About Us

Northern Lights Aid (NLA) is a Greek NGO operating in Kavala, Greece. Its focus is to improve the quality of life of refugees currently residing in the country.

NLA works in support of people living in enforced exile in the Kavala Perigiali Camp. A large part of the Camp population is considered vulnerable, including pregnant women, single parents, and people with a medical vulnerability. NLA also offers its services to several low-income families living in the wider Greek community.

The situation for refugees in Greece is characterized by a lack of stability and an uncertain future. NLA works hard to offer stable and consistent support through our projects, which focus on material needs, psychosocial relief and personal development.

Located a walking distance from the camp, our premises include a free clothing store, a community center and a community garden. In the clothing store we host beyond the distribution of NFI Items, a Mother and Baby Program which provides essential hygiene items as well as a space for exchange between mothers.  In our Community Center, we offer a space for creativity, psychosocial relief, personal development and community building. 

The NLA team is made up of international volunteers, local people and community volunteers who reside in the camp and is suppoorted by a remote Board. We operate in close collaboration with local people, the authorities, and international NGOs to build sustainable and consistent projects.

Our History

In September 2015, the founders of Northern Lights Aid traveled to the island of Lesvos, Greece in response to the emerging humanitarian crisis. Quickly realizing the desperate need for support on the island, the founders decided to make Lesvos their base of operation.

In January 2016, Northern Lights Aid was established as an official NGO. The organization was initially created to provide emergency aid to first arrivals on the island. The team provided clothing, food, water, shelter, and alerted medical groups, as well as the Hellenic Coast Guard, in the event of emergencies on land or at sea.

After several months working on Lesvos, with a changing political climate in Europe and the presence of more organisations on the island, it was decided that NLA was needed elsewhere. In March 2016 the northern border of Greece became the new base for NLA. During this time, it supported Hara camp, near Idomeni and focussed on providing food and material support as well as providing shelter and activities for children.

When residents from unofficial refugee camps in Greece began to be transferred to government-run facilities in the summer of 2016, NLA was granted official approval by the Ministry of Migration Policy to operate within the Kavala Perigiali camp. In 2017 our operations moved outside the camp. The new premises enabled our projects to expand and our services became available to local low-income families as well. Our current activities are focused on providing long-term material, educational and community-oriented projects to support the residents of the Kavala camp.

Our Values

Solidarity

Northern Lights Aid strives to offer a compassionate and human approach to supporting and advocating for displaced people.

Sustainability

Northern Lights Aid focuses on offering long-term solutions to immediate problems.

Integrity

To maintain accountability in its actions, Northern Lights Aid strives to provide transparency to its volunteers, donors and the public.

Altruism

Northern Lights Aid believes that the motivation to volunteer should be oriented in the interest and welfare of others.

Equality

Northern Lights Aid pledges to provide equal opportunities to all, by treating them with fairness, impartiality and without discrimination.

Cooperation

Northern Lights Aid is the sum of the experiences and skills of its volunteers, beneficiaries, and partners.