Our Story

who we are

We are Movement On The Ground, we catalyze sustainable change within the humanitarian sector, enabling individuals affected by humanitarian crises to become productive members of society within the same year.

Our Story

We specialize in transforming refugee camps into more safe, enabling and self-sufficient communities by serving both hosting and hosted, and consulting stakeholders in the management of a humanitarian crisis.

Our Story

get to know us

Founded in 2015 on the Greek island of Lesvos, at that time the epicenter of the Europe’s refugee crisis with over 500,000 refugees arriving in just a few months, Movement On The Ground has since grown rapidly into an established organization in the global humanitarian field.

With a pragmatic, solution-oriented and community-centered approach, Movement On The Ground has developed the holistic “Camp to CampUs” methodology over the years as the core of its mission. The methodology embodies the vision that forcibly displaced people are as much a part of the solution equation in the provision of safe shelter and reception as any other stakeholder.

By actively involving the displaced communities from the very start in both the co-creation and the management unlocks their potential to contribute rather than being only beneficiaries of aid. The result is a sustainable, cost-efficient and wholesome environment for all involved.

The Camp to CampUs approach, grounded in International humanitarian principles and best practices, aims to enhance the safety, security and quality of life for displaced populations by integrating a community-enabling ecosystem of services that lead to educational, social, and economic opportunities within the camp environment while ensuring cost efficiency in the use of resources.

The primary objective of the Camp to CampUs methodology is to create a holistic and inclusive community model that unlocks the potential of refugees by providing them with access to education, vocational training, and psychosocial support. This model seeks to facilitate self-reliance, resilience, and a sense of normalcy among camp residents, all while optimizing the cost-effectiveness of humanitarian interventions.

In 2023 Movement On The Ground was active in 3 continents addressing some of today’s most challenging conflict areas including Ukraine, North West Syria and Lebanon.

 

Guiding Principles

our core values driving systemic change

Dignity

We ensure that basic needs are met through co-created CampUs infrastructures that empower residents with access and agency.

Self-Reliance

We foster community unity by encouraging participation in volunteer programs and co-created social activities.

Belonging

We restore a sense of belonging and purpose by integrating individuals affected by crises into supportive communities.

Advocacy

We drive policy changes that support the societal integration of those impacted by humanitarian crises.

Impact

Partnering with leading humanitarian organisations to deploy our Camp to CampUs methodology worldwide.

Who we are, meet some of our team

“We recognise that the existing framework for managing humanitarian crises is under immense strain, with asylum and migration placing an unnecessary socio-economic burden on our societies. Our goal is to build bridges between residents, the community, and professionals in the reception sector. By challenging the prevailing approach in refugee camps and reception facilities with a fresh perspective and a proven methodology focused on resident participation, we, together with our partners, are driving innovation and providing much-needed relief to the global refugee reception system.”

Adil Izemrane, CEO of Movement on the Ground.

“My meeting with MOTG and its people has had a big impact on me. The way in which people are approached as human beings, a piece of dignity is returned to them, that by acting quickly on situations the impact is immediately visible and tangible.

I live in Nijverdal myself, a village in the east of the Netherlands. Inspired by MOTG, there I set up Restaurant Kleurrijk and Stichting Culture Kitchen. With this meeting place and work-study program, we hope to give people with a refugee background a stepping stone into our society.”

Jessica Heutink, Founder of Heutink Foundation and Supervisory Board Member for Movement on The Ground.

“To me, everyone deserves dignity, opportunities, and respect. I have seen the positive impact when these basics are in place. Unfortunately, this is often not the case for people fleeing their countries. As part of MOTG, I want to contribute to a welcoming society where refugees feel at home and can thrive. The work of MOTG plays a fundamental role in achieving this.”

Bas-Jan Walhof, Director of Aqua+ and Supervisory Board Member for Movement on the Ground.

Aqua+ is a 5th generation family business focused on fire protection for large buildings in the Netherlands.

movement in action

Our Vision

We envision a society where everyone, regardless of their background, belongs and feels free to contribute to societal changes.

We believe that a better world starts with building stronger communities, through our methodology, we enable individuals affected by a humanitarian crisis to reintegrate and become active, productive member of society.

 

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