Samos Volunteers (SV) provides necessary help and support to refugees living in the camp and shelters on Samos, instilling a sense of normality, combatting boredom, and empowering refugees while they wait for their asylum to be processed.

Samos Volunteers is a grassroots movement of volunteers on the Greek Island of Samos, attempting to improve the daily lives of refugees and asylum seekers by offering psychosocial support in the Alpha Centre, and many other activities.

What is the camp?

The camp is officially known as the Registration and Identification Center (RIC). It is one of the five ‘hot spots’ receiving refugees arriving from Turkey. It is the place where asylum seekers are registered after having arrived by boat, and where they are detained for the first 25 days following their arrival in Europe. After the 25 day period, refugees are allowed to leave the camp, but the majority remain living in tents and containers on site. It is not a place where volunteers can stay. The camp is located next to Vathy, about a 10 minute walk from the town.