One Happy Family - Community Center

Introduction to One Happy Family (OHF)

One Happy Family (OHF) is a non-profit association supporting people in refugee situations in Greece. OHF aims to improve welfare and skills, facilitate self-development, participation and community building. With the core value «WITH them, instead of FOR them» OHF strives to be a peaceful, colourful and active place where people can have and achieve goals. To achieve it’s purpose, OHF manages a community volunteer program and together with partner organisations, the Victoria Community Center, a multifunctional space in the center of Athens. Victoria Community Center

The Victoria Community Center is a safe space outside the camps where displaced people can hang out, read, talk, play, get a warm meal, meet other people facing similar challenges and access much need services. Whereas OHF is responsible for the general management and facilitation of the spaces, as well as for some core activities related to the center itself, various services are offered by specialist organisations;

Legal help (European Lawyers in Lesvos)
Medical help (Doctors without Borders, SAMS)
Info Point and Social Service (Lighthouse Relief and Meaalofa)
Psycho-Social Support (International Rescue Committee)
Language Classes/ Employability Support (A Drop in the Ocean)
Women and Kids, Tailor Space (Glocal Roots)

OHF strives to keep the space flexible and to adjust activities according to the needs of people living in Athens. The centre has several floors, with offices, classrooms, and a café, and offers as well outdoor areas (yard, balconies, and rooftop). Victoria Community Center is located in an area in Athens close to where many refugees/migrants live. History of One Happy Family – from Lesvos to Athens (Short version)

In Spring 2017, a group of volunteers and displaced people started a new project on the island of Lesvos to offer displaced people a way out of the lethargy and misery of everyday life in the camp. Community-building, participation and empowerment were important principles of the project. From the very beginning, the team met at eye level and displaced people were perceived as people with a wide range of skills, knowledge, dreams and wishes. In a very short period of time the beautiful One Happy Family Community Center was set up. Throughout 2018 and 2019 the Center played an important role in the humanitarian aid and emergency response on Lesvos and at the end of 2019 around 1’000 people walked daily to OHF to learn Greek or English, play volleyball, sew in the Women-space or attend on of the many other projects. People enjoyed the food, a cup of coffee or tea as well as the possibility to spend time in a safe environment. Unfortunately, the circumstances on the island got a lot rougher for people on the move as well as NGOs in 2020 due to Riots, an arson case at OHF, Covid and Covid-measures by the government. In September 2020, a fire burned down camp Moria completely, leaving thousands of people from the camp on the streets. The OHF team tried to support wherever possible and adapted it’s daily routine to what was needed the most. However, after the new camp of Mavrovouni was set up and the Covid-regulations continued, it became clear that our projects at OHF had to adapt. OHF continued to support their community volunteers, opened the community center whenever COVID restrictions allowed it and created a free online shop. In parallel, the year-long-thought to move to Athens became a reality. In 2020 one of our coordinators set up a Community Volunteer Support Program in Athens which gained more impact in 2021. OHF also started to partner with more organisations in Athens and supported additional community volunteers, all while creating an atmosphere of “coming together, learning from each other”. This led to the creation and opening of the Victoria Community Center in April 2022.