UNHCR's Office Helps to Relieve Refugee Unemployment Problem

The closing down and reduction of operations in factories and lead mines brought serious unemployment and hardship to refugees living in Lavrion, a seaport town near Athens, where the Government built 100 houses for Greek refugees from Romania. Deeply concerned over the problem, the Greek representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the Mayor of Lavrion made every effort to alleviate the situation. Knowing of the existence of an abandoned pottery plant in the area, they resolved to endeavor to reopen it in order to provide work for the refugees. The difficulties were almost unsurmountable but by persistent effort and hard work they finally succeeded in rehabilitating the plant. A scheme was organised under which young refugees would serve three months' training at the factory, with salaries paid from funds available to the UNHCR Branch Office for vocational training. After that time, the factory would guarantee employment to successful trainees. The scheme has been working satisfactorily, the pottery plant now operating in full swing.
This photograph shows work in progress at the rehabilitated pottery plant. [No exact date]