We are so excited to introduce another amazing project to you! On Lesbos we visited the third project we would like to support with our crowdfunding – and with YOUR HELP.

“Makerspace Lesvos” is a community-based project offering workshops for refugees (bike repair, carpentry, sewing machines and electronic device repair).

Lesbos is a key entry point for refugees because it lies at the EU’s external border and is only a few kilometers from the Turkish coast, making it one of the shortest sea routes from the Middle East and Asia into Europe.

The project is located in the community center Parea, close to the Kara Tepe refugee camp. It brings together different NGOs and social initiatives creating a safe and supportive space for people living in the camp. While asylum processes can take years, Parea offers legal support, a safe space for women, workshops, a playground, library, multimedia and art spaces, laundry, medical support and a garden to connect and relax.

„Makerspace Lesvos“, as an important part of Parea, improves quality of life for people on the move through self-empowerment and education.

We spent two days with Hamed, Hamza and Majid at the bike workshop, where bicycles are repaired and distributed to refugees. Bikes are the main means of transport on the island, especially to reach Mytilini for legal and medical appointments, enabling independent mobility.