The Union of Women Members’ Associations of Heraklion Prefecture was established in 2000 as a Non-Governmental Organization, with Registration Number 13117 SYP. It is a Legal Person Governed by Private Law. According to the decision of the Ministry for Health and Social Solidarity, which was published in 1453/v.Β/21-10-05 FEK, it is a certified provider of Social Care Services. Objectives of the Union are: The improvement of Women’s role in the Society, The prominence of mother’s role in the family, The support for equal rights and the social civilization. Our Union is active all over Crete. Actions of the Union: • “Guest House for the Abused Women and Children”: It was created in 2000 in the city of Heraklion with objective to offer hospitality, to support, to consult and provide legal aid to women and children, who have been victims of violence inside or outside their family. • Consulting Centre: Its aim is the provision of immediate help to women who are victims of violence and their children via personal interviews, their psychological support, the offer of legal advice and, what is more, their information for the possibility of hospitality in case of emergency. • S.O.S Line - «Line of Hope», 801-11-16000, functions in a daily basis from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m., no charge call, covering whole Crete. Through the line S.O.S. women-victims or their relatives have the chance to receive information, regarding the existence and operation of the Guest House, the Consulting Centre and, what is more, for the actions they can undertake in order to deal with violence. • Our Second Guest House, the “HOUSE OF ANGELS”, which is in building phase, is created for the protection and the hospitalization of young children age 0-6 years old, who have been abandoned by their parents, are neglected or remain “unsought”. The motive for this new attempt is the lack of supportive context and confrontation of such incidents that unfortunately are often presented in our island. • The Union of Women Members’ Associations of Heraklion Prefecture organizes information campaigns, lectures on intra-familial violence and the abuse of children to schools in the Municipality of Heraklion and the Prefecture, in hospitals and other institutions, such as the Hellenic Red Cross etc. • Publication of the magazine “Galini”, (meaning serene) and which is sold to members, subscribers and friends of the Union, assuring a small extra profit for the institution. • From 2007 till 2008 the Union in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Social Security had undertaken European Projects placed among the Work “Assistance Actions for the Employment of Unemployed with the active participation of Non-Governmental Organizations” of Measure 6 of EP “Employment and Professional Formation” from the Ministry of Employment and Social Security and the Special Service Application of Co-Funded actions. The action was co-funded by 80% from the European Social Fund and by 20% from national fundings.