Understanding Efforts to Address the Complex Experiences of Young, Male Refugees in Thessaloniki, Greece

Greece has become the center of the largest humanitarian crisis in recent history, as refugees seek shelter and opportunity in Europe. Through conversations with NGOs, volunteers, and refugees in Thessaloniki, this project documented efforts to address the needs of a select and unserved population young men. Young refugee men often do not meet the criteria of a vulnerable population and therefore do not receive specific services. We observed that many initiatives fail due to inconsistent engagement that is related to transience, lack of motivation, or the constant search for better opportunities. Efforts aiming to empower or collaborate with young male refugees are rare and difficult to establish, but are better at promoting integration and independence

A sustainable bottom-up approach for Non-Governmental development organizations

Martin, R. S., Painho, M., & Cruz-Jesus, F. (2019). Addressing geospatial preparedness inequity: A sustainable bottom-up approach for Non-Governmental development organizations. Sustainability (Switzerland), 11(23), [6634]. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236634In less developed areas, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to coordinate disaster response is hindered by a lack of geospatial preparedness. Humanitarian missions often rely on OpenStreetMap as a source of information to overcome this limitation. In these places, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) might already be using GIS to implement development projects before the disaster. This study considers the management of geospatial information by those NGOs and whether they could improve geospatial preparedness from within the communities. This bottom-up approach would allow the inclusion of information relevant to the community in the disaster response decision-making process. The research method was an online survey with a worldwide sample of more than 200 development NGOs. The results show that many NGOs use digital geographic information, mostly open-data. They could indeed improve geospatial preparedness while using open-data and community mapping for the implementation of their projects. There is, however, a limitation; most of the development NGOs using open geographic data are not familiar with the open platforms used by the humanitarian community (i.e., OpenStreetMap). Therefore, the study indicates that the sustainability of this synergic approach requires further harmonization between development and humanitarian organizations working for the wellbeing of the same communities.publishersversionpublishe

Enhancing Geospatial Preparedness for Disaster Management through the work of development organisations

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Information Management, specialization in Geographic Information SystemsDepending on the complexity of a disaster and the local capacities, international organizations and multidisciplinary response teams might be involved in the response. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for coordination and information sharing. However, geospatial preparedness is necessary: reliable up to date geodata, tools, and people with the knowledge to use those tools. In least-developed countries the lack of geospatial preparedness, particularly geospatial pre-disaster information, hinders disaster response. In those places, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs creates a framework for cooperation with the Coordinated Data Scramble Initiative where Information Management Officers (IMOs) from different organisations are supported by volunteers and technical communities to provide ad-hoc datasets and infrastructure to use GIS. Nevertheless, long-term solutions are needed. Before the disaster, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) might already be using GIS to implement development projects. Based on the theoretical concept of disaster management and development as a learning circle, this investigation proposes the engagement of development NGOS working in disaster-prone areas to enhance geospatial preparedness. The research was based on a multi-method approach including the study of the body of literature, authoritative reports, and repositories and databases, monitorization of the tools used during responses to real emergencies, and semi-structured interviews to IMOs. Finally, the study concluded with an online survey with a worldwide sample of more than 200 development NGOs. The result show that disaster response requires reliable and up to date geodata which is not always the case. Humanitarian missions often rely on OpenStreetMap as a source of information to overcome this limitation. Therefore, improving OpenStreetMap would improve geospatial preparedness. Many development NGOs use digital geographic information, mostly open-data. They could indeed improve geospatial preparedness allowing community empowerment while conveying relevant pre-disaster datasets to the humanitarian missions. This bottom-up approach would allow for the inclusion of information relevant to the community in the disaster response decision-making process. There is, however, a limitation; most of these development NGOs are not familiar with the platform used by the humanitarian community (i.e., OpenStreetMap). Therefore, the sustainability of this synergic approach requires further harmonization between development and humanitarian organizations working for the wellbeing of the same communitie

Technology-Mediated Learning for Resilience

Resilience is a topic of steadily increasing interest. It particularly gains importance when discussing how communities (e.g. municipalities) can prepare themselves for potential future disruptions. A resilient community will overcome immediate shocks, such as an earthquake, as well as stresses, such as the successive outbreak of a pandemic. Due to the novelty of the topic, research particularly exists on theoretical aspects of resilience. Targeting learning - and thereby the local population - is a rather new emergence. To effectively reach, involve, and engage citizens, technology can play a key role. Based on four actual cases from communities we analyse the impact technology has on learning about resilience. We then scrutinize the effectiveness and propose future steps. Thereby, we seek to provide practical advice to local governments and to enrich the theory at the same time

Participatory Mapping, E-Participation, and E-Governance: Applications in Environmental Policy

This chapter focuses on participatory mapping as an e-governance tool to facilitate public participation. Public participation is a key component of democratic governance, and there is a growing reliance on digital government tools such as the internet and social networking sites and geographic information systems (GIS). This chapter focuses on public engagement using information and communication technology, namely participatory mapping, known by a variety of terms such as participatory GIS (PGIS), public participation GIS (PPGIS), and voluntary GIS. While the analysis involves use of participatory mapping related to environmental issues, the chapter brings together seminal work from various fields of citizen engagement and participatory mapping. The idea is to create one common narrative for scholars and practitioners, bringing together various terminologies, practices, and studies in participatory mapping in the environmental arena that offers a beginner\u27s frame of reference

