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We change
refugee narratives

Second Tree works to change the way that refugees are seen by society, and the way that they see society and themselves.

Our work is underpinned by an approach that tackles the stereotype that refugees are villains, heroes or hopeless victims – and promotes the reality that refugees are just people.

Our model is applied in all our activities:

Through thought leadership and training that challenges the narratives of refugees as victims

With refugees

Through language learning, youth wellbeing and integration projects that take refugees out of camps and into local life

We are Second Tree

Second Tree is a grassroots, volunteer-run humanitarian organisation that works with refugees in Northern Greece.

Our work is underpinned by a core ethos: to treat refugees as the people they are and overcome stereotypes of victimization and romanticization.

Do some good today

  • 🖼️ Guess who! Why, it's Ayatullah with his friends in our "Me, You, Us" class, of course! A class dedicated to helping refugee children openly discuss their emotions in a safe & supportive environment. ⁠
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Everybody sits in a circle and draws the person next to them. "You have very great hair, Hejaz!" chuckles Ayatullah, holding his friend's face in his hand. Giggles become squeals of laughter once everybody shows each other their drawings, & they all point at the little whiteboard ⁠
versions of themselves. ⁠
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If our scouts can draw so well with just a marker 😉, think what they could do with more art supplies! Link in bio to support Ayatullah & Hejaz with more opportunities to express themselves through art 🎨⁠
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#refugeesarepeople #art #workshop #community #nonformaleducation #class #learning #education #refugeeswelcome #everydayrefugees #refugeestories #leavenoonebehind #standwithrefugees #solidarity #refugees #us #nonprofit  #volunteer #socialgood #humanitarian #bethechange #donate #causes #fundraising #activism #hope #humanity #humanrights #greece #teacher
  • Puche is a Second Tree staple! You seldom see him without his neatly tied Scout foulard & a friendly grin. He has a way of making the refugee kids listen, just like younger volunteers gather around him as he gives a piece of good life advice. ⁠
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Puche & Second Tree go way back. He was here in 2016 when we were no more than a group of volunteers & refugees sharing the belief that refugees should be treated as people. Puche hasn’t been able to stay away since! During the summers, he welcomes pilgrims to his family-run hotel on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain, but when winter hits, he drives his little red car to Greece to welcome refugees to the classrooms of Second Tree. ⁠🚗⁠
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Why does he keep coming back year after year? “Second Tree is not an NGO”, he says, “it’s a community”. That’s why he comes back, to see & help his friends, “refugees, volunteers, & neighbours alike”. ⁠
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You can join our community by volunteering or fundraising for us back home! Follow the links in our bio, or send us a message!⁠ ✨️✍️⁠ 
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#refugeesarepeople #volunteer #inspire #support #awareness #refugeeswelcome #noborders #refugeecrisis #openborders #leavenoonebehind #standwithrefugees #hope #solidarity #refugees #refugeecamp #donate #nonprofit #ngo #humanitarianaid #humanity #fundraising #greece #community #giveback #dogood #change #bethechange #cause #changemakers #socialchange
  • Fatmata was shot and killed by border police in North Macedonia after crossing from Greece with her husband, Abu Bakar. Greece had denied her asylum, making her invisible, a non-person. 

But she was a person – full of warmth & love for Abu. You can see her joy for life here when Abu surprised her with a bicycle last winter. A reminder of the life she should still be living. 

Abu continues to fight, & the policeman who killed Fatamta has been charged. The 9th hearing is on Tuesday in the Skopje criminal court. Abu & our team will be there. 

Put pressure on #JusticeForFatmata & share her story. Link in bio to learn more. 

#refugeesarepeople #borderviolence #leavenoonebehind #refugeestories #refugeecrisis #humanrightswatch #news #care #humanitarian #humanrights #justice #community #refugeeswelcome #love #activism #nonprofit #causes #human #hope #solidarity #unity #humanity #equality #people #standwithrefugees #refugees #bethechange #ngo #europe
  • 🌳 Every Sunday, near Agia Eleni refugee camp, Second Tree runs a community sports day, one of the few opportunities people can rely on to leave the isolated refugee camp & enjoy the weekend. ⁠
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Kids cheer from the sidelines as 7-year-old Ibrahim fearlessly tackles his dad on the field. Parents chuckle at the spectacle, sipping their chai. Nazir, the eldest of 6, giddily claps at the latest goal: "Football is my love, wherever I am, I want to play football. The Second Tree team is a team full of love, so playing football with you is wonderful." ⚽️⁠
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Our sports days bring together a community that treats everyone as people. No labels, no assumptions, simply equal. Donate now to keep our footballs flying & chai flowing for many Sundays coming! Link in bio ✨️🏃‍♂️⁠
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#community #refugeeswelcome #everydayrefugees #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #leavenoonebehind #standwithrefugees #refugeesarepeople #solidarity #refugees #refugeecamp #nonprofit #education #volunteer #care #socialgood #humanitarian #bethechange #donate #causes #fundraising #activism #hope #humanity #humanrights #greece #football #learning #chai #friendship
  • 🎨 July 2019 - Second Tree Archives ⁠
Refugee kids living in Agia Eleni refugee camp brighten the community garden by painting fences in their workshop class! ⁠
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Support more creative workshops for refugee youth in our programme - link in bio ✨⁠
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#refugeeswelcome #creative #teamwork #community #refugeestories #leavenoonebehind #standwithrefugees #refugeesarepeople #solidarity #refugees #refugeecamp #nonprofit #education #volunteer #socialgood #humanitarian #bethechange #donate #causes #fundraising #activism #hope #humanity #humanrights #greece #nonformaleducation #learning #together #throwback #art