ECHO HUB Leros: Prepare Refugees for Integration

We’ve come a long way since opening the HUB in December 2016. The diversity and the number of both classes and activities we offer have increased substantially, as has the number of active participants. Currently, the HUB maintains a tight schedule of European language classes, IT and coding classes, soccer, basketball, Yoga, swimming, hiking, beach cleaning, exclusive women–only courses, and creative workshops such as film, music, percussion, sewing and pottery etc.

The HUB is an essential component of the well-being of the residents on the island. It equips them with an education and intellectual tools that are useful for future employment opportunities as well as cultural integration.  Everyone at the HUB abides by a strict Code of Conduct and is treated with unbiased respect and consideration.

Some facts and numbers for this reporting period: The HUB has now registered more than 1255 students from the refugee community. It has a substantial turnover of more than 200 students a week, credited to the hard work and dedication of both volunteers and residents. Our volunteers have thus far completed over 9900 drives or 30,000 kilometres to transport our students from camp to the HUB and back, facilitating this success.

Our teachers and volunteers have taught over 700 English classes. Fifty of our advanced English students have been enabled by the HUB to take the ESB exams, which have had a 98% success rate, often with distinction. This language certification can be beneficial to residents applying for jobs or wishing to continue their studies in Greece and abroad and can set them apart from other applicants. Twelve of our students were awarded scholarships at the American College of Athens (although not all could go due to asylum restrictions), and five students completed a specialised training program on Cultural Mediation and Interpretation.

Some of our creative students have had significant successes themselves. Some of our Echo HUB Film class productions are screened by Solar Cinema. If you want to see more, visit the HUB Collective project on our website: http://www.echo100plus.com/en/projects/project-11

The artwork of a very talented resident was featured in an exhibit in New York. The HUB guitar and percussion classes have put on a concert at the HUB, and one at the local theater, which attracted volunteers, residents and Greek locals and was an opportunity to bring the community on the island together. Finally, the HUB produced “ZINE” http://echo100plus.com/en/magazine, an art and literature magazine featuring the work of the residents.  

Separate from education and activities, the HUB frequently supports the camp residents with clothing and hygiene distributions, often catering to the needs of more than 800 residents. More than 5860 articles of clothing, as well as over 4000 detergents, soaps, shampoos and dental care items, have been handed out to residents by our volunteers. These distributions are a massive and complicated logistical effort involving the handling of inventory and ensuring a respectful and dignified exchange. Simultaneously, distributions are both physically and mentally intense and demanding for our volunteers to complete.

Due to the success of the HUB, we have been granted permission by the Camp authorities to include minors (both accompanied and unaccompanied) in many of our courses. This is a step in the right direction, as it allows these young adults to spend some meaningful time outside of the camp, and has further expanded the impact of the HUB on the community.

A special thank you goes to Aegean Solidarity Network for sponsoring all hygiene items for distribution!

A huge thank you to all ECHO volunteers – without You, the HUB would not be staffed!

And finally, thank you to all donors - past, present and future - for believing in our mission and for being the financial backbone of the HUB!

With gratitude, the ECHO100PLUS Team