Creating Dignified Lives for 1.000+ Asylum Seekers

During the summer of 2025,  the Greek government transferred a lot of people from Closed Controlled Access Centers all over the Greek islands towards the mainland. Since July 2025, the Greek government has also suspended the processing of asylum applications for people arriving by boat from North Africa. As a result, more and more people have been visiting Habibi.Works and taking part in our workshops. To ensure a comfortable working space for everyone, we have decided to expand our most frequently used areas: the Barber and the Free Shop. Our Barber expert Bayram has proposed to add a wooden door and a structure to the workshop, in order to help with maintaining a relaxed atmosphere in what can be a very crowded working area. 529 people have used the Free Shop in the month of August, of which 237 have been newly registered, for a total of 2534 items distributed. To make the Free Shop run smoother, our team members Anni, Jakob and Alicia have expanded the space allocated to it. This has made a huge difference in how the space is perceived and managed in the months to come. 

In addition to this, in September we had the pleasure of welcoming Paolo to Habibi.Works for a week. In just a few days, he made a huge difference: our 3D printer, which had been out of order for quite some time, is now up and running again thanks to his skills and dedication. 

With this upgrade, makers in the community can once more bring their ideas to life, from prototypes to creative projects. We’re so grateful for Paolo’s support; his visit left us with tools that are not only functional again, but also inspiring new possibilities. 

On another note, the English classes have started up again after a short break, and the response has been incredible. So many people are applying that the classes are full and the energy in the sessions is amazing. Julie is doing an excellent job leading them and her enthusiasm is motivating everyone to keep learning. 

On a last note, the team of Habibi.Works has worked with passion and commitment in preparing the space for the winter. Winters in Ioannina can be extremely cold, and absolutely drenched with rain. Therefore, the team has made sure to properly insolate, heat and illuminate the space. 

Ultimately, the team of Habibi.Works is now running our yearly winter campaign, in which donations are matched with handmade gifts produced in our workshops. This year we offer a laser-cut gazelle, a handmade spatula and the comic book “Habibing” made by Greek artist Yorgos Konstantinou. 

As a last remark, the whole team of Habibi.Works cares deeply about thanking all of the people who have supported our community of makers. Deep thanks and hugs from Ioannina.

Links:

• Have a look at our website!

The first six months of 2025 have been buzzing with activities, discussions while critically looking at all the difficult events happening around the world. The Habibi.Works team and its community have stayed together, still creating something beautiful.

With the cold breeze of winter, we welcomed many new people into the center—both new arrivals at the camp and new team members. After a dynamic start, with dinners served to over 100 people almost every evening, we all took a break during the month of Ramadan. Activities slowed down, and we embraced the moment to take care of both the space and ourselves. After regaining our energy, spring arrived, bringing with it fresh new momentum. 

Strategy Week

2025 began with a week-long Strategy Week, where the team came together to critically examine and discuss some of the project’s structures and activities. This is a key moment to set goals for the year, reassess priorities, and seek improvements. 

This year, among other things, we’ve been focusing on the mental health of the Habibi.Works team. Working in this context can be deeply rewarding, but it’s also a challenging environment. That’s why it's important to create moments where the team can be together without the pressure of everyday tasks, and celebrate all the hard work.

Team trips

This year, the team enjoyed two trips together. In April, our project coordinator Anni, along with Jakob and Estrella, organized a super fun treasure hunt around the city of Ioannina. Where the team had to have challenges and fun games.

When the weather warmed up, the whole team went to the beach to swim, play volleyball, and enjoy a cup of tea by the sea.

Moments like these are precious—they create strong bonds and remind us to cherished the work that we do together and appreciate the people we do it with 

Eid Party

As every year, the end of Ramadan was celebrated with a big dinner and dance party. From the morning the kitchen was busty cooking delicious meals for over 100 people. 

Moments like this give people the opportunity to experience Habibi.Works as a space to come together, to celebrate, to have fun—and to dance. A lot! 

The Storyteller Lab is back!

Since March 2025, Josse—our kitchen supervisor—has taken over the Storyteller Lab, organizing workshops in photography, videography, and model drawing.

You could see people walking around the center with their phones or a camera try to capture the different activates and the people living the space during the day. 

The Storyteller Lab is housed in our Dome, which is equipped with cameras, instruments, and sound-mixing tools. It’s a space dedicated to exploring storytelling across various mediums through expert-led workshops and participatory learning. The Lab exists to empower individuals to share their stories and advocate for their rights.

We Have a gardener: Hammar

Habibi.Works is located in a rural area and has always cherished the natural surroundings and gardens around the property. 

At the beginning of spring, Hammar quietly stepped into our garden and began cleaning up the space. Just a week later, we had six chickens, two decorative wells , and a solar-powered fountain! And some shy vegetables growing. 

The team has since decided to reopen the garden and invest in making it a space for everyone—to work, meet, learn, and come together. 

Katsikas Camp Update

Katsikas Camp can host around 1,200 people and, during winter, often reaches full capacity. The living conditions are not suited for the cold and heavy rains that this region experiences annually. 

Moreover, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum recently issued a verbal directive to the authorities of refugee camps across Greece, instructing them to evict individuals who have received international protection status, as well as rejected asylum seekers. This has resulted in many people being removed from the only shelter they have, forcing them into homelessness and even more precarious and vulnerable situations. 

You can read more about this in the statement published by MIT (Mobile Info Team

Habibi.Works stands the ground for a dignified life for all and continue to promote self resilience and self development. 

Stay tuned for more update and follow Habibi.Works on social media.