Past Projects
Emergency aid
Bucharest, Romania
In March 2022, BAAS supported various projects of local organisations in Bucharest, Romania, for three weeks to provide emergency assistance to refugees from Ukraine. In a shelter for refugees, we supported the local team of Mothers helping Mothers in caring for refugees and assisting them in planning further steps and making arrangements for individual connection opportunities.
The four-person team picked up refugees from bus/train stations and offered them transport to emergency accommodation, medical appointments, embassies, banks, etc. BAAS also financed beds for more sleeping places and was involved in setting up internal processes. Furthermore, we supported the local organisation ANAID, which receives people at the Filaret bus station who arrive in Bucharest by bus from the Ukrainian border. Food and other utensils were distributed and the accommodation of the people was coordinated.
Mastic Campus
Chios, Greece
Between 2020 and 2021, BAAS partnered with Action For Education to run a community centre for young refugees and asylum seekers on Chios, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. The Mastic Campus was a converted warehouse with plenty of space and about a 20-minute walk from the Vial refugee camp. During opening hours, visitors had access to three showers, toilets, four classrooms, a small tailor shop, a gym, a computer room and a laundry service.
The team consisted of around 30 volunteers, made up of refugees and asylum seekers as well as international volunteers, led by two coordinators. The volunteers offered English, German and French lessons. Along the way, they cooked hot meals and offered varied projects such as gardening, playing guitar, (table) football and volleyball, handicrafts and much more. The students were advised on administrative issues and supported in preparing a CV. A special highlight of the last weeks of the Mastic Campus were the social events that took place every Friday evening: All residents (up to 100 participants) from the camp were invited.
The Mastic Campus was first and foremost a safe place to regenerate, to break the lethargic mood of the camp for a few hours, to engage in everyday activities in the Community Centre and to work on a future. Special emphasis was placed on the participation of the refugees and asylum seekers and their input was incorporated into the programme.
BAAS supported this project with a regular large financial contribution as well as a coordinator and numerous volunteers.
Yugi
Chios, Greece
From 2016 to the end of 2020, BAAS was active in the youth centre called “Yugi” on Chios. Young people between the ages of 12 and 18 regularly visited the space for community, fun and learning. The walls were full of ukuleles, self-painted pictures and handicrafts made by the young people. In this colourful space, the refugees could feel safe, escape from their everyday life in the camp for a short time and were met with dignity, kindness and respect. They cooked together, ate together and had showers/toilets at their disposal.
The Yugi was open from Mondays to Saturdays and around 150-180 young refugees took part in the activities every week. These included sports, music, art, baking, language learning, reading, photography, dancing, theatre, hiking, beach trips and table tennis. The emphasis was on incorporating the ideas of the participants and letting themselves be guided by their mood. Only through this spontaneity was it possible to respond to the needs and wishes of the young refugees. In addition to the activities for everyone, there were certain times for young women in which their exchange was encouraged. Due to the adaptable character of the Yugi, both the age groups as well as the concrete offers were constantly adapted to the current circumstances.
BAAS supported the project financially and with volunteers.
Primary School
Chios, Greece
In 2016, BAAS converted an old, two-storey pharmaceutical centre in Chios into a primary school with 3 classrooms to complement the high school. At the time, the lower floor was used as storage for the existing projects. During the three years, two classes and a Yugi session were run in parallel.
High School
Chios, Greece
In an old taverna in the middle of the city centre, BAAS built its first school (later the high school) in 2016. This was the first BAAS project on the Aegean island of Chios. The aim of the school was to create a safe place for the young refugees from the three local refugee camps, where their skills could be promoted, they could exchange ideas and there was always enough hot food for everyone.
The focus of the school was to promote the children’s social skills and to gain new experiences as a collective. The project existed in a paradox that on the one hand the parents wanted to leave the island as soon as possible and on the other hand a long-term school education was to be made possible. After a short time, the school was already bursting at the seams, the demand was great. Therefore, an age limit of 6-20 years was set in 2 classrooms and a new primary school.