Moria Camp emergency response, sheltering, food & NFI distribution, medical aid.
• Community Support Program, 2015-Ongoing: Financial support for students.
• Elpida Home, 2016-2017: Recreational programming for adults and minors, info point, food and NFI distribution.
• Medical & Legal Intervention Project, Moria Camp, Lesvos, 2016-2017: Medical aid and legal info for vulnerable asylum-seeking adults.
• Gekko Kids, Lesvos 2017-2022: Non-formal educational programs.
• EcoHub, Lesvos, 2017-2020: Sustainable ecological garden with vocational training and ecological literacy for children and adults.
• TAPUAT, Lesvos 2017-2019: Non-formal educational programming, activities for minors, child protection, trauma support.
• Gekko X, Lesvos 2019-2020: STEAM curriculum, exhibitions, blended learning, e-learning.
• Central Triage Pharmacy, Moria Camp, Lesvos 2020: Medicine provision, Covid19 response.
• Socrates, Lesvos 2019-2020: Sports and development, SEL pedagogy, football sessions, trauma support.
• Gekko, Athens 2023-Ongoing: Non-formal educational programs.

About Gekko

Gekko in Athens is a non-formal education centre offering personalized education for children and young people (ages 15-24) affected by displacement.

Gekko’s context-aware services are designed to address the specific needs of displaced learners and dismantle barriers that impede learning. Supported by strong referral pathways with like-minded organizations, Gekko acts as an essential bridge service to meet student needs beyond the classroom and promote integration into the Athens community.

Gekko not only follows best practices in the field of displacement and education, but serves as a lab for their further development. Over 555 children and young people have benefitted from Gekko’s services in our first year of operations.

Working with Better Days

Better Days is a small and dynamic organisation looking to hire people who are passionate about humanitarian work, understand its risks and complexities, and are interested in investing in their role long-term. We are a quality-driven organisation determined to provide grassroots, holistic and effective solutions to support the integration and de-victimization of displaced communities in Europe, focusing on refugee education and empowerment of youth. Our colleagues come from all over the world, and our official business language is English. The ideal candidate will be inducted for two weeks and trained during the probation period. At the end of a third month’s contract, the candidate is expected to participate in Better Days’ Employee Survey and Self-Assessment, which is part of their employee evaluation.

Position Overview: Welfare and Educational Case Worker (6-hour Contract)

The Welfare and Educational Case Worker plays a crucial role at Gekko by providing students with tailored support to overcome challenges and succeed academically. This role focuses on addressing both educational and welfare needs through effective case management and fostering a trauma-aware, inclusive environment at Gekko.

This position requires strong experience in safeguarding, child protection, conflict resolution, and case management in Greece. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in safeguarding policies and external resources in Athens, with the ability to foster safe and respectful relationships within the community.

We seek an organized, self-motivated professional with excellent communication skills, capable of adapting to evolving needs and working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to provide holistic student support.

Key Responsibilities

Student Welfare

• Assist with admissions during registration periods, including conducting registration interviews and student inductions. Proficiency with Google Suite and direct communication skills are essential.
• Assess students’ welfare needs, provide tailored support, and make referrals to external actors while closely monitoring their well-being.
• Maintain excellent knowledge of public and non-profit services available in Athens to connect students with the right resources.
• Collaborate with families, educators, and external stakeholders to ensure students’ safety and well-being.
• Manage and maintain accurate, confidential case files, ensuring timely interventions for each student.
• Support the Gekko team in enhancing capacity for safeguarding, child protection, and conflict resolution through training and protocol development.
• Monitor adherence to safeguarding standards and procedures to ensure the safety of all students.

Educational Support

• Identify students facing academic challenges and work with the Head of Academics to provide individualized assistance where possible.
• Develop strategies to improve academic performance and engagement, both internally and through external opportunities such as workshops and seminars.
• Support students in accessing educational goals, including degree recognition and advanced learning opportunities.

General Responsibilities

• Design and implement procedures to optimize the effectiveness of the role.
• Offer practical guidance and solutions to students facing personal or educational difficulties.
• Maintain detailed and compliant documentation of all student interactions, interventions, and progress.
• Actively participate in team meetings to coordinate and evaluate interventions.
• Advocate for students to ensure their needs are met and voices heard.
• Empower students to actively engage in their personal and academic development.

Requirements

Essential

• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• A relevant degree in education, social work, psychology, or a related field (e.g., Bachelor’s in Social Work, Psychology, or Education).
• Advanced IT proficiency, particularly in Google Suite, Slack, and Canva.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in case management in Athens, working with vulnerable populations in educational, social work, or welfare settings.
• Eligibility to work in Greece.

Preferred

• Previous experience in humanitarian or volunteer sectors.
• Proficiency in additional languages (e.g., Farsi, Arabic, French).