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Better Days
About Us
About Better Days
Better Days was founded in January 2016 in response to the influx of refugees in Lesvos, Greece. Our first project was the Olive Grove, an unofficial camp adjacent to Moria camp that supported the needs of thousands of people passing through Lesvos. During its first six months of operation, Better Days and its partners provided aid (medical, food, shelter, and non-food items) to approximately 70,000 people. Since Olive Grove, Better Days has implemented more than ten projects providing legal aid, recreational activities, non-formal education, counselling support, and other essential services to people on the move.
Today we focus on providing an integrated approach to education through educational and counselling services for displaced young people to enhance their opportunities for personal development, academic growth, and independence. Our educational flagship, Gekko, was selected by the 2021 5th Global Entreps Awards Committee from among 5000 candidates in 126 territories as one of the 100 Best Practices in the world for the implementation of the UN Sustainability Goals. Global jurors highlighted Gekko’s mission to improve conditions for displaced and disadvantaged children and asylum seeking people in Lesvos, combined with quality education, as unique in the world. Our new Gekko educational centre in the heart of Athens offers displaced young adults (15-24 years old) access to quality personalised education and counselling in a safe, trauma-informed, and dignified learning space.
Chronology of projects:
- The Olive Grove, 2015-2016: Moria Camp emergency response, sheltering, food & NFI distribution, medical aid.
- Community Support Program, 2015-Ongoing: Financial support for students.
- Elpida Home, 2016-2017: Recreational programming for adults and minors, info point, food and NFI distribution.
- Medical & Legal Intervention Project, Moria Camp, Lesvos, 2016-2017: Medical aid and legal info for vulnerable asylum-seeking adults.
- Gekko Kids, Lesvos 2017-2022: Non-formal educational programs.
- EcoHub, Lesvos, 2017-2020: Sustainable ecological garden with vocational training and ecological literacy for children and adults.
- TAPUAT, Lesvos 2017-2019: Non-formal educational programming, activities for minors, child protection, trauma support.
- Gekko X, Lesvos 2019-2020: STEAM curriculum, exhibitions, blended learning, e-learning.
- Central Triage Pharmacy, Moria Camp, Lesvos 2020: Medicine provision, Covid19 response.
- Socrates, Lesvos 2019-2020: Sports and development, SEL pedagogy, football sessions, trauma support.
- Gekko, Athens 2023-Ongoing: Non-formal educational programs.
About Gekko
Gekko was conceived by Better Days on Lesvos in May 2017 to challenge existing models of education in emergencies by integrating high-quality education with mental health and psychosocial support services in a dignified, trauma-aware environment. Gekko operations in Lesvos reached optimal capacity in 2019-20 with 915 registered students and 452 psychosocial support sessions. Due to interconnected factors including Covid-19, the fire that destroyed Moria camp, and the implementation of closed, securitised camps on the islands, we expanded our projects to mainland Greece.
Displaced young people in Athens are in need of services that lie at the heart of Gekko: trauma-aware psychosocial support integrated with high-quality, individualised education. Thus, Gekko in Athens was born. Our summer pilot program (50 students) launched in July 2023 and the full-scale project (120 students) in fall 2023. Gekko offers a safe learning environment for 15-24 year-olds who are experiencing displacement, and serves as a space where they can offload their troubles and fight for their dreams. We aim to reduce the barriers students face and pave the path to quality education and accreditation.
Working with Better Days
Better Days is a small and dynamic organisation looking to hire people who are passionate about humanitarian work, understand its risks and complexities, and are interested in investing in their role long-term. We are a quality-driven organisation determined to provide grassroots, holistic and effective solutions to support the integration and de-victimization of displaced communities in Europe, focusing on refugee education and empowerment of youth. Our colleagues come from all over the world, and our official business language is English. The ideal candidate will be inducted for two weeks and trained during the probation period. At the end of a third month’s contract, the candidate is expected to participate in Better Days’ Employee Survey and Self-Assessment, which is part of their employee evaluation.
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