Creating Dignified Lives for 1.000+ Asylum Seekers

Looking back at 2025 

Over the past months, life at Habibi.Works has continued to be dynamic. We are excited to share some of the particularly noteworthy aspects with you in this report, starting with the conclusion of 2025. 

Following the completion of our Winter Campaign in December, the team took a long and well-deserved break before entering a new phase of transition and growth. At the end of 2025, we were able to look back at a busy year. 
Numbers can never reflect the reality and the acomplishment of individual people, but just to give you an idea, let us share some numbers here nevertheless: 222 appointments took place in the wood workshop (think of that as 222 items created by 222 active, creative individuals to improve their living conditions or fix daily life challenges); 792 appointments in the sewing atelier; 455 bike repair visits (multiply this number by all the bike rides each individual person has been on since, whether to run errands, attend appointments or for leisure), and - to share a number that is not related to the classic makerspace component of our space - 1,330 visits of sports activities were registered after we took over the program from our partner YSR from September onward. 

Entering a new chapter: 2026

The start of the year 2026 also brought internal challenges. Due to the nature of volunteer-based work, our team experiences regular turnover. This January, several team members had to leave unexpectedly, which led us to launch a new recruitment campaign and rethink parts of our structure. Habibi.Works has always been a project in motion, and we continue to learn and adapt. We are very happy to welcome two new coordinators these past weeks, Francisco and Ursula, alongside several new team members. Together, they are now becoming part of the ongoing story of Habibi.Works, engaging deeply with its values, history and development. 
At the same time, the broader context remains complex: new transfers from camps across Greece have brought more people to Katsikas camp, just across the road from our space, increasing both the need for and engagement with these and many other activities. 

While activities were going on, from the sewing atelier, wood workshop, MediaLab and bike repair station to English classes, the Free Shop, the barber and beauty space sports, and our communal dinners, we also took time for repair work and renovation. In February and March, the team improved the indoor layout and prepared the garden for spring together with countless participants, making the space even more welcoming and accessible for everyone.

One particularly meaningful moment was an Iftar gathering organised together with a local restaurant owner in front of Katsikas camp. With shared food, music, tea and dates, we created a space for connection at the end of a fasting day during Ramadan. As this important time is now coming to a close, we are currently preparing a large Eid celebration at Habibi.Works – open to everyone, regardless of background or belief. You will hopefully hear about the outcome in our next report!

As always, (and especially in times in which we have to adjust to changing conditions and needs) we are deeply grateful for your continued support in making all of this possible. A big Thank You to everybody who has supported Habibi.Works in 2025 and the first months in 2026.