When you talk to people on the move in the Mavrovouni camp on Lesvos– which currently accommodates around 1,200 persons – one question always resonates: Have you already had your “interview”? The Interview, which decides over the future life of each individual. It decides whether people receive a positive or negative asylum decision. Whether they are allowed to stay in Europe or not.
Fenix, a humanitarian aid organization, specializing in legal aid, is one of the few NGOs that has direct access to the Mavrovouni camp. This is actually to not easy to achieve: our observation is that the camps are being increasingly sealed off from the public, becoming more and more prison-like. It seems like less information is supposed to become public.
Fenix prepares people on the run for their interview
Fenix is aiming to prepare refugees for their asylum hearing and informing them of their rights and therefore to empower them to make self-determined decisions. In information sessions, they are given a brief introduction into the Greek asylum process in small groups of up to 15 people. Additionally and if requested, they are prepared for the questions they can expect at their interview. Fenix also offers the opportunity to answer specific questions from their clients in one-on-one meetings.
Among others, STELP is financially supporting the renovation of a container in which people have a safe space to raise individual questions and address any concerns.
“Fenix’s work is fundamentally important for the people in the camp. Many are simply unaware of their rights. With Fenix’s support, we can have a direct positive impact on the lives of so many people,” explains Joelle, project coordinator at STELP.
Apart from her work on Lesvos, Fenix is also working in Athens. There they help refugees who have to deal with complicated cases in court. Fenix in Athens also focuses on important campaigning work at European level. STELP also covers expenses for court costs incurred, costs for issuing important documents that are necessary for many court proceedings and, in some cases, expenses for medical emergencies that Fenix clients have.
