2015 saw the largest number of people forced to flee their homes in recorded history. Worldwide, there are currently 19.5 million refugees and another 38.2 million people displaced within their own countries. As more than one million refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan arrived in Europe over the course of the last year, many inquired about ways to help. We encourage you to explore “Building Bridges”, UUSC’s new Refugee Support and Advocacy Toolkit, which outlines a variety of ways to take action in your own community.

For those who are in a position to travel abroad, and who can offer any of the following skills, we also recommend that you apply to Lighthouse Relief, which currently places volunteers in skilled roles at refugee camps in Greece.

Lighthouse Relief is currently looking for individuals who can make a minimum commitment of 2-4 weeks and who have any of the following skillsets:

• Language skills in Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, and/or Greek
• Maternal and reproductive health professionals, including midwives, nurses, doctors, and lactation consultants
• Diving or rock-climbing skills with a high level of physical fitness to help clear the coastal areas of tons of debris
• Accounting skills, as occasionally needed

Additional longer-term volunteer opportunities are also described at: http://www.lighthouserelief.org/volunteer-positions

All volunteers must demonstrate initiative, creativity, flexibility, and the ability to work independently and cooperatively in challenging and frequently changing circumstances. Lighthouse Relief provides housing to skilled volunteers, when possible, and can advise you on the visa and registration process (U.S. citizens will travel under a 90-day tourist visa).

Click here to review Frequently Asked Questions and additional information.

Please let us know if you make arrangements to volunteer with Lighthouse Relief in Greece, and please let them know that you were referred by the UU College of Social Justice. You may also find elements of our Study Guide useful as you prepare for or reflect upon this experience.