Second Tree is a community-led, volunteer-run, grassroots NGO that supports, teaches and learns with refugees across Northern Greece. Their founders were volunteers that independently responded to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in early 2016. They met in Katsikas Refugee Camp and left their old lives to build an organisation that first and foremost treats refugees like humans. Since then, their team of volunteers has grown to 15 people, and they have reached hundreds of refugees through their programs. They currently work in two camps and one Community Centre reaching approximately 2,500 people.

Their work has evolved in three key areas:

• Education – through English and Greek classes delivered by qualified teachers. Both programs are approved by the Greek Ministry of Education.
• Integration – through our Scouts programme that takes children out of the camp and into local community.
• Support – through our kindergarten for refugee children aged 3-10 years old.

The overarching goal is to help refugees regain agency through skills-building opportunities. The first refugees in Greece to pass a Greek Language State exam were their students. They achieve this through high quality programming and working only with qualified volunteers.

Second Tree takes its name from the following proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.” Our belief is that it is never too late to take action and work towards making a positive difference in the world.