Greece
In 2015, 856,000 people passed through the Greek islands, and in 2017 and 2018 only just under 30 thousand (according to UNHCR). But 2019 brought already a growth – over 60,000 newcomers. Practice shows that you can get stuck in Lesbos for a good few years. Nikos and Katerina run a small restaurant on the island, where every refugee can feel at home and eat a meal for free.
Overview:
- At the end of 2024, there were nearly 4,000 refugees in the camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. Almost 28% of them are children.
- Since the beginning of 2015, nearly 1 million refugees have arrived in Europe via the Greek islands.
We provide more than
320
meals to refugees a day
We distribute
meals and first aid items
for the most needy, incl. children, pregnant women and the sick
We take care of a
5-hectare farm
that provides jobs and supplies the kitchen with vegetables
07.05.2025
Lesbos, 4th of April 2025 – Twenty-seven ambassadors and senior diplomats from EU member states and associated countries visited the Home Village farm on the Greek island of Lesbos. The visit, organised under the Polish Presidency of the EU Council at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Athens, was not only diplomatic in nature but also deeply symbolic – a gesture of solidarity with refugees and recognition of the work done by humanitarian organisations.
During the visit, the guests joined representatives of the Good Factory Foundation and its local partner, Home for All, to plant 27 young olive trees. Each tree was marked with a different national flag, creating a “European Olive Grove” – a living symbol of peace, unity, and shared concern for the future.
Home Village is a farm where refugees work daily, growing vegetables, caring for olive trees, and producing olive oil. It provides not only employment but also a sense of dignity, belonging, and hope for a better future.
“The trees we planted today will soon bear fruit, from which we will produce our NIKA olive oil. It’s a product that nourishes, but more importantly, it creates jobs, brings hope, and restores agency to those who have lost everything.”
– Nikos
A shared meal prepared with local ingredients and NIKA olive oil provided an opportunity for conversation, exchanging experiences, and building bridges across borders and languages.
“We believe that meetings like this are not only symbolic – they can inspire real action and help change the way refugees are perceived in Europe.”
– Katerina
The Good Factory Foundation has been supporting people on Lesbos for years, and the Home Village farm is one of its key initiatives in the region. The European Olive Grove is meant to serve as a reminder of the shared values and responsibilities that come with solidarity and cooperation.
