By Marie-Helene Rousseau | Head of Communications & Partnerships
In January of 2020, as Ritsona Camp welcomed 1,000 new arrivals from the islands of Lesvos and Samos, we experienced heavy rains that flooded our spaces, making them inaccessible and forcing us to suspend our programming. We reached out to the LHR community with a call for help, so that we could resume our activities, and you mobilised immediately!
Within 24 hours, we were able to hire a company to deliver sand and gravel to absorb water in our spaces, and to buy pallets for an elevated walkway. Our team in Ritsona worked alongside Resident Volunteers and members of the community to distribute the sand and gravel across our spaces, ensuring that we could reopen our activities the following week.
Although we were able to restore our spaces and resume our activities, 2020 has had our teams facing unprecedented challenges. In just the month of January, Ritsona's population increased from 900 residents to 2,500 residents, 700 to 800 of whom are younger than 18. This meant that in the first months of 2020, our spaces were busier than ever - for example, our Youth Engagement Space hosting 125 to 135 people every day. Our team expanded, offering a wide range of workshops German, English, dance, fitness, guitar, music writing - and of course, our sought-after art workshop.
In early March of 2020, as many countries reeled from the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we were forced to suspend our in-person programming in Ritsona Camp. As the safety and well-being of the residents of Ritsona, and our volunteers, are our utmost priority, we started planning ways to support the community remotely. This led to our Youth Online Space, an online platform that engages with young residents through language workshops, conversation and creative challenges.
In early April of 2020, the community of Ritsona Camp grappled with cases of Coronavirus inside the camp, and was placed under a strict quarantine. Through this time, we've continued supporting the community remotely, such as participating in a distribution of fresh food organised by our friends at Cafe Rits, and providing psychosocial support through our online space - all the while planning for our return to the camp.
After months of strict quarantine measures, the community of Ritsona requires support more than ever. As we plan for resuming our in-person activities to support the residents, we are so grateful that the LHR community has stood with us. The months to come will undoubtedly hold many more challenges - but we are bolstered and motivated by your encouragement and support.
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