Rethinking temporary shelter and settlements through participatory design: a proposal for the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre

openRefugee camp is a concept that materializes in the common imagination as a temporary settlement, which is placed within an emergency context lasting a maximum of a few years. From this fallacious idea derives a management and planning of refugee camps focused on the short term, which does not always take into consideration the actual life cycle of refugee camps and the dynamics that inhabit them. Participatory design is an approach that, applied to this context, allows the transformation of the site involving those who live within it in the processes of designing, modifying and adapting structures to develop a sense of ownership over their lives and the place that at that moment means home. In 2021 the Greek government, with the support of the European Commission, opened a facility centre, defined Closed Controlled Access Centre, in Samos. A top-down approach, based on close control by the local authorities, was used for both the design and management of the camp. The paper aims to outline a proposal to implement a participatory approach in the rethinking of the camp's structures and spaces by its inhabitants

Opioid-Crisis Intervention: A Pilot To Moderate Patient’s Use of Post-Operative Opioid Medications Using a Video-Based Perioperative Education Tool

Problem Description The opioid epidemic has been ravishing communities in the United States for nearly two decades, resulting in opioid misuse, dependence, and overdose-related deaths. Healthcare providers have inadvertently fueled the epidemic by overprescribing opioid medications contributing to 40% of the opioid overdose-related deaths. One in every 48 patients who receives an opioid medication for the first time will become a chronic user of these medications. Furthermore, 6% of all surgical patients will continue chronic use of opioid medications 90 days after their surgeries regardless of absence of pain. With over 50 million surgical cases performed each year in the United States, the number of surgical patients adds another 2 million potential chronic users of opioid medications. Educating surgical patients about pain management choices better prepares them for shared decision making. Setting The setting of this project is a major trauma medical center in the Pacific Northwest. The medical center’s perioperative clinicians continue to largely treat pain with opioid medications, especially in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Rationale Bandura’s self-efficacy theory provides the rationale for using patient-education as a tool in this project. The strength of people’s convictions in their own effectiveness will determine the level of coping with a given situation. Recognizing that pain is a temporary part of surgery that will subside, enables surgical patients to become self-sufficient in diverting their thoughts from sensing pain while focusing on other activities. This consequently helps them cope better with surgical pain. This leads to reduction in opioid consumption after surgery and improved outcomes. Specific Aims The project aimed to inform patients of opioid dangers, provide expectations of surgical pain, and describe alternative non-opioid therapies for pain management. There are many methods to convey the information, however, given the wide range of healthcare literacy between patients, audio, and visual aids -specifically cartoon animations- have been proven to enhance learning and engagement. The project focused on developing an animated educational video to enhance awareness of opioid dangers. Project Outcomes A six-minute-high quality educational video animation was developed by the project manager along with data collection, and post intervention assessment tools. All stakeholders were informed of the aims of the project and understood the intervention-related processes prior to implementation with every patient. Receiving and accessing the video animation were paramount to the success of the project. Thus, two outcomes for the project ensured focus on patients’ receiving and accessing the video animation. Outcomes related to level of anxiety and pain after watching the video animation allowed for assessment of the intervention’s potential influence on patients’ perception of both. Patients were further assessed in achieving three or more of five desired post-surgical outcomes that are known to be highly influenced by pain and opioid consumption. Stakeholders feedback on potential improvements to the project were sought after implementation. Implementation and Evaluation Plan 12 patients were individually invited for participation between June 2022 and August 2022. The video was shown to every patient prior to surgery by the project manager, ensuring access of all participants. Intervention’s influence on patients’ anxiety related to surgical-pain management was assessed by direct questioning of patients during hospitalization. Electronic health records were also reviewed for reports of anxiety, pain scores, and achieving three or more of the following outcomes: 1. Ambulated early (on day of surgery or the next morning), 2. Lacked complaints of nausea and vomiting, 3. Tolerated self-care activities. 4. Reported minimal or no drowsiness, and 5. Reported readiness for discharge to home. Aggregate data was tabulated, and descriptive statistics were used to quantify results in numbers and percentages. Results and Interpretation The initial aim was to assess the effectiveness of the educational tool exclusively on bariatric surgery patients. However, the departure of the project’s bariatric surgery champion at the host institution greatly minimized the ability to enroll bariatric surgery patients in the project. Consequently, the surgical patient pool had to be broadened to allow for sufficient number of enrollees. Other types of surgeries were chosen based on their potential to produce relatively similar pain burden postoperatively as bariatric surgeries. Of the 12 patients who participated in the project, five (41.5%) were female, five (41.5%) were male, and 2 (17 %) self-identified as transgender. Eleven patients (92%) did not require an anxiolytic before surgery and after viewing the video and the opportunity to ask follow-up questions. The presence of the project manager during viewing of video allowed patients and their families to have immediate access to further clarifications and answers to questions. Ten patients (83%) did not receive opioid medications during surgery and five (42 %) did not require any pain medications after surgery. 59% of patients found the intervention educational and helpful. 67% of patients reported their pain as mild after surgery. Conclusion Patient-focused education prior to surgery regarding surgical pain management could be a helpful tool in alleviating anxiety and reducing opioid consumption after surgery, especially using a multimedia tool such as video animation