Supporting vulnerable people is another important role of Eurorelief in the camp on Lesvos. Specialized volunteers visit vulnerable residents of the camp, such as survivors of Gender Based Violence or people with medical vulnerabilities and aim to connect them with available services.

In our sewing space on Samos, residents can repair or iron their clothes themselves or allow our Resident Volunteers to repair the items for them. Besides being a practical service, this is also a place where creativity flows and community is created as people work side-by-side, helping each other out and giving advice when it comes to finding the best solution for altering their clothes. We are grateful for our incredible Resident Volunteer tailors who give their time and talents in this space.

Both on Lesvos and on Samos, Eurorelief has an information point in the heart of the camp. On Lesvos, we assist with a variety of issues, requests and tasks. We work together with the camp authorities, support organizations and residents.

On Samos, we provide information about our own services, the services of other NGOs and receive residents for games, arts, coffee and tea.

One of our core responsibilities in Mavrovouni camp on Lesvos is to welcome newcomers at the New Arrivals station, making sure they are provided a full set of clothing and shoes as soon as possible after their arrival.

On Lesvos, Eurorelief plays a big role in the distribution of Non-Food Items, both to newly-arrived asylum seekers as well as the other residents. We have ongoing distributions of clothing and hygiene items and based on needs-assessments, we organise (seasonal) distributions.

On Samos, we provide the first set of clothes to New Arrivals and help run a clothes shop in camp. Sometimes we help with special distributions, such as hygiene items or cleaning supplies.

The work in our off-site warehouses is the core of our logistic operations. Large volumes of donations from partner organizations as well as supplies which are purchased through private donations are received, sorted, and packed, before being delivered to the camps to be distributed to the people.

On Lesvos, a team of teachers and teacher assistants provide non-formal education for children age 3 – 18. We work with a trauma informed curriculum specifically catered to our needs in camp that puts the focus on the children feeling safe and loved. We also send volunteers on “literacy outreach” to do English reading and conversation exercises with the children, which often draws in the parents as well.

In all our sites, we seek to offer welcoming spaces where residents can connect with each other and take part in training opportunities and activities. This area and our involvement is changing constantly. In Mavrovouni, it may take the form of a Men’s Skill area and women’s sewing classes. On Samos, it may be volleyball tournaments and a safe space with board games and crafts for women.

On Samos, we provide transportation for the vulnerable camp population to their hospital appointments in town.

We can normally use a number of skilled and experienced volunteers (carpentry, plumbing, car repairs) to help fix broken shelter units, bikes or other items in camp, as well as for larger, more specified building projects. Whenever possible, we involve community volunteers in these projects, building truly cross-cultural teams.

We do not only need volunteers in camp! We need administratively gifted people in our off-camp office. The admin team is the engine that allows for the work we do in camp through the processing of volunteer applications, corresponding with applicants, dealing with databases and handling inquiries, just to name a few.

We have a Member Care Team made up of seasoned, experienced long-term volunteers who look after the needs of our volunteers. This team of people do trainings and debriefs, provide a listening ear and look after the well-being of our volunteers.

Together with our Community residents, we run libraries both on Lesvos and Samos, offering computers for asylum seekers to work, as well as books in English and the residents’ original languages.

Once a day we have a few volunteers assisting with food distribution to camp residents on Lesvos through two food line stations. It’s a great opportunity to connect with the camp residents.