Odyssea

Odyssea is a non-profit organization based in Greece, founded in 2016 with a mission to empower vulnerable people by equipping them with the necessary skills and confidence to access meaningful employment and thrive in society. Through a holistic and inclusive approach, Odyssea provides free-of-charge vocational training, life skills development, and employability services, with a strong emphasis on equal opportunities for all, including both host and guest communities.

The organization operates the following key hubs:

•The Odyssea Academy in Athens, a 600m² facility launched in 2020, featuring fully equipped training environments simulating real-world settings in sectors such as hospitality, plumbing, woodworking, and electrical work, among others.

•The Youth Center in Thessaloniki, operating since June 2024, follows a three-pillar model (Academy–Employability–Youth Activation) to Northern Greece, offering vocational training aligned with labor market needs, career counseling, and opportunities for youth participation through volunteering and networking.

•The Athens Job Center, established in early 2025, providing personalized career counselling, CV/interview preparation, and job-matching support via a broad employer network.

Since its founding, Odyssea has supported over 11k beneficiaries—45% of whom have successfully secured employment—through 500+ training courses, delivering more than 4,600 employability services and 3,000 livelihood opportunities, with a network of over 500 collaborating companies. In fact, Odyssea has supported over 2,000 refugees and asylum seekers—42% of total beneficiaries—and consistently serves a youth demographic, with 65% aged 17–34.

Odyssea relies on continuous data monitoring, stakeholder feedback, and survey consulting to identify needs and implement best practices. Utilizing custom in-house digital tools (such as the Odyssea Internal Platform), the organization efficiently organizes, scales, and measures its impact, enabling evidence-based decision-making and knowledge sharing with partners. Supported by a dedicated team of around 40 professionals and strong local partnerships, Odyssea drives innovative VET programs that promote social inclusion, workforce integration, and youth empowerment across Greece.

Odyssea is dedicated to the social and professional inclusion of vulnerable groups. Its model is built around two core pillars: the Academy and Employability departments.

The Academy offers vocational training (certified by ACTA) tailored to labour market needs, soft and digital skills workshops, and career orientation programs delivered through a hybrid learning model (hands-on practice & theory). This 600m² facility, designed to simulate real-life workspaces, runs entirely on renewable energy and received a New European Bauhaus (NEB Prize) award in 2022 for prioritising inclusivity (‘Prioritising the places and people that need it the most’).

The Employability department supports beneficiaries with career orientation and guidance, job application preparation, and job-matching through a strong network of employers. The Odyssea Job Center in Athens and the Youth Center in Thessaloniki provide additional personalised services, including (I) Youth Activation, (II) Skills Development, and support to (III) Access Labour Market.

Mobile Education Van

Odyssea operates a fully equipped mobile education unit that delivers intensive training and services in remote or underserved areas. The van includes photovoltaic panels, interactive displays, satellite internet, and portable training equipment, enabling high-quality interventions at the local level. For example, the ‘Educational Routes’ program trains Vocational High Schools students (known in Greek as EPAL) on career planning, training, and employability skills.

Social Kitchen

Odyssea organises a series of relief interventions for vulnerable individuals, such as the Social Kitchen, taking place weekly in Athens and Thessaloniki, with the support of experienced chefs, volunteers and strategic partner and donor, Lidl Hellas. By now, Odyssea has prepared, cooked and distributed more than 160,000 meals to people in need (including the homeless, unaccompanied minors, and residents of rehabilitation shelters).

Entrepreneurship

Delivered in both Athens and Thessaloniki, Odyssea’s free-of-charge entrepreneurship programme supports the establishment of new businesses (Incubators) and enhances existing businesses (Accelerators). Each cycle focuses on the food, retail or other sector and includes practical business training, mentorship from industry experts, access to facilities such as a professional kitchen and hands-on workshops to test and refine business ideas.

Internal platform

Unlike most medium-level non-profits, Odyssea has developed an Internal Platform, a custom digital tool that assists in monitoring work and impact as well as in real-time reporting. By using data analytics and AI, it supports evidence-based decision-making and enables transparent information sharing with donors, employers, and stakeholders across the humanitarian sector.

Talent platform

Odyssea’s Talent Platform is an innovative job-searching tool connecting job seekers with employment providers in Greece and beyond. It encompasses AI technology, gamified psychometrics, a community of endorsers, video presentations, automated CV generator features and other cutting-edge tech tools.