Monthly Report: Paréa Lesvos May 2025

Check out our monthly project update for May 2025 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 center 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 responsible for the safety, major facility costs, maintenance and development of the center. It is also a home to another 10 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

From 31 March to 4 May 2025, there were 302 arrivals at Lesvos in total, while 15 departed within the same period*, bringing the camp population to 1,614. Meanwhile, 7 pushback cases** were reported in the Aegean Sea, involving 177 children, women, and men who attempted to reach safety in Europe.

The Greek Ministry of Migration has issued a new directive: shelters must evict anyone whose asylum process has come to an end—whether their claim was approved or rejected. This decision affects recognized refugees, rejected asylum seekers, families, and children. Only those officially identified as vulnerable will be allowed to stay. Many of the people impacted have spent months, even years, living in these shelters—rebuilding their lives, sending their children to school, working, or simply waiting for the support they need to move forward. Evicting people without offering support doesn't end displacement — it only deepens hardship and instability. The Greek government and the EU, must stop these evictions until long-term housing and integration solutions are in place.

There’s an effort to secure retroactive payments for people who qualified for cash assistance but didn’t receive it—including recognized refugees; unfortunately the likelihood of this initiative to be successful is very low. New arrivals must now register for support as soon as they arrive. A one-time payment is still possible for those who signed up in time. Cash assistance payments are being prepared for people who registered as asylum seekers in July and August 2024. We should notice here that he last round of payments, covering support up to June 2024, was issued in October.

After the winter has ended, and with fewer people in the camp, the water for the showers is warmer and easier to manage. The camp management focus is on reconstruction and winterization—particularly WCs and showers, while NGOs allowed to work in the camp are distributing hygiene kits to the residents.

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*UNHCR / **Aegean Boat Report

MAY IN NUMBERS

Highlight of the month

In the Women Space, we organised a cooking workshop, where together we prepared mini chicken gyros, alongside freshly made tzatziki. 19 women joined this activity and everyone was involved in either chopping, mixing, adding spices to the chicken or assembling the wraps.

As word of the activity spread, more and more women joined the space, and dancing started alongside the cooking. Once the chicken gyros were ready, we all sat down and enjoyed our delicious creation together. 

Faces of Paréa

In the heart of Lesvos, 'Parea' is not just another space; it's a home for those who have lost everything. Here, together, we rediscover the sense of family and belonging. Every smile, every help, is part of our 'Parea'. Thank you for being with us. Zaker - From Afghanistan

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Meet our partner: TerraPsy

TerraPsy provides psychological and psychosocial support for families: children, teenagers and parents. Every day, their team of psychologists and interpreters organizes workshops — using arts, discussion groups, and other psycho-pedagogical techniques — as well as individual consultations.

These are crucial in supporting children in the development of their emotional regulation, social skills and psychomotor skills. They also provide support for parents  by recreating a calm and secure space to share their difficulties.

Since psychological support for children is scarce on Lesvos, TerraPsy plays a vital role in filling this critical gap in essential services for families on the move.

Welcome to our space: Café

The Café is a program run by Europe Cares and offers free drinks, including coffee, tea, milk, chocolate and cold juice as well as free lunches cooked by our partner Zaporeak on a daily basis. 

As food situation in the camp remains poor, we provide crucial support to the people in the camp.  In April, we delivered 225 meals per day, supporting those who are cut off from governmental assistance due to their legal status. 

Our visitors highly enjoy the Café, appreciating the sense of normality, choosing their preferred drinks and enjoying a nutritious meal brings. This month, we added a new summer drink to our menu: homemade Iced Tea! 

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