The WELCOMMON building was overhauled in August 2016 and September 2016. On September 2016, ANEMOS ANANEOSIS / WIND OF RENEWAL agreed with the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency to implement the WELCOMMON as part of the “Relocation Scheme Program” delivered in the City of Athens, funded by EU through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

For about 1 month and a half technicians together with our dedicated volunteers renovated the building of the former clinic in the center of Athens. It was a hard work as the building was abandoned for years. All the systems, electrical, hydraulic, heating and cooling, were checked and repaired. The whole building (3.200 sq meters) was painted and cleaned.

In order to prepare WELCOMMON, we had been working intensively from mid-August to late September 2016, offering personal and voluntary work and reusing equipment and spaces to deliver a quality result at a minimum cost.

On October 12, 2016, our first guests, 30 refugees – 5 mothers with 25 children, were welcomed. We quickly, though, arrived near the capacity of the space that is the hospitality of 160-180 people.

The 65 available rooms can accommodate 160-180 people. We have organized around 800 m² of space for various social, educational and creative activities.

We meet the nutritional needs of the guests, as accurately as possible, depending on age, health status or cultural perceptions.

Guests can wash their clothes in the washing machines and tumblers that exist in the center, or use sewing machines to repair them.

Until January 2018 we have hosted about 600 refugees from 18 nationalities.