Posts about the Stone Soup residents

Interview with BRF: an NGO for people on the move

HOW TO EMPOWER PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

At Stone Soup we are happy to cowork with Boat Refugee Foundation. BRF assists and empowers people on the move or stuck in remote parts of Europe. Vicky, manager of the Athens program, talked to us about the ways the Netherlands-based NGO works.

BRF operates two programs in Greece. The one in Lesvos provides medical and psychosocial support. The one in Athens provides psychological support and group empowering activities to adult refugees & migrants, while it provides advocacy for a fairer asylum policy.

BRF’s goal is to motivate, empower, inform and link people on the move. The team consists of a psychologist, a social worker and a volunteer mental health professional. It offers various forms of psychosocial support, helping service users to take control of their lives and claim their rights.

IS IT TABOO TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE?

“Many BRF beneficiaries who come from different cultures and backgrounds are not familiar with western terms like “mental health”. By pointing out the importance of self-care we try to destigmatize the seek for support.  Therefore, we work together with the service users on the life skills and resources they could develop to cope with difficulties, to feel more empowered and to make the first steps towards personal recovery”

HELPING THE HELPERS!

We know that BRF trains members of other NGOs, since we’ve seen them organize training events in our officesAs Vicky explained, the aim is to introduce basic mental health and psychosocial concepts to also empower non-mental-health professionals operating in the field. In this light, we connect them with practices and resources that increase their awareness helping them approach relevant cases more effectively.

HOW DOES COWORKING HELP?

Although we have a private office, we feel part of a bigger community with a variety of professionals around us. As a result, we both decompress while we connect with people from completely different areas. Observing their work and problem-solving routines can be of great support to us. It offers new ways to approach decisions concerning your own work and see things from a different angle”.

James: This Game Dev is on (Gold)fire!

James Simpson joined Stone Soup, all the way from Oklahoma, USA. He is not just a game developer, who studied Entrepreneurship at the University of Oklahoma, but he also has his own company named Goldfire! He explains that he started his company to develop his own ideas, and for the last 10 years he’s been doing just that. His team includes developers, engineers,3D artists and voice actors, and he has employees from many different parts of the world.

James’ company logo

Life as a Digital Nomad: The Journey has just begun

James was ready to explore the world when the Pandemic hit, so he had to postpone his plans a bit, but, maybe finally being out of quarantine gave him an extra push to pursue his dreams:  He and his wife began their journey in Portugal, just a couple of months ago. There, James finally got to meet a colleague he’s been working with for the last 2 years, but had never seen in person! His year-long plan continued with his arrival in Athens, where he plans on staying for 4-6 weeks.

Welcome to the Mediterranean, James

Coming from Oklahoma, the differences between his home and the countries he’s visited so far are hard to miss. Both Greek and Portuguese people seem open, friendly and approachable, and the landscape of the two countries is similar as well. But what made James choose Athens as his second destination? Well, for one thing the history: James even got a permit to take drone pictures of the Parthenon, as drone photography is one of his favorite hobbies. The city’s weather and mediterranean lifestyle sure helped, and James is excited to meet Athens’ culture and people.

Game on!

James’ newest game is titled “Arctic Awakening”, and it’s gonna be set in the snowy landscapes of Alaska. This sci-fi mystery game invites players to explore the frozen scenery. Since this is his first game where he’s building a snowy landscape, James sure faced some challenges, but Goldfire has always been very open to their audience: As you can see in their website, they post news about the process of each project, while making sure their audience can partake in the whole process.

(Co)Work-Life balance

James, who sure has a lot of responsibilities, is definitely a planner when it comes to his work. In his personal life, however, he prefers to go with the flow. He likes his work and home environment to be separate, so, coworking spaces are ideal for him.

Plus, Working with professionals from different backgrounds helps him focus on his own thing, while also giving him the opportunity to get out of his shell and socialize. 

