An application-writing workshop for civil society organisations will take place in Thessaloniki on Thursday, 23 April as part of the new EU-funded VOICES programme, which has a total budget of €2.5 million and focuses on preventing and combating gender-based violence in Greece and Cyprus.
The funding will support 29 projects aimed at preventing and addressing all forms of gender-based violence. According to the organisers, the programme places particular emphasis on people who have experienced or are at risk of gender-based violence, including women and girls facing multiple vulnerabilities, individuals affected by gender-based cyber violence, and survivors of such harmful practices.
According to the 2024 EU survey on gender-based violence (FRA, EIGE, Eurostat), 41.8% of women in Greece have experienced threats or physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a partner during their lifetime. More than 36.5% have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence or threats, while 42.6% report having experienced sexual harassment in the workplace at some point in their lives.
The initiative is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, alongside the Bodossaki Foundation, the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights, and the NGO Support Centre in Cyprus. The Bodossaki Foundation acts as coordinator and co-funder, working in partnership with the Cyprus-based NGO Support Centre and the Marangopoulos Foundation.
The VOICES programme aims to address these issues by supporting civil society organisations active in this field in Greece and Cyprus. It also seeks to strengthen their organisational capacity, sustainability, and participation in policy-making processes.
An open call for expressions of interest has been launched for civil society organisations to submit project proposals under the theme "Prevention and combating of various forms of gender-based violence". Approximately 37 projects are expected to be funded, including 29 in Greece and eight in Cyprus. The selected projects will be implemented over three years and will target domestic and sexual violence, gender-based cyber violence, and harmful practices related to gender-based violence.
In addition to funding, the VOICES programme includes a capacity-building component tailored to the needs of civil society organisations in both countries. This will be delivered through Social Dynamo, the NGO hub of the Bodossaki Foundation, in cooperation with the programme partners. Planned activities include training sessions, workshops, mentoring, specialised support, networking opportunities, awareness-raising actions, advocacy initiatives, and organisational development tools.
The Thessaloniki workshop is part of this capacity-building strand and aims to provide practical guidance on the application process and available funding opportunities, particularly for organisations operating in northern Greece.
The joint proposal submitted by the three partner organisations was selected as one of only four projects approved across Europe under this funding framework. Civil society organisations can submit applications to the Bodossaki Foundation until Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
