By Christianna Vaso | Communications and Development Officer
Reflecting on 2023 brings a mix of feelings – tough challenges, but also many bright spots. Solidarity with people on the move kept taking hits (with limited governmental support and the coastguard’s increased reliance on pushbacks), but there's also been a ray of hope as we, at Lighthouse Relief, have helped thousands start anew.
Last year threw us some serious curveballs. From losing access to Ritsona Camp to dealing with more homelessness and a glitchy online asylum platform, it was a tough one. But our team didn't flinch. We got creative and stepped up to serve even more people in need.
In Athens, our team of social workers and intercultural mediators worked tirelessly to provide:
Throughout the year, we welcomed single mothers with young children into our emergency accommodations, expanded our food and hygiene distributions to meet the growing need for support, and unblocked access to the asylum procedure for people in vulnerable situations.
In early 2023, we regretfully lost access to Ritsona Camp and had to close the safe spaces and psychosocial support activities we had been offering children, youth, and women there since 2016.
But, there was no way we would let down our young Ritsona athletes! We moved our sports program out of the camp to football and basketball facilities in partnership with local sports clubs where we completed 125 sports sessions. The kids from Ritsona love experiencing life beyond the camp walls and interacting with their Greek peers during their weekly practice!
A big thank you to all of you, as we couldn't do it without you. Thanks for having our backs and making a real difference in so many lives.
We're staying strong and staying true to our mission. We'll keep fighting for the rights and dignity of everyone seeking refuge in 2024 and for the years to come.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, don't hesitate to contact me at chloe.esposito@lighthouserelief.org.
In solidarity,
Chloe Esposito
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