Last year I became very passionate about working with refugees. I was doing what I could from the UK but I really wanted to come to Greece to support refugees on the ground. And so I did…

I’ve been working at Second Tree for the past 2 months, primarily in their Communications and Fundraising team, putting my photography, videography and editing skills to the test to make content for their social media and Christmas fundraising campaign. This involved attending all the classes and excursions we organise for residents of the Agia Eleni and Katsikas refugee camps, building relationships with people, listening to their stories, and capturing meaningful moments on camera. By sharing these moments, we showcase the impact Second Tree is making, helping us to strengthen our fundraising efforts and grow our brand. I’ve learnt a lot about NGO’s and marketing by being part of a meticulous team that truly goes above and beyond.

What I didn’t expect from coming to Second Tree though, is to be changed by the culture here. If you know me, you’ll know how much I hate conflict. That one Google source that says the name ‘Asini’ means ‘Peace’ is very accurate, because, if there’s one thing I’m always looking for, it’s to keep peace within myself and those around me but what that’s manifested in is a strong conflict aversion. The thing is, an integral part of Second Tree’s culture is honesty and constructive dialogue with a view to everyone deeply caring for one another and wanting to support growth… in practice, it means people don’t hold back with feedback and uncomfortable conversations are a daily occurrence. However, being forced to have conversations where you dedicate the necessary time needed to understand each other’s perspective and fight defensiveness without giving up has led to so much personal growth. Sometimes it takes guts to vocalise when we don’t feel happy with something or don’t agree with something, particularly in personal relationships, and in two short months, I feel so much more confident in doing that despite having struggled with it all my life.  

If you want to support refugees in Greece and beyond, then I would say look no further. Donate to Second Tree and you’ll do just that.