If you wanna learn more about James’ games (we sure are looking forward to playing “Arctic Awakening”), you can find him here.

Around Stone Soup: Food, Drinks and Good Times

Hey Stonesoupers! We know you love our office spaces and coworking areas, but The neighborhood has so much to offer besides convenient commuting. Being in the heart of the city, we are around so many places where you can eat, drink and have fun. So here are some of our tried and true options for good food and good times around Stone Soup!

Breakfast food for every mood

A good breakfast can surely boost your productivity! Black Salami Sandwich, the meta-bakery of our neighborhood, has the best warm sandwiches and focaccia. Fancy a traditional greek pie? Spinach, cheese, mushroom or zucchini, you name it! Bakeries like Artiston or Starata will offer plenty of options.Alternatively, you can boost your day with a freshly squeezed juice or healthy smoothie at Up Kittariki Threpsi.

Black Salami’s iconic sandwiches

Let’s grab a coffee!

Need a pick-me-up? For some fine blends, we recommend Banca cafe just across the street. Bayard Cafe has a wide range of drinks, snacks and the famous Area 51 Coffee, which makes it the right place for a break. Behold theman is a small boutique coffee shop which serves specialty 5th wave coffee and cold-pressed juices. Just around the corner from Stone Soup, you’ll find a small espresso bar called Foyer, that makes simple, high quality coffee and amazing cold brew. Samba has rightfully earned its cult status among coffee lovers, plus, you can buy some of their specialty beans for home, or maybe to share with your coworkers.

Samba’s signature coffee blends

Hungry for more?

So you’ve worked all morning, and you’re starving! We get the feeling… We have some great options for every craving you may have, and more! If you love pasta, then Alex Pasta Bar is the right destination for hearty, delicious dishes. Wanna try a traditional greek “Souvlaki” instead? How about some ewe meat wrapped in a warm pita? Then, Prigkripas is the place for you. Fancy a huge steak? Then head to Prodorpion. Maybe you’ve been craving some noodles, and Microulee will satisfy that need with its value for money options.

Fresh and delicious pasta from Alex!

Have you ever tried French Tacos? Well, there’s a first time for everything, and Le Panam is the place! If you’re up for some Greek comfort foods you can try Tivoli, a family run restaurant with many traditional options, Mageireuto Sti Gastra, or, if you’d like a buffet option, Kimatothraustes. Don’t forget to pay a visit at Fata Morgana! This cozy little place, just steps away from Stone Soup, takes you on a delicious culinary journey that brings together the comfort of homemade food with contemporary twists. Crete also has its own cuisine, and the best places to sample it are the Cretan taverns Nikiforos and I Kriti.

Craving a burger? Talking Breads has some of the juiciest burgers in town, and a lamb sandwich that reminds us of Greek easter! Falafellas is so good it often has a queue, but it’s definitely worth the wait. Were you looking for some Italian pizza or amazing lasagna? Visit Granello, we’re sure you won’t regret it. Finally for traditional greek “meze”with a modern twist, and some beautiful garden seating, head to Ama Lachei.

Meze in the garden, at Ama Lachei

Vegan? We got you covered

We know Greece may not seem like the easiest place to enjoy food as a vegan, but don’t be fooled. Many traditional greek foods just happen to be vegan, and the traditional restaurants mentioned above will have some options for you! But we do also have some special places in mind: Magic Kitchen has some amazing handmade vegan food (we recommend the veggie meatballs). To revithaki has some middle eastern options, and people can’t stop hyping their homemade hummus.

Cookoomela’s famous vegan gyros

Of course, you can’t leave Athens without trying some gyros and souvlaki! So,head to  Cookoomela Grill and try the vegan version of these iconic greek dishes. Have you ever tried savory doughnuts? If you are looking for some fast food, or some excellent vegan ice cream, then Keenkies is the answer.  Ap’allou serves some high quality vegan and vegetarian food (make sure you try their falafel).Finally Bamboo Vegan has some great snacks, the best matcha latte we’ve ever tried, and even a small deli section.

