After a year of rising visitor numbers, we are facing a new year with a lot of uncertainty. Help us to secure the future of OHF. Dear OHF supporters First of all, we would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past few weeks. Our fundraising campaign has started well, but we …
en savoir plus
Today we would like to give you an overview of what is happening at the Victoria Community Center and who all these partners are. Exactly one and a half years ago, we opened the Community Center together with the organisation ‘A Drop in the Ocean’. Since then it has become a well known place, not …
en savoir plus
Thank you for working together with us! There have been incredible challenges in 2020 and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that has been involved with the project this year. Our incredible team on the ground, all our community volunteers and international volunteers around the world, and our board members. …
en savoir plus
Selin, our coordination team member, started Greek-dance-classes with our team. Dancing brings people from different ages, regions etc. together. For Selin and many others it’s a way to communicate without speaking. “Dancing together makes us feel as a team, we are creating/doing something together.”, says Selin. Learning about Greek culture through dance is also a way …
en savoir plus
Despite the lockdown, the OHF team on Lesvos stayed busy with office work and coordination of in kind donations from supporters during December. At the community centre, Doctors on the ground work tirelessly receiving patients and providing psychological support to children and adults. In the main hall, we had a big distribution of donations – …
en savoir plus
A new regulation from the Greek government threatens to criminalise NGOs and volunteers for sharing information from within the camps. This is another attempt to hide the inhumane living conditions and the many mistakes made inside the camps. (Read more: https://reliefweb.int/report/greece/greece-s-new-confidentiality-law-aims-conceal-grave-violations-against-asylum-seekers) Additionally, the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) also announced it will stop its …
en savoir plus
This was the year The year started with nearly 20,000 people forced to live in Moria camp and the surrounding area. 42% of the residents were children, with 17% of those, unaccompanied or separated from their families. There were fights and tensions on a regular basis with deaths and injuries from violence or unsafe conditions feeling …
en savoir plusLockdown in Greece Since the beginning of November, Greece has been under a complete lock-down, with the restrictions expected to stay in place for most of December. Although the refugee camps were under an unjustified lockdown long before this, the second lockdown has affected its residents especially hard. Not only are basic “services” at the …
en savoir plus
Lockdown 2.0 As said above, all of Greece went into a second lockdown on the 7th November. We were much more prepared going into this second lockdown. In the couple of days leading up to the lockdown, the team on the ground topped up phone credit for our community volunteers, and provided warm clothing, headphones …
en savoir plus
Harry, an old volunteer from Better Days, is currently making our containers at OHF much more colourful with a surprise graffiti artwork on its way. As you may remember, our previous two containers were right next to each other, and the School of Peace used the back of the containers as a safe area for …
en savoir plus
For many weeks until the beginning of November, the One Happy Family has been bubbling over again and an important part of this is the many projects of our partners. Some have started again after a long dry spell, some are completely new and some have moved their location to us. Back and full of …
en savoir plus
Today we want to share some words from Ingo, who has volunteered twice with OHF: “I arrived on Lesvos in August this year, and I stayed for three months until October. This was a bit different to my previous time. Firstly, I had to self-isolate for the first 14 days. I was also used to …
en savoir plusGive relief and support for Christmas Some ideas for donations to organisations in which we trust and with which we collaborate. Support the rule of law: the Legal Centre Lesvos Empower refugee women: Glocal Roots Donate for unaccompanied children: Together for better days Support for LGBTQI*: Lesvos Lgbtiq+ Refugee Solidarity Enable sport’s activities: Yoga and Sports for Refugees Donate for …
en savoir plusNotes of despair In the ashes of Moria a note book of social workers was found. Its content reveals the sad reality of their everyday work in the safe zone for unaccompanied minors. Greece Is Weaponizing the Coronavirus Vice reports from Chios in full, striking details. European Money for Closed Camps SamosToday reports on the EU financing the camps. A …
en savoir plus
Build communities – not camps! Lesvos Solidarity – Pikpa, a solidarity structure which was created in 2012 by locals hosted refugees since years in dignified accommodation, welcoming some of the most vulnerable cases (such as victims of torture, victims of shipwreks, LGBTQI+ individuals, single parents etc.). The vulnerable people were officially referred to Pikpa – …
en savoir plus
Donate for our 4 invisible costs and become a hero of the admin of One Happy Family.Administration. What an unpopular word, what an unpopular task.We prefer to sweep the admin under the carpet, postpone it until later, ignore it and above all we don’t like to spend money on it.Unfortunately, nothing is possible without admin …
