The Hope Project

28/08/2026

Jessy needs a home ❤️

Jessy is lonely.

She has spent most of her life at the Hope Project, and these days she is the only dog here. Her canine friends passed away last year, and while we love her dearly, we know that what Jessy really needs is something we cannot give her — a loving family and a home of her own.

Jessy was born in Kara Tepe camp. She was cared for and loved by a couple from Iran who looked after her from the time she was a puppy. When they were moved to the new temporary camp, they were told they could not take Jessy with them. They were heartbroken to leave her behind.

So we took Jessy in.

We have cared for her ever since, but now we desperately want to find her the next chapter of her life.

Jessy is around 8 years old. She is a sweet, gentle and calm girl who loves going for walks and walks beautifully on the lead. She gets along well with other dogs and has no problem with older children. Small children make her nervous, so an adult home or a family with older children would be best for her. We don't know how she would feel about cats.

Jessy is fully vaccinated, sterilised and has had all the necessary blood tests. She is healthy, happy and ready for her new life.

What she needs now is simple:

A family.
A sofa.
Someone to take her for walks.
Someone to love her.
A place where she will never be left behind again.

Jessy has already lost the people she loved once. She deserves the chance to know what it feels like to belong somewhere permanently.

Please help us find Jessy her home. 🐾❤️

If you think you could give Jessy the loving home she deserves, please contact The Hope Project.

And if you can't adopt her, please share this post. Somewhere out there is the person Jessy is waiting for.

27/08/2026

10 YEARS FOR PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE?

Greece’s new migration law marks a dangerous shift: it does not simply target migrant smuggling - it places humanitarian action and solidarity under the threat of criminal prosecution.

Under Law 5275/2026, members of registered NGOs accused of facilitating irregular migration can face a minimum of 10 years in prison and fines of €50,000 – €100,000 per person.

The government presents these measures as necessary to protect the border and combat smuggling. But when legislation creates such severe criminal consequences for people working directly with migrants and refugees, the question is no longer only about border control. It is about whether humanitarian assistance itself is being treated as a threat.

The consequences could be profound. Organisations may restrict essential activities. Volunteers may withdraw. Humanitarian workers may hesitate before providing transport, assistance, or emergency support. Fear of prosecution can create a chilling effect across civil society - with those seeking protection ultimately bearing the greatest cost.

There must be a clear legal distinction between organised migrant smuggling and legitimate humanitarian assistance. A state has the right to enforce its borders. It does not have the right to make humanitarian solidarity indistinguishable from criminal activity.

Humanitarian action is not a crime. Solidarity is not smuggling. And the protection of human dignity must not become a prosecutable offence.

24/08/2026

Over 200 Refugees were transferred from Crete to Lesvos yesterday evening and another 200+ to Samos.
According to news reports they were transferred for asylum processing to be carried out on the islands and will be transferred to the mainland within 14 days.
This action hasn't come as a surprise here as Crete has seen increased arrivals in 2026 and have limited infrastructure for accommodation and processing.
We do not yet know if this will become a regular occurrence especially if the new detention facility, Vastria, is opened.
(Photo credit, Sto Nisi)
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19/08/2026

On World Humanitarian Day, we honour humanitarian workers - but we must also confront the political choices that make their work necessary.

War, occupation, forced displacement, poverty, and the denial of basic rights are not inevitable. They are shaped by policies, power, and political decisions.

Humanitarian aid can save lives. But aid alone cannot end injustice.

We stand with people everywhere whose lives are devastated by conflict and oppression, and we call for accountability, human rights, dignity, and lasting peace.

Humanity demands more than emergency relief. It demands justice.

13/07/2026

Hope is often found in the simplest things.

Our garden project gives us so much more than the fresh vegetables it produces. It has become a place of peace, where friends can sit together, share conversations, and enjoy the quiet satisfaction that comes from working with the earth.

Every day spent nurturing the plants brings purpose and routine. It offers the mental health benefits that come from caring for something, watching it grow, and knowing that your time and effort matter. Instead of simply waiting, people are creating, learning, and contributing. The pride and self-esteem that grow alongside the vegetables are just as important as the harvest itself.

This little garden is a reminder that hope can be planted, tended, and shared.

