RISE Program: Peer Support aiming at the Effective Reintegration
Τάσος ΡεπούσκοςWhat is peer support
Peer support is a participatory and inclusive approach to social empowerment, grounded in lived experience, equality, and trust. At Ithaca, people who have experienced homelessness use their personal journeys to support others facing similar challenges. Not as experts, but as companions who deeply understand everyday struggles and systemic barriers.
The RISE programme and the role of peers
Through the RISE programme, implemented by Ithaca with the support of the Bodossaki Foundation and the NGO Support Centre, participants are trained as peer supporters. Their role is to facilitate group sessions, create safe spaces for dialogue, and offer practical support around housing, employment, health, and access to rights.
Complementary care, not a replacement
Peer support does not replace professional care. Instead, it complements it by strengthening participation, inclusion, and sustainable support structures within communities. Lived experience becomes a powerful tool for empowerment, while trust-based relationships create the foundation for meaningful and lasting change.
Building resilient communities
Through RISE, Ithaca fosters communities where people are active participants in solutions, cultivating solidarity, mutual understanding, and collective resilience.
Programme information & disclaimer
The RISE project is implemented within the framework of the PLATO programme, with Ithaca as the implementing organisation. PLATO is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre, with a total grant amount of €3.1 million.
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the Bodossaki Foundation, or the NGO Support Centre. None of the above bodies can be held responsible for the expressed views.
