CIVIL SOCIETY: 276 PRACTICES
ORGANIZATION EARTH aims to develop environmental and social intelligence. It is an active community of people through collective and creative activities and educational structures.
Read more: www.organizationearth.org
At the crucial moment when the refugee crisis, in Greece and throughout Europe, started to take the characteristics of a humanitarian crisis, Organization Earth created a programme called Earth Refugee, in an effort not to leave behind any single human being, no matter his birthplace location on the planet.
The programme aims are:
Our target audiences are:
a) refugees or migrants seeking international protection in our country, especially those who are currently living in organized accommodation structures in Greece,
b) citizens of our country, that has been required to manage an unprecedented refugee crisis.
7 months – And we are still working on the shaping of a social behavior based on solidarity and consistency, capable to improve the quality of life of the general population.
Organization Earth, with small but extremely flexible human resources, has achieved valuable humanitarian work.
In Autumn 2015, for the first time, an exploratory mission was sent to the island of Samos.
Later, a group of volunteers travelled to Lesvos. They made contact there with domestic and international NGOs and solidarity collectivities, providing emergency humanitarian assistance to refugees.
In February 2016, after the Northern borders to Greece were closed, Organization Earth sent a task force to the port of Piraeus, to ensure the coordination of synergies concerning the smooth operation of an improvised refugee camp and to help in the supply of the most basic of human needs, food. We started preparing meals at our location (Earth K44 in the district of Gazi) but, by the beginning of March 2016, we moved our pots and pans to a permanent location at the pier of the Piraeus port, known as Gate E2. We would provide two meals a day (lunch and dinner), that we would cook with the valuable contribution of volunteers and in short time, we were able to provide meals to the entire harbor.
In the meantime, our Organization became a joint-coordinator for the daily operation of Gate E2, where 1500 refugees had found temporary shelter.
We coordinated the distribution of non-food items: at the beginning the major needs were tents, sleeping bags, blankets, baby strollers and personal hygiene items.
At the same time, we tried to support people in matters such as: Information on their legal rights and on the situation at the Greek borders, transportation to hospitals, protection of the port premises at night, driving away traffickers, identifying unaccompanied children, etc.
In April 2016, Organization Earth started to look for alternative ways to achieve social integration of refugees and thus, began to carry out joint multicultural activities located at its farm, called “the Center of Earth”, in Ilion. During these activities, refugees, employees, friends of the organization, volunteers and people from the local community had the opportunity to come closer and develop a better understanding of cultural differences.
Later, Organization Earth received approval from the Ministry of Immigration to develop activities in the official refugee camps located in Skaramanga, Sounio, Lavrio, Agios Andreas and Oinofita.
Since then, we strive each day to provide decent living conditions for those who stay in the refugee camps and to ensure their integration in the Greek society.
You can learn more about Organization Earth and its activities on our websites:
http://www.organizationearth.org
http://www.facebook.com/www.org.ogi.gr
http://www.facebook.com/EarthK44
or follow Earth Refugee on: http://www.facebook.com/EarthRefugee
The day to day activities of volunteers and workers had the following results:
The Earth Refugee programme developed its activities in the port of Piraeus from the end of February till 25th July 2016, when E2 was permanently evacuated. Action now is continued in the organized refugee hosting structures of Skaramanga and Sounio.
In the past seven months, our action unfolded in exceptional circumstances and pressing needs, filling us with confidence and with the conviction that solidarity, love and human compassion can become our common language to address extreme social conditions.
The support we provided to newcomers -refugees and immigrants- at Piraeus port, was made possible by the active support of the Stavros Niarchos Organization.
In the context of our action, we have developed partnerships with NGOs working in the same field, such as: the High Commission for Refugees, A drop in the Ocean, Danish Refugee Council, Pampeiraïki Protovoulia, O Plision, No more walking, Movement on the ground, American Refugee Committee, Paidika Horia S.O.S. In the meantime, we obtained authorization from UEFA to implement a football programme for the teenagers remaining in the camps.
We also received substantial support from the business community, which responded immediately with donations, thus enabling us to supply basic essentials. AB Vassilopoulos, Ioli, Korres, Apivita, Helektor are some of the companies that supported our action. Very important were also the help given by the restaurants of the wider region of Piraeus, with food supply (when called) and the help offered by the Olympiakos Piraeus Football Team.
We also mobilized workers from other companies who (when called) joined our volunteer network. Many of them left their offices to help addressing the existing needs. They helped with the preparation and packaging of meals, with the packaging of basic essentials and even did shifts at the Piraeus refugee camp.
At a time when closed borders to refugees were increasing dramatically, the Organization considered it necessary to redefine its actions and stand by each individual seeking international protection. The people working for Organization Earth immediately responded to address the needs of the Piraeus harbor, in the framework of their professional duties of course, but also as volunteers. Our team united at once on the spot and remained there until the end, choosing to continue offering personal time and often accompanied by friends and family. Seven days a week, workers, volunteers and refugees formed a unified group.
As we believe that man and nature constitute an unbreakable entity, we stand in solidarity with the refugees, by offering our experience and knowledge.
Through partnerships with experienced Agencies, Organization Earth has managed to plan, coordinate and implement actions, in order to address challenges under extreme conditions.
This is the reason why we created eight jobs (field coordinators, educators, lawyer, project coordinator), while several training seminars were also held for employees and volunteers, on “crisis management” and “addressing the global challenges causing the crises”. During all this time, we gained experience and developed appropriate techniques to face challenges in the best possible way.
No Connection with Global Goals found
