Installation of a space dedicated to women at the Ritsona Refugee Camp

The Ritsona Refugee Camp is currently the largest camp in Greece, hosting over 2,300 refugees and asylum seekers. Thanks to the support of Give a Hand, Lighthouse Relief will inaugurate a space exclusively dedicated to women residing in Ritsona. Using two large containers already available on the grounds, the center is a drop-in space for women over the age of 15. It will be the perfect space for women to meet, pursue their hobbies or personal projects and participate in organized activities ranging from yoga to English classes to skill building, professional development and women’s advocacy workshops. A ‘beauty corner’ will be set up for women to do their hair and nails in a relaxed, safe and welcoming atmosphere and enjoy a break from camp life. As with all of Lighthouse Relief’s programs in Ritsona, this location provides women with access to informal psychosocial support in the form of counseling and referral to protective services.

Give a Hand and Lighthouse Relief Partnership

In 2022, Give a Hand collaborated with Lighthouse Relief to implement emotion regulation and management workshops for children in their daycare.  The results exceeded expectations. Lighthouse Relief staff members noticed a significant improvement in children’s emotional and social skills. It is with great enthusiasm that we begin a second project with the organization.

Lighthouse Relief

In response to the increase in refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Greece during 2015, Lighthouse Relief was founded to provide emergency assistance to refugees fleeing conflict and persecution. Today, the organization provides psychosocial support to both residents of the Ritsona refugee camp and homeless refugees and asylum seekers in Athens.