These are the words of one of our visiting volunteers, Ben Freeborn. The ambitious 20-year-old had spent a month and a half working in our Olive Grove #campUs before he had to face the decision to stay on #Lesvos or head back home to Singapore due to the #coronavirus pandemic. But Ben chose to stay. . After two weeks of precautionary quarantine, Ben is now back working in our Olive Grove campUs, and he couldn’t be happier to be reunited with our resident volunteer tent building team! . We were incredibly humbled by Ben’s decision to stay and work with us during this very uncertain time, so we decided to catch up with Ben to find out more about his decision, why our mission holds so much meaning for him and how he feel when working in and around Moria camp. You can read his full interview by heading to our #linkinbio. . #togethertowardsdignity #camptocampus #inspiringstories

Another set of happy customers! ✅ . Clothes, one of life’s basic needs. Clothes offer warmth, protection and an opportunity to express your style. But for the refugee population living on the Greek islands, clothing is a luxury. . And it’s for this exact reason that we run a free clothing store in Kara Tepe, a camp for the most vulnerable refugee cases on Lesvos. The store offers residents a new set of seasonal clothing every three months, from underwear and socks to dresses and shoes. . The beauty of this shop – especially during times of great uncertainty – is the normality that it brings back to resident’s lives. . To read more about how our clothing store operates, the precautions we are taking in-store due to #covid_19 and how you can support this project, visit our #linkinbio. . #togethertowardsdignity #camptocampus

Today, we lost a great humanitarian and a dear friend 🙏🏻 . Giannis Balpakakis, you shed blood, sweat and tears during your #Moria camp years. You were not always acknowledged for the great work and the passion you delivered every day to change Moria camp into a better destiny for all. . We will never forget your resilience, hard working nature and fighting spirit, but also how these qualities took from your energy. Being the ‘commander’ of the most infamous #refugee camp in Europe was far from easy, but you took on that responsibility. . You meant so much to so many people, but words will fail to make people to understand the unseen. Put simply, Giannis, it was an honour to serve humanity by your side. We will remember you for all of your great deeds. With love from everyone at Movement On The Ground.

When there’s a will, there’s a way! . Our #Lesvos team are currently working on a rotational schedule. This means only three of our coordinators are able to work in our Olive Grove #campUs outside #Moria camp on a two week rotation. This new way of working is one of many precautions we are taking in response to #covid_19. . But just because team’s access to the Olive Groves might have been minimised, it doesn’t mean it’s stopped them from carrying out our mission and supporting residents from a far. . On Friday evening, our coordinators and visiting volunteers, who have been self-isolating, worked together to prepare food packs for our resident volunteer team and their families. These food packs were then distributed on Saturday by our designated coordinators to a very grateful group of close to 100 resident volunteers. . These food packs were created to not only feed hungry bellies, but as a sign of appreciation, thanks and care. As our MOTG team can’t access the camps, these packs were a way of communicating that our team are still thinking and caring for the camp residents and are thankful for the way in which our resident team are driving our mission forward. . #camptocampus #togethertowardsdignity

“Hope is being able to see that there is light, despite all of the darkness.” - Desmond Tutu . #togethertowardsdignity #glasshalffull #hope

Our superstars of Samos in action! ✊ . These three remarkable men are a very important part of the Movement On The Ground team on #Samos. They work day in day out to support the residents living in the outskirts of Vathy camp by collecting waste, distributing pallets to support tents and checking in on vulnerable people. And now, they are working hard to install and refill multiple hand sanitising stations across the camp. . These dispensers put up in partnership with @chooselove are needed more than ever as in Vathy camp the number of residents exceeds the capacity of wash facilities. Our Samos superstars have installed roughly 50 sanitising dispensers and are refilling them daily for the 7512 people (@refugees). . Besides the installation, they’re also educating their fellow residents about the importance of #cleanhands and personal #hygiene through word of mouth and translated signage. . With permission from camp management and together with @doctorswithoutborders our team on the ground will intensify our efforts to protect the vulnerable refugee population by focusing on hygiene improvement. These 50 dispensers are the first step in providing some protection to a community that can not self-isolate during these challenging #Coivid_19 times. . Head to our #linkinbio to support us in any way you can so we can help those who cant take care of themselves. . #togethertowardsdignity