en savoir plus
Meet Aref. Happy to help anyone in any way he can, Aref has opted to spend all of his days as a volunteer: Monday to Friday at OHF, and his weekends at Movement on The Ground. Although he is a skilled tailor, Aref is happy to put his hand and mind to anything, in or …
en savoir plus
On the night of the 8th September, a fire broke out and destroyed the whole Moria RIC. The fire started in several locations inside the camp after 35 people were tested positive for COVID and were told to isolate themselves within the camp without any proper quarantine facility. Over 12700 people had to flee the …
en savoir plusNot what we need! Help create a social media storm to let the EU Commission know its Migration Pact is not the radical change that we need. Here is what you can do: 1: pick a text and post it with an image or video for Instagram, Facebook or Twitter from our social media pack, …
en savoir plus
Providing help after the fire is difficult After the fire, the OHF team focused on providing health care everywhere where needed. The center stayed closed during this time. Reopening was scheduled for the 17th with the medical team of Medical Volunteers International restarting their clinic. The massive police force blocked all roads, in order to …
en savoir plus
What an energetic person Emma is! We were lucky enough to have her in our team as a longterm volunteer, totally motivated to keep on sharing OHFs spirit as well after she was leaving and already organized a Christmas market stand to raise funds for OHF by selling the amazing postcards made at the art …
en savoir plus
A primary school teacher that takes a one year break to discover different things and then came to us, this is Barla, our amazing, funny, positive, smart, always smiling friend! Since she’s a teacher she mainly taught in the Adult school but was also always there for any other daily tasks that we needed her …
en savoir plus
Today you’ll meet our spicy fermented sauce inventor – Sam! Sam has been first with our partner Better days and was for everyone “Garden Sam”! But then, he decided to join our kitchen team where he spends most of his days at OHF now: preparing food, inventing spicy sauce, speaking with Fifie about sustainability and …
en savoir plus
Sandrine, our dear friend from Canada! You arrived at One Happy Family and – since the very first moments – you were completely part of it. It was impressive to see how quickly you had a very good overview of what is happening on this Island. You were always around, and – even if we …
en savoir plus
Today’s volunteer story is about Freddies experience at One Happy Family. He stayed with us for three weeks in summer. As a teacher Freddie was involved in the Adult School and did a lot of teacher training to all of our teachers – those who learnt teaching here and those who came with a background …
en savoir plus
Rebekka has been with OHF for the last four months: After starting at the playground she joined the school after one week and “never left”. ☺ And Rebekka made an huge impact in the Adult School – thank you Rebekka for all of your heart and soul leaded actions that you let us participate in …
en savoir plus
After volunteering with us for around 2.5 months, we had to say goodbye to our most motivated kitchen supporter – Anton! Anton, who will start studying “Geography of Africa” now, will be very deeply missed at OHF! This is my most memorable moment: I can’t think of only one moment, because most of the moments …
en savoir plus
Ramo – a happy, positive minded teacher and barber shop manager – but also a dancer, cleaner (yes, we know that dish washing wasn’t your favourite daily task) and on his last day he even joined our security team! In total Ramo stayed with us for around 2 months – but it felt like he’s …
en savoir plus
Melanie, 25 from Switzerland, student of Social Work, volunteered at One Happy Family for nine weeks. Thank you Melanie for all your energy, happiness and your support! This is my most memorable moment: This is a question I can’t really answer. Every day is in its own way very exciting and interesting. It’s the daily …
en savoir plus
Sophia, 25, Social work student from Germany, volunteering at OHF for 6 months. This is my most memorable moment: It is difficult to define one single memorable moment. What makes the experience of being here so memorable to me are the many encounters with people of cultures, thoughts and perceptions of the world that could …
en savoir plus
Jojo, 23, Student in Educational Studies in History, Politics and Sports My most memorable moment is… When we organised the first football tournament and saw that everybody was so happy afterwards. What struck me the most is… How the whole situation is setting up refugees for failure. People lack access to the most basic things they …
en savoir plus
Khudadad explores how staying active is helping refugees in Moria to stay positive despite living in dire conditions. He talks to four inspirational refugees, Yaya, Amir, Fifi and Ahmad who use their time in Lesvos to help others and improve their lives. Amir, a refugee from Afghanistan, works as a tailor making bags out of …
en savoir plus
Felix, 26, Airfreight clerk This is my most memorable moment… There are plenty of memorable moments. But the new years eve celebration with all the helpers and their families was fantastic. This struck me the most… The dedication that all the involved people show every day to make this place to what it is. One …
en savoir plus
