On September 15th, the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the Vathy Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) on Samos. The same night, a fire broke out, followed by another fire one week later. While the number of cases has increased everyday, there still is no medical response plan in place.
The EU and its Member States must act to put out this fire.
Read MoreWhat was it like to be a volunteer in our Alpha Centre before the lockdown, where hundreds of visitors arrive daily, stealing an hour of adversity from the camp, the cold, the hopelessness of an unending asylum application?
How does it feel to work in such an environment?
Abdali arrived to Samos in November in November 2018. About a year ago, he started volunteering with Samos Volunteers, where he mostly works shifts in the Laundry Station and supports the team with translations to and from Arabic.
Read MoreLavinia joined Samos Volunteers February 25, 2019, and has been with the NGO for nearly a year. First, as a volunteer, later, as the Welfare and Kid's Activities Coordinator. This is her story.
Read MoreThere’s a dignity in putting on a clean shirt that you cannot appreciate until that ability is taken away. We get to give that back, and you don’t need a common language to understand how much it means to people.
Read MoreThis is it. The call the action. A message is sent to the volunteer group chat directing people where to go along with the message “BRING WATER”.
Read MoreThe indignity of their situation cuts through like a knife, and the sting is never any less painful no matter how many times I hear their stories.
Read MoreLove and respect know no borders. They know no nationality.
Read MoreDuring this part of the project there are simply too many brilliant people to thank individually but I hope they are reading this with a smile or as I did watch the Alpha birthday video, with watered eyes.
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