We don’t work for refugees. We work with people.
Today, thousands of people are confined to walled-in refugee camps – shut out of education and work, and held back by systems that deny them the chance to pursue their futures.
But that’s not the full story.
At Second Tree, we see something else in our work in refugee camps: people trusting one another, students becoming teachers, and neighbours taking action for each other.
Through language classes, community activities, and programmes rooted in self-advocacy, we champion a future built together.
We imagine a future where refugees are recognised as part of our communities, with equal opportunities to learn, contribute, and shape their own lives.
Hear from people in our community about the futures they are working towards – and see how your support can make a difference.
Meys
“I have the chance now to learn with Second Tree.”
Meys, from Kurdistan, is determined to learn English “to teach my daughter and siblings, because communication is very important”.
She embraces every chance to grow while she waits for a decision on her asylum claim – and the chance to finally be reunited with her daughter.
Read more
Meys and her mum, Neriman, are always the first to arrive at our English classes, cracking jokes and claiming front-row seats.
One day, she hopes to support other refugees too:
“If I can be a member of Second Tree, I will do it, of course!”
can cover English materials for 25 refugees, helping people like Meys keep learning!
Laye
“My mum always taught me you have to see the positive way.”
Laye, from Guinea-Conakry, finds purpose in helping others grow, whether it’s motivating his classmates to graduate from our classes or inspiring the next generations of LeBron Jameses through his love for basketball.
Read more
Laye is happiest when others are. We met him on one of our Saturday market trips, where his 6ft 4 frame and love of games kept the kids entertained, giving their parents a rare chance to rest, share tea and shop.
“If there is a way for me to share this experience with the kids, that will make me feel good, like I bring something for them.”
€40 can fund 45 spots on a community trip, giving people like Laye the chance to connect with the world beyond the isolation of a refugee camp.
Bushra
Bushra and her sisters imagine a world where “women have the right to go to school” and everyone can travel freely, no matter their background.
Through Second Tree’s Human Rights class, Bushra and her sisters are learning about their rights and gaining the confidence to stand up for themselves and others.
Read more
When asked what she’d change about the world, Bushra says how “people say women only clean the home” and that “a woman is 16 years old and she marries”. She dreams of a future where “all women have rights”.
€100 can fund 10 human rights classes for 40 children like Bushra and her sisters.
Shawak
“All of us are humans, we have our rights, same rights, same feelings.”
Shawakh, an English teacher from Syria, cares about the Second Tree community because “they are giving the people the same level, considering everyone as humans.”
Read more
He’s faced discrimination in many countries he’s traveled through – even in the supermarket, where “always they treat us like a refugee” and locals are served first.
Now, Shawakh helps shape our anti-bias training for local people, frontline workers and decision makers, using his voice to challenge stereotypes and remind people: Refugees Are People.
A donation of your choice supports our community, built on the simple truth Shawakh lives by: that everyone deserves to be seen as a person and have the opportunity to shape their own lives.
Meys
Laye
“I have the chance now to learn with Second Tree.”
Meys, from Kurdistan, is determined to learn English “to teach my daughter and siblings, because communication is very important”. She embraces every chance to grow while she waits for a decision on her asylum claim – and the chance to finally be reunited with her daughter.
Read more
Meys and her mum, Neriman, are always the first to arrive at our English classes, cracking jokes and claiming front-row seats. One day, she hopes to support other refugees too: “If I can be a member of Second Tree, I will do it, of course!”
“My mum always taught me you have to see the positive way.”
Laye, from Guinea-Conakry, finds purpose in helping others grow, whether it’s motivating his classmates to graduate from our classes or inspiring the next generations of LeBron Jameses through his love for basketball.
Read more
Laye is happiest when others are . We met him on one of our Saturday market trips, where his 6ft 4 frame and love of games kept the kids entertained, giving their parents a rare chance to rest, share tea and shop. “If there is a way for me to share this experience with the kids, that will make me feel good, like I bring something for them.”
can cover English materials for 25 refugees, helping people like Meys keep learning!
€40 can fund 45 spots on a community trip, giving people like Laye the chance to connect with the world beyond the isolation of a refugee camp.
Girlz
Abu is the husband of Fatmata Kamara, who was shot and killed by a police officer near the Greek border in North Macedonia last April. Suddenly, Abu found himself alone on the journey they had started together.
Read more
We knew Fatmata and Abu from one of the camps Second Tree supports. After the shooting, Abu was refused entry into the ambulance carrying Fatmata, lied to, taken to a detention centre, handcuffed, and offered a deal by the police to forget everything and be dropped at the border to “get to Europe.” Abu refused and managed to contact us: “You are the only ones I trust,” he said. The next day, we were with him and have stood by him since.
Together, we repatriated Fatmata’s body and brought the officer to court, an unprecedented success. “I met good people in Second Tree,” Abu says, “I never knew I would meet people like this.”
The 13th trial is scheduled for July 1st, with more to come, and resources are running low. But we won’t stop until there is #JusticeForFatmata, because we don’t abandon people.
Read more about Fatmata’s story here.
15 euros
15 euros
Bushra
Shawakh
Bushra and her sisters imagine a world where “women have the right to go to school” and everyone can travel freely, no matter their background.
Through Second Tree’s Human Rights class, Bushra and her sisters are learning about their rights and gaining the confidence to stand up for themselves and others.
Read more
When asked what she’d change about the world, Bushra says how “people say women only clean the home” and that “a woman is 16 years old and she marries”. She dreams of a future where “all women have rights”
“All of us are humans, we have our rights, same rights, same feelings.”
Shawakh, an English teacher from Syria, cares about the Second Tree community because “they are giving the people the same level, considering everyone as humans.”
Read more
He’s faced discrimination in many countries he’s traveled through – even in the supermarket, where “always they treat us like a refugee” and locals are served first.
Now, Shawakh helps shape our anti-bias training for local people, frontline workers and decision makers, using his voice to challenge stereotypes and remind people: Refugees Are People.
€100 can fund 10 human rights classes for 40 children like Bushra and her sisters.
A donation of your choice supports our community, built on the simple truth Shawakh lives by: that everyone deserves to be seen as a person and have the opportunity to shape their own lives.
Girlz
Abu is the husband of Fatmata Kamara, who was shot and killed by a police officer near the Greek border in North Macedonia last April. Suddenly, Abu found himself alone on the journey they had started together.
Read more
We knew Fatmata and Abu from one of the camps Second Tree supports. After the shooting, Abu was refused entry into the ambulance carrying Fatmata, lied to, taken to a detention centre, handcuffed, and offered a deal by the police to forget everything and be dropped at the border to “get to Europe.” Abu refused and managed to contact us: “You are the only ones I trust,” he said. The next day, we were with him and have stood by him since.
Together, we repatriated Fatmata’s body and brought the officer to court, an unprecedented success. “I met good people in Second Tree,” Abu says, “I never knew I would meet people like this.”
The 13th trial is scheduled for July 1st, with more to come, and resources are running low. But we won’t stop until there is #JusticeForFatmata, because we don’t abandon people.
Read more about Fatmata’s story here.
15 euros
15 euros
Donate this World Refugee Day. Share our future!
BANK DETAILS
You can either donate through the donation form above, using your credit card or PayPal account, or you can make a bank transfer using the bank details below. When making a bank transfer, please include your email address so that you can receive your donation receipt and hear about the impact of your support!
Second Tree
Alpha Bank, Aghiou Dimitriou 66,
54631 Thessaloniki
IBAN: GR3301407090709002002015702
BIC: CRBAGRAA