Ludovic, 25, Product Manager in Baby Care Company This is my most memorable moment… There are so many moments… I will always remember Christmas party with all the helpers dancing all together, no matter of their country of origin. Lovely team! This struck me the most… When I saw helpers coming from Moria in the …
en savoir plus
“Living under inhumane circumstances in the refugee camp Moria in Lesvos, Greece, people do everything they can in order to get a vulnerability paper from the doctors. It is said, that if you are vulnerable, the authorities will move you away from the camp to better circumstances. In this episode, we listen to the voice …
en savoir plus
Silke Reiter, 36, anthropologist from Austria This is my most memorable moment… I am super impressed by the kitchen team. Cooking for so many people in such a tiny place is an incredible task. The kitchen team is so dedicated to their work and they always try to make the best out of everything and …
en savoir plus
Ross Ireland, 64, a semi-retired businessman from England. This is my most memorable moment… My favourite time of the day is when we close the main building to adults and the school kids come for their supper. They walk in singing songs and reciting the alphabet in English and they’re always happy and full of …
en savoir plus
In this episode we will talk about different topics: First, Mary from the Pedagogical Institute of LA that volunteered in One Happy Family for few weeks, will explain what ‘The Nest’ is and how and who started it, what it can offer to children and why it is very important here. Then 3 of our …
en savoir plus
Lily Peck, 27, agriculture/ plant sciences PhD student from England For the past 5 weeks Lily has been working with us in One Happy Family for the second time this year. After this experience, she wants to raise more awareness in her home country. ‘’People think that the crisis here on Lesvos is over. It …
en savoir plus
This Episode is all about recording, editing and creating Radio. We present you the Radio Lesvos workshop in One Happy Family, organised and led by the three amazing volunteers Amelie, Clement and Adrien from Monobloc. Amelie will explain what they wanted to achieve in their workshop, how it went, what participants learnt and why One …
en savoir plusThis week we talk about how people deal with foreign languages and situations where they got misunderstood, had an awkward situation or laughed because of funny mistakes. We will also introduce the professional skills workshop with Danielle and Cliff. What was important for them while they were here, how did people participate and what skills …
en savoir plus
Anja Otth, 25, social work student from Switzerland After working with refugees in Switzerland, Anja decided to come to Lesvos to see things from a different point of view. She wanted to see what the people here are going through so she could use this experience in her work in Switzerland. ‘Working here as a …
en savoir plus
Listen to what our one and only Colombian volunteer did in her 2 and a half months on the island. Laugh with us about what’s going on behind the scenes of our Podcast production and in the end Aimerance will talk with us about her daily tasks and her work in One Happy Family.
en savoir plusThis Episode is all about the One Happy Family currency the ‘Drachma’. What is Drachma? Where does this name come from? Where can I use Drachma? How many Drachmas do I need for a tea or a coffee? How does the new recycling idea for the café work? How much costs a shampoo? What do …
en savoir plusThis episode is all about the volunteers. We chat with Sam, who volunteered in One Happy Family for 2 months. If you want to know how your time as a volunteer in OHF could look like, listen to Sam’s stories, experiences, laughter and statements. We also asked Aimerance, who works in the Café how she …
en savoir plusSam, Zahra, Ali, Paul, Clara, Emilia, Mindy, Reza are helpers, volunteers and visitors of One Happy Family. In our 3rd Podcast we asked them what their favourite part of #OneHappyFamily is. Primary health care, sort out medical histories, treat chronic illnesses and acute problems, assist in social and psychological problems; @DocMobile is doing a lot …
en savoir plusOne Happy Family würde nicht existieren ohne unsere wunderbaren Helfer und Voluntäre aus der ganzen Welt! In der heutigen Ausgabe treffen wir Menschen, die im Community Center Freiwilligenarbeit leisten. Hört, zu in welchen Projekten sie arbeit und wie sie von ihren Lieblingsmomenten im Projekt erzählen. Wir hoffen euch gefällt unser neuer Podcast! Nächste Woche publizieren …
en savoir plus
Nach Workshops, Trainings und Hingabe freuen wir uns, dass unser kleines Radioteam nun die erste Episode unserer neuen Podcast-Show “One Happy Podcast” veröffentlicht hat. “One Happy Podcast” ist ein neues Projekt, das Aktivitäten und Geschichten von #OneHappyFamily umfasst. Wir schauen gründlich in die verschiedenen Aktivitäten und Projekte im Zentrum und hören Geschichten von inspirierenden Gästen, …
en savoir plus
Ashley and Jordan Johnsen Living in the United States, Ashley and Jordan Johnsen know the refugee crises is a hot topic. But with Trump as their president, they say there is not a lot of information about displaced people. A reason to come to Lesvos to see the situation themselves. ‘Trump dominates our news cycle. …
en savoir plus
Gaelle Dietrich Gaelle Dietrich volunteers in a center for refugees in Germany. To learn more about what these people are going through, she decided to go to Lesvos. ‘I wanted to go a little bit further in the work I am doing. I felt the need to see where the people I work with have …
en savoir plus