fillING gaps
in humanitarian protection for people seeking refuge
And the award goes to....Lighthouse Relief!
And the award goes to....Lighthouse Relief!
The International Peace and Sport Forum selected us to receive this year's "Empowerment through Sport" award. They recognized how children living in Ritsona camp have come to rely on our weekly football, basketball and other activities based on a Sport For Development curriculum to help them overcome trauma, social isolation, and anxiety.
“I’m very proud of our team, volunteers, local sports partners, and everyone who contributes to this program. It feels great to be recognized by such a prestigious organization,” says Score4TheFuture program leader Jellina Keulen (pictured above).
AREAS
OF
SUPPORT
Our interventions revolve around two main pillars:
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Give youth, women, and especially children living in refugee camps and other fragile contexts opportunities to cope, heal, and develop life skills through play, sports, and creative outlets.
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Help families struggling to put food on the table, find safe housing, and access social services and the asylum procedure.
Lighthouse Relief fills gaps in humanitarian protection for people seeking refuge. In Greece, where approximately 90,000 asylum seekers struggle to meet their basic needs, We extend a safety net to some of the most vulnerable.
Families with young children, single mothers, survivors of gender-based violence, and others with multiple vulnerabilities comprise the majority of the thousand or so people who turn to us every month for assistance.
They increasingly struggle to rebuild their lives in the face of reduced government support for food and housing, regardless of whether they qualify for international protection.
We step in with emergency accommodations and food baskets while people try to secure employment and durable housing with support from our social workers and Victoria Community Center partners.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Monthly food and hygiene distributions to 250 families, emergency housing for single mothers and their children, and multilingual helplines for new arrivals and families living precariously. This grew out of a streetwork initiative launched in December 2021 and has since supported 10,500 individuals, of whom 40% are children.
SOCIAL SERVICES & INTEGRATION
Access to the asylum procedure, public services, and ongoing support for vulnerable families regardless of legal status. This includes referrals to other service providers to facilitate integration into Greek society.
MENTAL HEALTH & PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
Trauma-sensitive safe spaces and activities to support emotional resilience and psychosocial well-being. More than 10,000 people, mostly children and teens have taken part since 2016 .
What
we
envision
A society that ensures safe passage, upholds human rights, and makes it possible for anyone to thrive.
Our ethos of flexibility, accountability, and inclusivity, means that we adapt quickly to evolving needs on the ground and draw on the experiences of team members and partners who have lived as refugees to shape our response.