Monthly Report: Paréa Lesvos November 2025
- Joaquin O'Ryan
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Check out our monthly project update for November 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
In November, Lesvos recorded 390 new arrivals and 48 departures. By the end of the month, 1,178 people* were living in the Lesvos Closed Controlled Access Center (CCAC) - an increase compared to the number in the camp in October. Notwithstanding this rise, the number of arrivals have declined since October, with an even sharper decrease in comparison to November 2024. However, across the Aegean islands, 20 pushback incidents were documented by ABR in November, affecting 523 children, women, and men on the move**. Each case is not just a statistic, but a person denied the right to seek protection under international law.
November has been a month defined by a fight for justice and accountability. NGOs, humanitarian workers, and activists have been tirelessly raising awareness and support for the trial in the Mytilini Court against 24 humanitarian workers starting in the first week of December - where they are charged with felony for a search and rescue mission in 2018 on Lesvos. If they are convicted, they face 20 years of prison. Having been dragged out for 7 years, this trial has been in the spotlight of international attention. It highlights the increasing criminalisation of solidarity and humanitarian workers dedicated to protecting people seeking safety across Europe. Additionally, it disregards the violence facing people on the move at sea and the consistent criminalisation of people on the move seeking safety.
On a more encouraging note, the survivors and victims of the 2023 Pylos shipwreck - resulting in 650 deaths - had a significant legal win on the 6th of November. The Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal accepted their appeal and ordered the prosecution of four additional senior offices of the Hellenic Coast Guard - including the chief - bringing the total number of Coast Guard officers under investigation for their role in the shipwreck to 21. This is the highest number of Coast Guard officers being prosecuted for their involvement. This decision is a crucial step towards achieving justice for the victims, survivors, and family of the shipwreck, recognising that this was not an accident by holding the Coast Guard and their failure in rescue and assistance accountable.
Alongside the evidence of structural gaps in interpretation and healthcare services reported by the Aegean NGO Network in the EU-funded Closed Controlled Access Centers (CCAC) on the Greek islands in October, the freedom of movement for asylum seekers has been increasingly restricted in the Lesvos CCAC. The camp has implemented a regulation that requires new arrivals to undergo a medical screening including a psychosocial assessment as part of the asylum registration process. Due to the limited number of medical screenings that Hippocrates is able to conduct every day, this has resulted in a significant backlog of 200 new arrivals as their registration as an asylum seeker is taking longer to be finalized. Subsequently, people are prevented from leaving the CCAC as the provision of asylum cards is delayed for up to two weeks. This restriction on freedom of movement is a barrier significantly compounding the vulnerabilities experienced by people on the move - such as isolation, trauma, anxiety, and limited access to essential healthcare, legal, and social services that are not available in the camp.
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NOVEMBER IN NUMBERS
Highlight of the month
On the 20th of November, Paréa was filled with laughter and creativity as we celebrated World Children’s Day, co-organised with our partner TerraPsy. Over 120 children and their caregivers joined the celebrations throughout the day!
In the morning, our Women’s Space was filled with the scent of essential oils and dried herbs as participants made soap from scratch, while children at the Paréa Club personalised small tote bags generously provided by our partner Collective Aid.
Next to our playground, partners Refugee Assistance Doro Blancke and TerraPsy hosted a smoothie-making station offering nutritious fresh fruit. Médecins Sans Frontières also joined the event, leading interactive personal-hygiene workshops for children.
In the afternoon, Yoga and Sports with Refugees facilitated energetic sports games, and our Child-Friendly Space, together with MakerSpace, organised a colourful kite-making workshop. For caregivers and adults, Defence for Children International and the Legal Center Lesvos held important legal-information sessions.
The day was full of joy, creativity, and community spirit—with learning, engagement, and meaningful information-sharing woven throughout.
Faces of Paréa
When I came here I didn’t know about Paréa, but my experience in this place was beautiful and unique for me. I have never lived or experienced anything like this before. I feel like I am part of it, and everyone is definitely family and friends. I am very happy to have met wonderful people from different countries around the world. Ibrahim - from Palestine
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Meet our partner: Yoga and Sport with Refugees
Our partner organisation MakerSpace is dedicated to repairing electronics and bicycles, as well as offering carpentry and other technical services in Paréa. They also support People on the Move through renovating safe houses in the city centre, with the NGO Welcome Office, creating secure, dignified spaces for those rebuilding their lives.
MakerSpace provide essential services which enable independence for individuals. MakerSpace also provides technical assistance to partner organisations, enabling them to operate their projects more effectively.
Welcome to our space: The Library
At Paréa Lesvos, we believe in the power of reading to bring joy and strengthen community bonds. Our Library, located in the Main Hall, is open to everyone, offering a cozy space to borrow books or simply enjoy some quiet time with a good read.
We offer a diverse collection in multiple languages, catering to all ages. As part of our community services, the Library creates a welcoming space for exploration, learning, and relaxation.
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