Monthly Report: Paréa Lesvos June 2026
- 3 days ago
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Check out our monthly project update for June 2026 at Paréa Lesvos
The word ‘paréa’ in Greek means “company, circle of friends”: everyone is welcome in Paréa!
Located within walking distance from the CCAC (Closed and Controlled Access Camp) on Lesvos, our community centre Paréa Lesvos offers a safe space where people on the move, locals, and internationals can meet and spend time in a peaceful and welcoming environment.
Paréa is run by Europe Cares, which is responsible for the safety, major facility costs, maintenance, and development of the centre. It is also a home to another 9 civil society organisations: Artists Giving Back, Boat Refugee Foundation, Collective Aid, Leave No One Behind, Makerspace Lesvos, Refocus Media Labs, Refugee Relief Doro Blancke, TerraPsy, and Yoga and Sport with Refugees. In a time of high political uncertainty and constant withdrawal of support and international attention from Lesvos, our network of partner organisations joined forces to offer people on the move a wide range of services including food and NFI distributions, legal and psychosocial support, education, and social care activities. But first and foremost, we offer a sense of community and belonging.
We are one community in solidarity. Will you join us?
View of Mavrovouni Camp from Paréa Lesvos
LESVOS UPDATES
In June, Lesvos recorded 87 new arrivals(1). Despite this, the number of people living in the Lesvos Closed Controlled Access Center (CCAC) has decreased. By the end of June, 258 people(2) were recorded in the camp by the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum. During the same period, there have been 30 transfers(3) from Lesvos to the mainland. Aegean Boat Report have registered 12 pushback cases in the Aegean Sea, involving 340 children, women and men who tried to reach safety in Europe.(4)
Residents of the CCAC report that, due to changes in asylum procedures under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, many are effectively unable to leave as they have not received their asylum cards, creating a situation in which people feel imprisoned while they wait for their cases to be registered.
While Lesvos has seen arrivals slow, the picture elsewhere in Greece is different. Crete receives a majority of the Greek sea-arrivals. In view of the increasing number of migrants arriving in Crete, Greece is planning to respond to arrivals from Libya with closed centres in Heraklion and Chania, as well as accelerated procedures to process asylum seekers within a few weeks. Furthermore, Greece's parliament has voted to approve a law establishing return hubs located outside the EU.
The Greek parliamentary vote comes after EU lawmakers signed off last week on the legal framework governing the establishment of migrant return hubs in third countries. The new law is set to apply in Greece from June 12, the same date on which the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force. Rights organisations and legal experts have raised concerns that the use of closed centres and expedited asylum procedures may undermine access to fair and individual assessments of protection claims. Critics argue that shortened timelines risk limiting applicants' ability to secure legal assistance or gather necessary documentation, while increased detention measures could lead to overcrowding and deteriorating conditions.
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JUNE IN NUMBERS
Highlight of the Month
On the 18th of June, Paréa celebrated World Refugee Day under the theme “Courage”, bringing together 80 visitors, representing a third of the current camp population.
Together with our partner organizations, we organized a variety of activities including a volleyball tournament, music and jam sessions, screen printing, collective art projects and a dance party, creating opportunities for connection and self-expression!
A special highlight was the “Flotilla of Courage”, where participants folded paper boats and wrote messages and poems of hope, resilience, and solidarity.
Faces of Paréa
For me, Paréa is a wonderful place to spend time and enjoy a relaxing atmosphere. What I love most about it is the amazing people I have met there. All the volunteers are kind, friendly, and make you feel welcome. It also gives me the opportunity to enjoy my favorite hobby, drawing, and sometimes I like to relax in the garden and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. It is truly a place full of positive energy and beautiful memories.
Hozifa from Sudan
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Our Partner: RED NOSES International
This month, we were delighted to welcome our partner RED NOSES International to Paréa. As an artistic organisation dedicated to bringing humour and laughter to people facing difficult circumstances, RED NOSES uses the art of clowning to provide psychosocial support and create moments of joy and connection.
Throughout their visits, they organized playful activities including hula hoop, juggling, balance games and interactive clowning, creating countless moments of shared laughter!
They also led lively jam sessions with drums, shakers and guitars, inviting visitors, volunteers and staff to play, sing and dance together.
Their presence brought happiness and positive energy to Paréa, reminding us how important humour, music and laughter can be in everyday life!
Welcome to Our Space: The Community Garden
In June, the garden continued to be one of the calmest and peaceful corners of Paréa, but also a space of care and sharing, since visitors can take what they need from it.
This month we also organised a small garden and cooking workshop, where we collected lettuce, zucchini and cucumbers. The activity was a beautiful way to connect the garden with daily life at Paréa, showing how it could be also a place where people can gather, cook, share food and enjoy what grows there.
Recently, a hammock was added in the garden, creating an even more relaxing corner where visitors can rest and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the garden between trees and plants.
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