sustainable.humanitarian.aid.

About us

Limitless consumption, waste of resources and the destruction of nature on the one hand...

... growing poverty, hunger, homelessness, displacement and social injustice on the other hand.

We believe it is time to fundamentally rethink: We have to remember the ways of life from the past in order to develop innovative solutions for the future. We have to again be able to know for ourselves, to act ourselves and to produce ourselves, without relying on large corporations.

We produce humanitarian aid ourselves:
by hand. locally. sustainably. independently. honestly.

Wherever people suffer from existential hardships and basic needs can no longer be met, we encourage those affected to help themselves by producing necessary aid goods independently and from local resources. This is how we break the vicious cycle of dependency.

Therefore, the NGO «selfm.aid» combines social work and handicraft:

Manual work enables encounters and connects people with one another and their immediate surroundings. Only as a strong, local community will we be able to master the great global challenges of the present and especially of the future.

In the closed refugee camp on the Greek island of Samos, people seeking protection live in catastrophic conditions, geographically and socially isolated.

For months, or even years, they are restricted from pursuing any meaningful activity. At the same time, there is a lack of basic goods and equipment.

But the people who live in this isolation know how to create and repair, all by themselves.

Projects

This is where the SKILLS FACTORY comes in

In our workshops we work, learn and laugh together, pass on skills and knowledge, and develop innovative solutions. The products we manufacture directly improve the current living situation and alleviate human suffering. This is how we break the vicious circle of dependency.

 

one
for
one

As part of Europe's deterrence and containment policy the Greek government is increasingly charging fees for individual steps of the asylum procedure, hindering asylum seekers from access to their basic human rights!

We produce selfm.aid lino prints to fund such fees.

The SKILLS FACTORY team has joined forces to find a creative solution to help themselves and their community.

The solution: We produce individual linocuts, which we can sell and ship to you for a donation of 100€. This allows us to directly finance such fees on a case-by-case basis.

 

PWB - Phones without Borders

Shipwrecks, police violence, accidents or theft:

...there are numerous reasons why more than 50% of asylum seekers cross the border without a working phone.

Smartphones are indispensable on the move.

They provide the main means of communication with the asylum authorities, help individuals find their way in a foreign environment, seek help in emergencies, and make it easier to stay in touch with family and friends.

That's exactly what "Phones without Borders" is all about:

We collect used smartphones in Europe, process them on site (including repairs and data deletion), then distribute them directly and easily to those who need them most.

Get involved

Get ACTIVE today - Get Involved!

Do you also want to advocate for fair treatment of people and the environment and support our projects?

No matter where you are located, there are numerous ways to get involved.

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