For your sweet tooth

Are your energy levels starting to drop? Maybe a sugary treat will do the trick! If you love cookies, cakes and brownies you must try I Cake YouAu Grand Zinc  is probably the most authentic creperie around Stone Soup. You should taste the delicious “built-to-order” crepes while listening to some jazz and enjoying the ambience.

I Cake You’s iconic cookies

Portatif is an elegant cafe with delicious pastries near Stone Soup. We do love profiteroles in this office, and we are in disagreement about the best in town: Some say it’s Choureal, while others prefer Sorolop, so you may have to try both and help us decide.

Have a drink (…or two)

After a long day of work, a drink may be necessary. If you don’t feel like walking for more than 2 minutes, Red Lotus has good vibes, affordable drinks and uplifting music. You’ll rarely see this place empty, even after hours. The Black Cat is preferred by locals for its chill atmosphere and cool, jazzy music, while Barley Cargo has a huge selection of beers, with many local labels to choose from, and new additions almost every week. The Clumsies is the place to go for cocktails in a multi-room bar with a warm,cozy atmosphere.

Red Lotus is just around the corner!

Is wine your drink of choice? Head to Cinque Wine & Deli Bar for amazing greek wines and charcuterie boards full of local products. Lulu is a stylish little bar with great food options, while Kobra is an amazing option for any time of the day. Is it too late? Think all the bars are closed?  Walk towards the commercial triangle to find the Dude bar and get a real taste of the Athenian nightlife. Closer to Syntagma, 7 Jokers is a quirky little bar with great cocktails, and it’s going to be open until the early hours of the morning.

Last but not least, don’t forget about our monthly meet & drink events. This is the perfect opportunity for you to socialise with fellow coworkers and like-minded individuals. It’s a chance to unwind, network, and engage in thought-provoking conversations while enjoying some well-deserved relaxation and fun!

While you’re at Stone Soup, look around you! There’s so many great options, and we couldn’t possibly include them all, but that’s what our community is all about: Ask your coworkers for tips, try new spots together, and don’t hesitate to ask us for suggestions or information. What makes Stone Soup thrive, after all, is the things we do together! So, whether you’re exploring the culinary delights of the area or joining us for our lively meet & drink, there’s always something exciting happening around Stone Soup.

Meet Sergio, a freelance dev who fell in love with Athens!

Sergio is a freelancer specialising in informatics who first visited Athens six years ago while travelling. He came back to the city as a digital nomad and spend some of his time co-working with us.

Life in Athens

Having a Spanish origin, he feels very much at home in Athens and enjoys the Mediterranean climate and relaxed lifestyle of the locals. He has already toured a few of the islands as well as mainland Greece. What excites him the most is how easy it is to get away from the city into the countryside and ‘zone out’ as he put is. 

‘I love nature. It makes me feel recharged and gives me fresh energy which I can then put into my freelance work. As a remote worker I am fortunate to get the chance to do that!.’

Working in informatics

After completing his studies in Media, Sergio moved to Germany in order to to pursue a career in informatics. He is currently working as a web developer for a German finance company. During the pandemic he had to work from home most of the time, but accommodating himself into co-working spaces changed his mindset for the better. 

‘I feel so much more concentrated when in an office due to the fact that I get to work without distractions. I especially like Stone Soup as a space because of the warm and welcoming feeling this place has. The atmosphere is quite the opposite from the stiff corporate environment I was used to be around and I really embrace that.’ 

Video games & more

Sergio’s hobby is prototyping video game ideas and developing graphics for them. He finds it way more exciting than anything else and he hopes to be able to make a living out of it in the future. 

‘Having a project of your own is really fun and rewarding at the same time. For me it has been great working in an office space because I manage to split my time effectively in between my job and my hobby as well!’ 

Sergio’s GitHub profile link : https://github.com/colado