SAMOS VOLUNTEERS was started during the summer of 2015 as a response to the growing numbers of refugees arriving to the island. A few locals began working together to provide emergency assistance. Initially they focused on the issue of people arriving wet and cold from the sea, providing blankets, dry clothes and food. This however was just the beginning of what later would become an emergency that would require an expanded human workforce.
After months of working unassisted, the island started receiving requests from people around the world interested in joining local Samos volunteers in providing assistance to the thousands of refugees that were now arriving to Samos’ shores. At this point international grassroots movements and charity organisations started working together and helped the local people in creating a group of volunteers dedicated to fulfill the needs of the growing number of people requiring asylum in Europe.
Greece being the entrance to Europe for people escaping conflict and persecution in their home countries and has become the epicenter of this current crisis. Therefore many other Europeans have felt the urge to come and show their solidarity with the local people and have moved to the island to lend a hand. At the moment Samos Volunteers has a fluctuating team of around 20 dedicated volunteers who make sure that refugees arriving to the island receive clean and dry clothes and shoes and other basic items.