Updates from Paréa Lesvos 🤩
- Feb 27
- 4 min read
Dear Friends,
The last few months have seen an increasingly challenging environment develop for people on the move on Lesvos as well as for NGOs committed to supporting them. In the Lesvos CCAC, we are witnessing worsening hygiene, safety and health conditions, andlimited access to health care while the harsh wind and rain the past months are having detrimental impacts on accommodation. At the same time, tensions over food in the camp have been rising - NGOs operating in the camp report a growing number of people being very hungry with some people not eating for two days. There are many recognized refugees and residents with negative asylum claims in the camp being excluded from the food distribution.
Early this year, the Greek government adopted a law which introduces severe felony level penalties - such as increased imprisonment - for members of NGOs considered to be facilitating the entry, exit, or stay of third-country nationals in Greece. This law is another way of criminalising NGO workers, and many protection actors on Lesvos actors have expressed concerns that this will considerably hinder the ability for NGOs to continue supporting people on the move.
Despite this very tough context, it continues to show us the vital importance of projects like Paréa Lesvos offering a safe space where people can step away from the harsh conditions of the camp and access essential services. January and February have been busy months at Paréa and so it is time to share our exciting updates with you!
Updates from Paréa LAUNDRY SERVICE In December we took over the laundry that was previously run by our Partner Collective Aid. Since then, the service has been expanding and getting busier! We have increased its availability to keep ensuring that our visitors have clean and dry clothes - which is especially crucial during the harsh rain and wind that we have seen this past month on the island. In a context where there are an increasing number of men living in the Lesvos CCAC while NGOs providing laundry services in the camp are prioritizing women and children, our laundry service for single men in Paréa remains one of the only places ensuring they are not left without access to clean clothes.  MSF COLLABORATION with Women’s space In January, our Partners Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) started a collaboration with our Women’s Space where they host weekly discussions every Thursday focused on women’s health. This collaboration was initiated from the recognition that there needed to be a protected and dedicated space where women can come and discuss health topics and freely ask about any concerns such as gynecological issues. MSF also offers the opportunity for one on one consultations with women if any issues arise during the sessions. The collaboration continues to ensure that women on the move visiting Paréa have a safe space committed to improving their access to health care and information. As another community center for women closed down just two months ago, dedicated spaces for women are increasingly limited - meaning Paréa is more important than ever!  |
THE COMMUNITY GARDEN Our garden manager, Mohammed, has been transforming the garden into a vibrant, welcoming space where visitors can relax in the outside seating, collect delicious vegetables or herbs to take with them, or get involved by sharing their own farming knowledge and practices! Not only is the garden a place for people to get fresh produce, but it is also a vital therapeutic space where people on the move can peacefully take time for themselves outdoors in a colourful place that is in direct contrast to the camp.  Freshly grown onions, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, rosemary, and sage for tea is being handed out to visitors - especially now during Ramadan - while Mohammed continues to expand the garden’s variety by planting the seeds for carrots, beetroot, fava, peas, arugula, parsley, and mint. In the spring, the roses and geraniums planted will bloom beautifully, while women are regularly collecting the Aloe vera for natural skincare. Alongside the planting, the garden’s infrastructure is also growing; new signs for the plants have been painted, support structures built for the peas, and a bamboo windbreaker constructed to protect the outdoor seating from the strong winds. Focusing on sustainability, Mohammed is creating our own natural compost to avoid using chemicals - which is much better for growing the plants! Now our vegetable beds are also overlooked by a new scarecrow - Matteo! It is thanks to all of you who are part of our community - following and supporting our work - that we are able to keep our project, Paréa Lesvos, and its vibrant and essential spaces going! |
Why support Paréa?
Paréa Lesvos is a community center for people on the move in Lesvos, Greece, run by the German NGO Europe Cares e.V.. For nearly a decade, it has been a beacon of hope for hundreds of thousands of people seeking safety, dignity, and hope in Europe. See our Monthly Reports for more information about Paréa Lesvos, by clicking here, and our Evaluation Report 2024, clicking here.
Our community in solidarity needs people like you to keep fighting for a world where everyone feels safe and welcomed! Every small donation makes a difference in the lives of people on the move. Thank you for considering this important commitment and for being an integral part of Europe Cares! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via silvia.lucibello@europecares.org. We are happy to share more info on our work and the situation on the island.
Thank you!
Silvia Lucibello,
Executive Director
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