During May 2018, while on Lesvos island in Greece, I had the chance to visit Pikpa refugee camp just south of the biggest town on the island, Mytilene. In contrast to the absolute humanitarian disaster that is the military-run Moria camp nearby, Pikpa offers an alternative model for handling the refugee crisis.

Pikpa hosts over 100 people from several different countries and has seen over 30,000 refugees pass through its grounds since the project began on an abandoned state campground in 2012.

The camp has now become an independent and open refugee camp for some of the most vulnerable refugees on Lesvos. It’s a community-based project, built on the principles of solidarity, empowerment and active participation. The aim is to create a new way of living, working and being together in local society. Here people can live in dignity and can find love, safety and respect.

The residents of the camp come from several different countries and include people who suffer from serious medical conditions, victims of torture and violence, large families with children, pregnant women, newborns, LGBTQI, lone women and men, victims of shipwrecks who have lost loved ones at sea.
Gender
- Men
- Women
- Girls
- Boys
- Men
- Women
- Girls
- Boys
Origin
- Syria
- Iraq
- Africa
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Other
- Syria
- Iraq
- Africa
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Other
In the camp, many services are offered. Apart from the modern cabin houses provided (with furniture, electrical appliances and homeware), Pikpa offers medical care, psychosocial and legal support, transportation, food, clothes, an on-site laundry service, cleaning and hygiene products and more.

In addition there are daily activities for children including language support classes, sport activities and arts & crafts. Activities include football games, an on-site gym, bread making, carpentry and the garden project. All these and more give opportunities to learn, share skills and expertise, work alongside volunteers, other residents and actively take part in the local community.
Donate now to the Pikpa refugee solidarity initiative and help them continue their fantastic work!
Please also send me a message (if you like) so we can track where donations come from – thanks!
To learn more about PIKPA camp or support the project in other ways, you can visit their website www.lesvossolidarity.org, download the PIKPA Information Pack or follow them on social media below!
Pikpa (@lesvossolidarity) * Instagram photos and videos
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