Fellow trustee Ingrid and I spent an inspiring day with Sara and her team from Glocal Roots, one of our amazing partners, and the only NGO on the Greek island of Kos. While many may know Kos as a beautiful holiday destination, it is also home to something far less visible – a remote, Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) or Refugee Camp to you and I. At least 1800 women, children, and men live here under 24/7 surveillance, their movements strictly controlled. Hidden from the view of tourists, this camp represents the lack of humanity that refugees face upon arriving in Greece.
In stark contrast, the Glocal Roots Hub in the heart of Kos town offers a rare and vital sanctuary for people. This hub is not just a place where families can come to get fresh clothes, hygiene supplies, tea and biscuits. It’s something far more meaningful: a place of welcome, kindness, and humanity. For people who have experienced unimaginable hardships, and now find themselves trapped in a system that restricts their freedom, spaces like Glocal Roots are a lifeline.
In a world that is becoming increasingly hostile toward refugees and those in need, the importance of community hubs like Glocal Roots cannot be overstated. They provide more than just material support; they offer dignity and remind refugees that they are not forgotten. These grassroots organisations play a crucial role in filling the gaps left by failing government systems and policies that are designed for human suffering. Glocal Roots, like many of our partners, operates on the frontlines, offering immediate and essential help to people in vulnerable situations.
The refugees who visit the Glocal Roots Hub are not just looking for supplies—they’re seeking connection, warmth, and compassion in a world that often turns its back on them. Here, they are treated as human beings, not just as numbers or statistics. In a place like the Kos CCAC, where personal freedom is virtually nonexistent, the sanctuary provided by Glocal Roots is invaluable. It is a place where refugees can feel safe, even if only for a short time, and be reminded that kindness and humanity still exist in the world.
When you support forRefugees, you are helping keep the doors of places like Glocal Roots open. Your support ensures that people who have been forced to leave their homes, often under the most desperate circumstances, have somewhere to turn when they arrive in Europe. You’re making sure that they can access basic necessities, yes, but also that they are greeted with warmth, care, and dignity. Together, we make sure that refugees always have a place to find help, no matter how isolated or abandoned they may feel.
The reality is that the global refugee crisis is not going away. Wars, oppressive regimes, and environmental disasters will continue to push people from their homes, and many will find themselves in Europe. Greece, especially its islands like Kos, will continue to be a landing point for thousands of refugees seeking safety. But as the number of people in need grows, so does the need for support.
At forRefugees, we believe in supporting grassroots organisations that are making a real difference on the ground. These are the unsung heroes working day in and day out to provide care for those who have been forgotten by governments and large aid organizations. Glocal Roots is one of those heroes, offering a much-needed safe space for refugees in Kos. But they can’t do it alone. Your donations and continued support of forRefugees can make their work possible, ensuring that their services are always there for the people who need them most.
In a time when hostility toward refugees is on the rise across the world, it’s easy to feel powerless. But by supporting forRefugees and organizations like Glocal Roots, you are standing on the right side of history. You are making sure that, even in the face of global indifference, there are still places where kindness prevails and where refugees are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Thank you for standing with us and making sure that, together, we are always there to help.
