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.
SKILLS FACTORY
The SKILLS FACTORY – Urgent humanitarian aid meets long-term perspective
In the closed refugee camp (CCAC) on the Greek island of Samos, thousands of displaced people live under devastating conditions — lacking water, food, medical access, safety, and social connection. For months or even years, many are denied the chance to pursue meaningful activity or take an active role in their lives.
This is where the SKILLS FACTORY comes in: In six hands-on workshops – including tailoring, kitchen, maintenance, media, barber, and laundry – asylum seekers and refugees work side-by-side with local and international professionals to produce essential items and services that directly improve everyday life.
At the same time, participants follow a structured, three-level training program that builds practical, social, and leadership skills.
In the SKILLS FACTORY, we produce humanitarian aid ourselves:
by hand. locally. sustainably. independently. honestly.
The SKILLS FACTORY combines urgent humanitarian aid with a sustainable, long-term approach. It fosters self-efficacy, dignity, and future employment prospects – both on the island and beyond. This is how we break the cycle of dependency.
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.
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