Housing for the Vulnerable Refugees of Lesvos

The time for the first report of our GlobalGiving project “Housing for the Vulnerable Refugees of Lesvos” has come and we are happy to share with you our latest developments! 

Up to this day, we have managed to host for a period of time over 25 people, among them 13 babies and children! These vulnerable people with the support of all of you were able to move away from the inhumane living conditions that exist in the temporary Kara Tepe (Moria II) camp, where the weather conditions and the COVID-19 outbreak have a toll on the mental and physical health of the people residing into.  

This housing program currently has the overview of 5 rented, fully equipped flats in the city center of Mytilini. In the apartments rented by Lesvos Solidarity extremely vulnerable cases of refugees that reside on the island found a place where they can live in dignity, raise their kids in safety and can focus on how to rebuild their future instead of just surviving. Medical, Psychosocial support along with food and NFIs are provided by LeSol’s MHPSS team.

We are also able to provide training and workshops via our employability coach aimed to assist people who are interested in settling in Greece primarily and wish to learn and understand the structure of the public system. The coach provides training and workshops to refugees who wish to learn the registration system in Greece and find work. (how to set up TAX number, Health Number, Social Security, Bank account, etc, as well as sessions for CV writing and interview preparation). 

The coach will also be able to redirect the beneficiaries to one of our educational classes. Every day numerous classes of IT, English, Greek and Arabic are held in Mosaik Support Center, free of charge for refugees to attend. Furthermore, our employability coach will be performing outreach to locate suitable employers and to arrange interviews for eligible refugees. The coach will also provide information to prospective employers on the recognised refugee status. 

The total capacity of our private accommodation program today is up to 25 people, depending on the number of newborn children hosted along with their mothers. In the following months, we are expecting to raise our hosting capacity by adding 2 more apartments. 

In these very hostile times for refugees and asylum seekers, we would not be able to continue our actions in support of the most vulnerable people without your solidarity and support. With your donations, we are able to provide the refugee population of the island with all the means necessary for them to be able to eventually dream and stand on their own feet one day. 

See you all again in our second report. Until then thank you all for standing by our side with your generous donations and for sharing with your friends and family our mission and our actions! 

With gratitude and love, 

The team of Lesvos Solidarity