Volunteer in Greece
Join us on the ground in Greece and help make a fundamental difference to displaced communities.
Volunteering with us is perhaps the most significant act of solidarity and support you can make.
How to volunteer
Discover our organisation
If you’re considering volunteering with Refugee Biriyani & Bananas, the first step is to take time to find out all about our work. It’s also helpful to do general research into the constantly evolving situation in Greece.
Apply to volunteer
Once you’re sure you want to volunteer, fill out our Volunteer Application form, submitting some key information about yourself. Make sure you meet our volunteer criteria (check out the FAQs below). We’ll be in touch with you shortly to arrange a short video interview.
Join us in Greece
Once we’ve spoken, arrange your travel to Greece to join our teams. We work across the Greek Islands and mainland (primarily Athens). Remember you’ll be responsible for your own travel, transport and accommodation.
Volunteer Diaries
Watch our Volunteer Diaries video series. to see what it’s like to volunteer on the ground in Greece.
Meet a volunteer
Hear from Sara, a former volunteer with Refugee Biriyani & Bananas and get a sense of what volunteer in Greece in like on a day-to-day basis.
Volunteering FAQs
Where will I volunteer?
If you join us in Greece, you’ll be primarily based in Athens. Here we have our free shop and ongoing distributions. However, as a team we also frequently travel to other locations to carry out further distributions. This includes refugee camps outside of Athens and to the island of Chios where we run monthly distributions.
How long should I volunteer for?
Volunteering with displaced communities is not easy. Over the years, we’ve carefully built up a set of principled ways of working in order to maintain trust and efficiency amongst the displaced communities we serve. We always recommend volunteers volunteer with us for as long as possible, with a minimum commitment of 2 months. This ensures that you’re able to be trained up sufficiently and can take responsibility within the organisation.
Where will I stay?
Volunteers who join us from abroad are responsible for their own accommodation in Greece. We’re happy to support with finding affordable accommodation options for you once your trip is prepared.
How should I prepare for volunteering?
The more prepared you are to volunteer, the better the experience you’ll have and the more impact you’ll create. To prepare, we recommend researching as much as you can about the situation in Greece and the background of the so-called ‘European Refugee Crisis’. Find out about our operations by reading our Annual Reports and updates posted on social media.
If you’re able to, consider taking an online course in humanitarian field work or refugee matters – there are lots of great free courses available online from major NGOs such as the Red Cross and UNICEF. Lastly, we’ll happily connect you with a former volunteer in case you have any questions before you come.
Is there a minimum age to volunteer?
Due to the highly volatile and challenging circumstances in Greece, we have a minimum volunteering age of 21. This is to ensure everyone remains safe and comfortable on the team.