Help LHR Continue its Vital Programming in Greece

The team at LHR would like to extend its deepest thanks to all those who have helped us raise over half our target on the new GlobalGiving campaign. We are constantly in awe of the support you provide to our programmes year round, in and out of the field. We quite literally couldn’t do it without you: thanks to your generous contributions, we have been able to continue our vital operations and make plans for the summer – always a busy time for LHR.

So far this year, our team on the north shore of Lesvos has faced a number of challenging circumstances, largely due to the harsh weather conditions that affected the region over the winter months. In February, a young girl tragically went missing and was later confirmed dead when a boat encountered difficulties as it approached a rocky patch of coast in the northeast of Lesvos. Just last week, five children died in a shipwreck off the Turkish coast. 

These events remind us of the importance of our presence on the island and the need to guarantee safe passage into Europe for those seeking refuge. Our Emergency Response team has assisted 1,500 new arrivals so far this year, and our spotters have identified 19 boats, which have been intercepted and safely transferred to port. We can't stop now.  

Ritsona camp houses almost 900 refugees from many different countries, and its population is set to increase dramatically over the next 6 months, with many new living quarters being installed. Since the end of last year, we have expanded our activities to include a structured sports programme for groups ranging from 6 to 18, who take part in football and tennis lessons and youth-led volleyball tournaments.

Lighthouse Relief’s CFS currently welcomes between 50 and 60 children per day, and an average of 80 unique beneficiaries each week. The YES, which a year ago saw around 15 young people attend daily, has seen numbers soaring to around 80-100 per day.

In March, our volunteers helped girls aged 12 to 16 as they worked hard to create new decorations for their dedicated ISOBox. Every day, these young women come to sit in the colourful space or play outside, finding time to be creative, chat with their friends, play badminton or attend workshops.

Across our programming, your support has allowed us to successfully consolidate our staff teams and achieve the financial stability necessary to continue our operations. Now we are looking to go further, making improvements and expanding to ensure that we are providing our vital services to the highest possible standard. With your help, we can meet this challenge!