Support of Moria White Helmets in Lesvos 2023

Since 2019, Wadi has been supporting refugee self-organization in Lesvos, Greece. The refugee self-organized entity Moria White Helmets (MWH) is active across many areas of need, such as recycling, environmental protection, cleaning, electrical maintenance, education, barbershop services, tailoring, beauty salon offerings, and workshop assistance.

The Moria White Helmets refugee self-help organization continued activities throughout 2023 with 64 dedicated members from within the camp population. Here is an overview on their major initiatives in the past year:

Waste Management

The Moria White Helmets (MWH) refugee volunteer group continued its critical waste management and recycling efforts in the Movrovouni Camp on Lesvos island in 2023. Out of 65 total members, 22 dedicated members worked on waste management activities across the camp and surrounding areas. Rubbish collection occurred 3 days per week, resulting in the collection of approximately 100-150 bags per month. The MWH team also conducted special rubbish collection drives focused on assisting the local community. These special collections included cleaning the streets inside and outside the camp, collecting empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans, and cleaning local beaches. Through their consistent community-focused waste management efforts, the MWH team helped maintain a cleaner, more sustainable environment both in the camp and across Lesbos.

Electric

The capable electrical team of the MWH operated on-call 24/7 throughout 2023, working diligently in collaboration with the camp’s technical department upon request. The electricians also repaired various electrical outlets and maintained the electrical systems of individual housing units and tents for camp residents. Their critical repair efforts helped ensure continuous operation of vital electrical infrastructure across the camp.

Education

Access to education remains a major challenge for asylum-seekers on Lesvos island. To help address this pressing issue, the dedicated MWH team provided both formal and informal educational support and capacity-building assistance to camp residents in 2023. They worked closely alongside existing formal education channels to minimize the number of children falling behind in schools due to lack of academic support.

Approximately 50 students participated in supplementary English, Farsi, and Arabic children’s classes offered by the MWH weekly. Additionally, some 20 adult residents attended informal classes focused on core subjects. The team also offered supplemental instruction in art, music, and mathematics led by 6 qualified teacher-volunteers from within the camp population. Through offering complementary educational opportunities, the MWH helped improve educational outcomes and skill-building for numerous students of all ages residing in the camp.

Barbershop

The MWH barbershop continued operation in 2023 as a critical source of safe and dignified basic hygiene services for men and boys in the camp environment. Maintained by 8 capable resident barbers and assistants, the barbershop remained open 6 days per week from morning to early evening, providing essential haircuts and shaves to approximately 100 male camp residents per week. As inadequate sanitation infrastructure persists in refugee camps across Greece, the MWH barbershop has become a clean and consistent alternative for men to maintain proper hygiene and self-care.

Beauty Salon

Responding to the needs of the community, the MWH team launched a dedicated women’s beauty salon activity in 2023. Located in the camp and maintained by 6 trained female resident volunteers, the weekly beauty salon offers critical hair, nail, and makeup services to women and girls staying in the camp. As a safe and communal space run by women for women, the salon provides an empowering opportunity for female residents to focus on self-care despite the hardship of life in a refugee camp. Since opening, the service has received enthusiastic engagement from women and children looking for support with personal beauty needs.

Workshop

The capable 8-person strong workshop team continued camp repair and construction assistance throughout 2023. Equipped with the necessary tools and skills, the hardworking handymen helped conduct approximately 100 bicycle repairs monthly in addition to performing urgent alterations on housing accommodations per camp resident requests. Through volunteering their broad maintenance capabilities, the workshop team delivered helpful hands-on support with infrastructure upkeep across the camp.

Sewing and Tailor Shop

Operational throughout 2023, the MWH’s on-site sewing and tailor shop assisted residents in adapting, fixing, and creating clothing items using 5 sewing machines manned by capable resident tailors and seamstresses. By providing customized mending services that extend the useful life of garments, the initiative helped reduce textile waste and unnecessary production of refuse in the camp.

It additionally supported individuals in maintaining clothing that properly fits their needs.

Through volunteering their handy skills, the sewing team delivered helpful hands-on support meeting localized community apparel needs.

Administration and Logistics

The dedicated 4-person administration and logistics team of the MWH (2 logistic members and 2 translators) continued coordination support for the organization’s activities in 2023.

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Key duties included maintaining positive working dynamics, providing task instructions, holding weekly progress meetings, addressing problems, exchanging best practices, registering members, producing reports, and ensuring cooperative teamwork across the initiative. The team provided the essential glue keeping the volunteer organization running cohesively to maximize positive community impact.

Through leveraging their diverse skills and collaborative spirits to uplift their community, the MWH team delivered aid and empowerment to those in need while setting an example of service and leadership under hardship. The initiative provides a powerful model of refugees helping refugees that kindles hope for the future.