Janell King, currently working in Lesvos, shares an update after the EU-Turkey deal has formally come into effect. Under the deal, migrants arriving in Greece are now expected to be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum or their claim is rejected. EU-Turkey News story It’s 3 am here and our team is on an overnight shift in Moria. It’s eerily quiet and empty. All NGO’s have pulled out of camp in protest of the detention center decision, thousands of refugees have been loaded up on the ferries and taken to the mainland or...

Janell King, currently working in Lesvos, shares an update after the EU-Turkey deal has formally come into effect. Under the deal, migrants arriving in Greece are now expected to be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum or their claim is rejected. EU-Turkey News story It’s 3 am here and our team is on an overnight shift in Moria. It’s eerily quiet and empty. All NGO’s have pulled out of camp in protest of the detention center decision, thousands of refugees have been loaded up on the ferries and taken to the mainland or...

While on Greece on a short term trip, Adventures Fellow and Race Alum Hannah Midgett met a man she will never forget. It was my last day working in Lesvos, and my first day working at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) transit point. After 2 weeks, I had become very accustomed to receiving refugees and making them feel welcome. Most refugees were timid, yet very thankful. While some kids would open up and play, others would attach themselves to their parents, and start to tear up the moment their parents weren’t in their line of vision. Most would huddle into circles,...

While on Greece on a short term trip, Adventures Fellow and Race Alum Hannah Midgett met a man she will never forget. It was my last day working in Lesvos, and my first day working at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) transit point. After 2 weeks, I had become very accustomed to receiving refugees and making them feel welcome. Most refugees were timid, yet very thankful. While some kids would open up and play, others would attach themselves to their parents, and start to tear up the moment their parents weren’t in their line of vision. Most would huddle into circles,...

A few days after Christmas, while serving in one of the larger refugee camps on the island of Lesvos, something happened to me that left me spiritually and physically speechless. Thousands of refugee families filled every square inch available on the property with their tents and belongings, where they waited for days — or even weeks — for legal documented approval to continue on. A large portion of my eight hour shift that day was spent picking up trash. This meant I got to be outside in the sun while walking around the camp, picking up trash, and interacting with people....

A few days after Christmas, while serving in one of the larger refugee camps on the island of Lesvos, something happened to me that left me spiritually and physically speechless. Thousands of refugee families filled every square inch available on the property with their tents and belongings, where they waited for days — or even weeks — for legal documented approval to continue on. A large portion of my eight hour shift that day was spent picking up trash. This meant I got to be outside in the sun while walking around the camp, picking up trash, and interacting with people....