Our Mission:
Fill gaps in humanitarian protection for people seeking refuge.
ORIGIN STORY
Refugees have been crossing from Turkey to Greece’s Aegean islands under perilous conditions for decades. However, in 2015 the escalation of conflict in Syria and other disruptive occurrences displaced an unprecedented number of people worldwide, driving 1.3 million to seek asylum in Europe.
Almost half of them (500,018 according to UNHCR) arrived via the village of Skala Sikamineas on the north shore of Lesvos.
The fishing village’s 140 residents struggled to support so many people in urgent need of food, shelter, clothing and medical care.
“There are 100 people in this village. When the refugees were coming, there were 50-60 boats per day. We were all alone. ”
LIGHTHOUSE RELIEF IS FORMED
In September 2015, as the average number of daily arrivals neared its peak of 4,000, volunteers from Sweden, Norway, Syria, Spain, and the UK met in Skala Sykamineas and coordinated the first round-the-clock emergency response.
They kept a lookout for vessels stranded at sea and greeted people coming ashore with warm blankets. In a field across from the beach, they set up a camp offering treatment for hypothermia, a hot meal, dry clothes, and other respites. These volunteers become the founders of Lighthouse Relief.
Since then, the type of support we provide has evolved according to shifting needs and circumstances. However, our commitment to providing safe harbor per International refugee law and fundamental human decency never waivers.
The lighthouse at Korakas, on the north shore of Lesvos where we ran round-the-clock lookout for people stranded at sea. This is the lighthouse that inspired our name and logo.
— Aliya Abidi, describing the early days of Lighthouse Relief
OUR VALUES AND
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Inclusivity, transparency, and human dignity shape our organisational practices. Lighthouse Relief is committed to learning and growing from our efforts, especially when we fall short. We aim to uplift the members of the community we work with in everything we do. We center refugee and asylum seeker voices when developing programming, sharing stories, and advocating for human rights and international protections. We welcome feedback and implement strategies to improve our practices.
A look at our trauma-informed Approach
Lighthouse Relief’s trauma‑informed approach to holistic psychosocial support centres on creating safe, consistent, and empowering spaces for people seeking refuge across all our activities. For residents of Ritsona Camp, we offer weekly structured football sessions that support routine, confidence, and emotional wellbeing for young men. In Corinth, twice-weekly volleyball and basketball sessions use Sport4Development methodology to provide healthy outlets for stress relief and social connection, while our Safe Space at the Community Garden in Corinth offers a calming, communal environment for families and young people to develop skills and heal through creative expression. Alongside these spaces, our integration project supports residents of Corinth in navigating job‑seeking processes with dignity and agency. All our activities are informed by participants from the communities we work with.
A look at our 2025 programming.
Expanding Sport4development, Safe Spaces, and integration support Together
Every decision we make in the development of our programmes is shaped by a clear sense of purpose — to fill gaps in humanitarian protection for people seeking refuge. We remain open to exploring partnerships that can help us expand our impact and reach through diverse opportunities and increased accessibility. If you are interested in joining our network of partners committed to implementing thoughtful, dignified, and lasting systems of support, please explore our active programmes below and reach out to our team for more information.