Motivated to bring change to the humanitarian field, Movement On The Ground's mission is to transform ALL refugee hotspots towards safe, healing, enabling and dignified environments from within. We believe everyone, no matter who you are or where you're from, should live in a healing and self-sustaining environment.
At the core of our mission is our Camp to campUs philosophy, the concept of transforming refugee hotspots into dignified environments. A place where refugees feel empowered and included in the running of services and projects. Where both host and hosted community can feel included and valued. Our Camp to campUs philosophy is something that we have developed and nurtured, and we are now realising just how impactful this approach is in relation to the reception of refugees across the globe.
We work in four locations across Greece. On the islands of Lesvos, Samos and Chios, we work in and around refugee camps implementing our Camp to campUs philosophy. In Athens, we operate safe and healing homes for unaccompanied minors.
INFRASTRUCTURE
In order to fulfil the basic human rights of refugees living in camps, secure and sufficient infrastructure must be in place. Movement On The Ground carries out a diverse range of infrastructure projects across the location we work including; electricity provision, access to dignified showers and toilets, waste management and food provision.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
People on the move often experience great trauma and distress as a result of their displacement. Whilst living in camps, studies show they are more likely to experience mental health deterioration. Movement On The Ground has implemented a community-based program in order to provide preventative mental health and wellbeing support to camp residents.
SPORTS
For both the residents living in camps and the local host community, sports provides an opportunity for physical and mental development as well as connectivity. Together with our partners the Barca Foundation and the Cruyff Foundation, we are able to provide sports for refugees and the local community as well as a SPACES program for children with special needs.
ENVIRONMENT
A colourful and stimulating environment enhances a sense of safety, creativity and community amongst people. Through programs like community gardening, greening, playgrounds and art, Movement On The Ground aim to enhance the feeling of dignity for residnets.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
When working in midst of a volatile and ever changing situation, emergency situations can arise that require immediate reponse. With a history of filling in the gaps, Movement On The Ground are quick and effective in protecting the residents from intense weather conditions, responding to fire damage and securing shelters.
THE MOVEMENT ACADEMY
Educational activities, skills development initiatives and vocational training are important means that help to empower people. Together they combine to create the Movement Academy, helping to build skills that people need for the future and increase the prospects for employment further along their journey.
HOMES FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
In Greece, thousands of unaccompanied minors find themselves falling outside the system of protective care. Together with Greek partner, The HOME Project, Movement On The Ground have established three safe and healing homes to house unaccompanied minor girls, minor mothers and their babies and minor boys.
We envision a global Movement of people, organisations and governing bodies that put the human back into the humanitarian sector, ensuring all humans on the move live in a dignified, safe, enabling and healing environment.
FUTURE PLANS
We believe in a world where we cease to exist, where we are no longer needed because the people we support have a safe and dignified place to call home. To reach this ideal, we have to take some crucial steps first.
ADVOCACY
We have always dared to do things differently. We believe it's our disruptive approach that has enabled us to make real and ipmactful change for people on the move. We plan to apply this on a larger and more sustainable scale in the new year. In the second half of 2021, we plan to take disruptive steps forward with our advocacy.
More coming soon...