Thank you to everyone who has stood beside The Hope Project over the years. Your kindness makes projects like this possible, and we simply couldn't do it without your support.

Will you help keep hope alive?

💙 Donate via PayPal: paypal.me/Hopeprojectlesvos15

💙 Donate here: https://hope-project-10th-anniversary.raiselysite.com/

Every donation, no matter the size, helps us continue creating safe, welcoming spaces where hope can grow.

20/06/2026

Every year on World Refugee Day, I struggle with the contradiction of it.

A day when the world pauses to say it cares about refugees — while too often ignoring the wars, policies, and choices that force people to flee in the first place.

This year, the contradiction feels impossible to ignore.

The week that was meant to honour refugees was preceded on 12 June by the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum — introducing measures including offshore “housing and processing” of people seeking protection, alongside new pre-entry screening procedures.

Then, during Refugee Week, the European Parliament voted to expand the use of detention for people seeking asylum, including women and children. As the vote passed, far-right MEPs in the chamber shouted “send them back”.

There is nothing to celebrate in that.

Instead of creating safe and legal routes for people fleeing war, persecution, and unimaginable circumstances, Europe has chosen to build a stronger fortress. A fortress built on borders that continue to kill thousands of people searching for safety every year.

And with every new barrier, every new restriction, every new policy designed to push people away, more lives are placed at risk.

We are travelling far down a road fuelled by fear and hate — and it feels increasingly desperate.

Is this really the Europe we want to leave for our children?

We will keep holding on to hope. We have to.

But every day, it feels a little darker.
Philippa Kempson
Painting by Razieh

12/06/2026

🚨 The EU Migration & Asylum Pact is now in force.

Presented as a way to create a faster and more efficient asylum system across Europe, the Pact has sparked serious concerns among refugee-rights organizations, legal experts, and humanitarian groups.

Under the new rules, many asylum seekers may face accelerated border procedures and be required to remain in border facilities while their claims are processed. Critics warn that faster procedures can mean less time to access legal assistance, gather evidence, and properly present complex asylum claims.

Human rights organizations argue that these changes risk undermining the right to a fair and individual assessment of each case. For people fleeing war, persecution, torture, gender-based violence, or political oppression, procedural barriers can have life-changing consequences.

The Pact also expands border screening and confinement measures. Rights advocates warn that children, families, trauma survivors, and other vulnerable individuals could face prolonged restrictions on their freedom while awaiting decisions, often with limited access to healthcare, legal support, and adequate living conditions.

Another major concern is the expanded use of "safe country" and "safe third country" concepts. Critics argue that broad country labels can overlook individual risks and may result in people being denied meaningful access to protection despite facing genuine danger.

Human rights groups also warn that faster deportation procedures could increase the risk of wrongful returns, exposing people to persecution, violence, exploitation, or other serious human-rights abuses.

The debate ultimately comes down to one question: Can Europe create a more efficient migration system without sacrificing fairness, due process, human dignity, and the right to seek asylum?

01/06/2026

🏳‍🌈 This Pride Month, we stand in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ refugees around the world — people forced to flee their homes simply for being who they are.

At The Hope Project, we believe that safety, dignity, and love are human rights — not privileges. Every story deserves protection. Every identity deserves respect. Every person deserves a place to belong.

As we celebrate Pride, we also honor the courage of those rebuilding their lives far from home, often facing discrimination, displacement, and uncertainty. Your resilience inspires us every day.

This month and every month, we remain committed to creating safer spaces, amplifying voices, and building communities rooted in inclusion, compassion, and hope. 🌈✨

You are seen. You are valued. You belong.

07/05/2026

With summer just around the corner and the weather finally starting to feel like spring, we’ve all been busy with a big seasonal tidy-up here at The Hope Project 🌿☀️

Our women’s space is getting spruced up and reorganised, the library has had a good sort and tidy, summer clothing is being prepared and organised, the garden is getting some much-needed attention, and our music room — along with all of our guitars — has been cleaned, cared for, and restrung ready to make more music 🎶

A huge thank you to everyone who continues to support our work. Your kindness, donations, time, and encouragement help us keep creating warm, welcoming spaces for our community ❤️

03/04/2026