Where we work
BULGARIA
Due to border closures and militarization in Hungary and Croatia, the so-called Balkan route is increasingly shifting to Bulgaria. In response, the Bulgarian-Greek and Bulgarian-Turkish borders have also been heavily reinforced in recent years. Frontex is also active here with brutal force and terrible pushbacks.
Reception prospects and integration rates in the country are very poor, meaning that Bulgaria remains a transit country. Refugees repeatedly report experiences of violence and imprisonment. Medical care for refugees is also completely inadequate there. We provide basic support to people on the move in need at two locations in Bulgaria.
Varna
In Varna we work together with cooperation partners and we provide basic care for people who have left the war zones in Ukraine. They are suffering from poor housing and living conditions in Bulgaria. Most of the people we see come from Mariupol, Odessa and other parts of eastern Ukraine. For this we have mobile equipment and vehicles to visit those people in their shelters, as well as various as rooms in some shelters.
Services we offer:
- Primary healthcare support and accompaniment in the Bulgarian health system
- Wound care
- Referral to more advanced medical services, dental work and psychological support
Our team brings together professionals, coordinators, interpreters, and members of the local community to provide support where it is needed.
GREECE
Due to its geographical location on the eastern border of the European Union, Greece has been a main country of arrival for refugees and migrants seeking to reach Europe via the Mediterranean for years. Most refugees arrive via Turkey and try to reach Greece from there via the Aegean Sea.
As local basic care for people on the move is inadequate, we have established several locations to support people in need.
Athens
In Athens we support 400 people per month, mostly from Afghanistan, DR Congo, Cameroon, and Greece. Since December 2021, we mainly operate from our own space, Meraki, located in the centre of Athens, while we keep offering our services in our partner spaces in different locations around the city. We also visit camps in the Attika area, make home visits and escort people to the hospital when needed.
Another one of our activities is the street outreach shifts, where we cooperate with several partners to offer healthcare support to the street connected, who are usually excluded from healthcare structures due to stigma and prejudice. The homeless population, people with problematic substance use, and women in prostitution are some of the (mostly local) people we connect with through our outreach activities. We also link people with specialized services in the public and NGOs’ healthcare system, making around 100 referrals a month.
Services we offer:
- Basic first aid
- Case management
- Referral to further medical services and emergency facilities
- Referrals to specialists and pharmacies
- First aid training
- Outreach assistance
- Camp visits
Our team brings together professionals, coordinators, interpreters, and members of the local community to provide support where it is needed.
Mental Health for Children & Youth
With our MHPSS project for children, young people and families in Athens, we want to strengthen and promote the psychosocial well-being of children and caregivers. As most of the visitors have been through terrible experiences, the aim of the project is to promote resilience and reduce psychological stress. We offer a safe space for victims and caregivers to talk about their lives and how they can best support their children and receive support.
Services we offer:
- Group sessions
- Play activities
- Safe space
- Camp visits
Our team:
- 1 Coordinator
- 1-3 Mental Health Worker Volunteers (Psychologist, Child Psychiatrist, Social Worker, Pedagogues, or or related fields)
- An adaptable interpretation team
(Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Greek)
Kos
In Kos there is one of several CCAC (closed control access centers). Here the situation for arrivals is usually catastrophic, as are the hygienic conditions. Medical care is inadequate and difficult to access. We therefore offer support in our own Space not far from the camp, we also try to refer people to other health care facilities if necessary and support them with appropriate visits.
Services we offer:
- Case management
- Referrals to further medical services and emergency facilities
- Referrals to specialists and pharmacies
- First Aid
- First Aid Courses and Healthcare workshops
Our team brings together professionals, coordinators, interpreters, and members of the local community to provide support where it is needed.
BOSNIA
We care for people in various squats on a daily basis. Our team offers acute support for injuries and illnesses.
We also provide training for first aid and do healthcarte workshops.
Services we offer:
- First Aid
- Case management
- Referral to further medical, dental and psychological services
- Referral to legal support, accommodation, food and clothing
- Manual patient documentation
- Documentation of human rights violations
Our team brings together professionals, coordinators, interpreters, and members of the local community to provide support where it is needed.