Join our team on Samos!

We work in a demanding context.

Volunteers should expect to live and work in an environment that can, at times, be physically and emotionally demanding. On certain occasions, we have to work very long hours at short notice and deal with unfamiliar and challenging situations, including emergencies. 

We provide support and training for our team, but everyone applying to volunteer should be confident that they will be able to cope with the situation here both mentally and physically. 

General Volunteering

We are looking for team players who are also able to work independently. We need people who are patient, professional, and prepared to respect the pre-existing systems and code of conduct we’ve developed over the years to make our services as fair and smooth-running as possible, but who can also bring new, fresh ideas, energy, and enthusiasm. Our timetable and each volunteer’s role vary depending on day-to-day needs. For this reason, an open mind and a flexible approach to work are essential. You may assist with:

- reception shifts,

- facilitating recreational activities,

- teaching classes,

- distributing clothing in our warehouse and/or free shop

- Other tasks depend on our projects and needs.

Language teachers

We are looking for volunteers to join our team on Samos and teach adult English or French language classes. We are looking for enthusiastic people who are passionate about teaching and education. Although a teaching qualification would be beneficial, it is not required. If you have teaching experience or would be interested in teaching and you are able to commit for eight weeks or more, we would love to hear from you!

Be sure to state your English/French Teacher preference in your application!

Software Engineer

We are looking for a team player who is interested in using their IT skills to assist people on the move in the non-profit sector. You would help us improve our services and ensure that people can access information and appointments with autonomy and independence. We are looking for a person willing to share and transfer IT knowledge to the team to ensure consistency across the organisation. This is a remote volunteer position, for three months.

We particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of migration and/or displacement.

Diversity Statement

We are committed to equal opportunities for everyone regardless of background, religion, or sexual orientation. We acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in humanitarian work and want to do what we can to correct this. We believe that a team with diverse religious, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds will be better able to support displaced people living on Samos.

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as LGBTIQ+, people with religious backgrounds that are not commonly represented in the EU, and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.

Requirements

  • Two months minimum commitment, but preferably longer, due to the nature of our work (if you are a returning volunteer, we can also consider you if you cannot meet the minimum commitment)

  • Can communicate in English

  • Over the age of 20

  • A working phone with WhatsApp

  • Self-funded: this includes organising and covering the costs of your own transport, living costs, and activities outside of our projects. (For more information, see our Travel & Accommodation page)

  • We accept researchers or interns on an ad hoc basis; please be very clear in your application what it is you intend to do, and be aware that Samos Volunteers can only offer limited added supervision and paperwork

Officer Positions

Alpha Centre Officer and Alpha Land Officer

The Alpha Centre Officer and Alpha Land Officer are mainly responsible for overseeing our community centres, including organising recreational activities. The roles also include leading the daily shifts and managing the volunteers on shift, ensuring that the centres are a safe and secure space for all service users in cooperation with the coordinators, stocking up on supplies and materials, ensuring the centres are clean and organised.

We offer a stipend of 200 EUR to cover personal expenses and free accommodation in our volunteer houses.

Key responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

  • Oversee the Community Centre space;

  • Organise recreational activities and create the schedule;

  • Lead the shift in the Community Centre and manage the volunteers on shift;

  • Ensure that the space is safe and secure for all service users in cooperation with the coordinators;

  • Ensure the space is clean and organised;

  • Stock up on supplies and materials;

  • Co-facilitate our Women's Safe Space and/or LGBTQ+ support group.

Key requirements:

  • Minimum commitment of 3 months;

  • Experience in working with vulnerable or displaced populations;

  • Experience in working in a community space or psychosocial projects;

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

  • Strong organisational, decision making and conflict resolution skills;

  • An understanding of the complexity and challenges of humanitarian work, ideally with experience in a similar organisation or environment;

  • Flexibility. Living and working on Samos is constantly changing and requires adapting; two days never look the same. The ability to be adaptable and flexible is extremely important;

  • Fluent in written and spoken English.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Please refer any additional questions to recruitment@samosvolunteers.org via email.

Videographer

Do you have experience filming and editing projects in the humanitarian sector? We are seeking an experienced videographer to help us develop our communications and spread information about the injustices occurring against people seeking protection and displaced communities in Europe. This is a short-term and project-based proposal. We encourage people with a strong vocation to combat white-saviour mentalities and misrepresentations of people on the move in the EU, people committed to combatting the dehumanisation and sensationalism of the refugee rhetoric in the EU. We work exclusively with person-centred language and in mutual respect to all people representations.

No stipend is provided by travel expenses may be reimbursed, and free accommodation will be provided.

We particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of migration and/or displacement, or people with knowledge of Arabic, Tigrinya, Somali, Pashto, Farsi, or French.

Please contact communications@samosvolunteers.org to learn more about the role.

In your application, please include a link to your portfolio or examples of work you have published in the past.

Project start date: January, for one week of filming on the ground. In this period, we may provide accommodation.

Communications Officer

The Communications Officer is mainly responsible for our social media, supporting the Communications, Advocacy, and Fundraising Coordinator. The officer contributes to our project’s long-term sustainability through our social media, website, newsletter, and general donor relationship management. The role is especially rewarding because it involves taking on tasks on your own initiative. Next to these core tasks, it is possible to get involved in advocacy and/or fundraising. On a part-time basis (around 30%), the officer also supports our team with the different services we provide, to develop a clear understanding of our work, values, and daily operations.

We offer a stipend of 200 EUR to cover personal expenses and free accommodation in our volunteer houses.

Key responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

  • Manage the social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter);

  • Create and design content for these platforms;

  • Take photos and videos in our spaces for social media use;

  • Support with fundraising campaigns on social media;

  • Ensuring our social media is in line with our guidelines and values;

  • Support in writing the quarterly newsletter;

  • Draft donation receipts and support with general donor management.

Key requirements:

  • Minimum commitment of 3 months;

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

  • The ability to follow a style guide and communications strategy;

  • Previous experience in communications or social media (preferred for humanitarian, charitable and/or political causes);

  • Graphic design, photography, video-editing and writing skills are preferred;

  • Strong organisational, decision making and conflict resolution skills;

  • An understanding of the complexity and challenges of humanitarian work, ideally with experience in a similar organisation or environment;

  • Flexibility. Living and working on Samos is constantly changing and adapting, and two days never look the same. The ability to be adaptable and flexible is extremely important;

  • Fluent in written and spoken English.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Please refer any additional questions to recruitment@samosvolunteers.org via email.

How the team works together

We bring together a culturally diverse team of 20+ people from over 15 different countries. This diversity is something to be celebrated. However, it comes with unique challenges when working together as a team. Our Code of Conduct is based on a collection of lessons learned along the way, which help us all work together in a respectful, sustainable, and safe environment. Everyone on the team has agreed to adhere to these guidelines while at Samos Volunteers.

You can read our Code of Conduct here.

Questions

You can find answers to some questions we’ve been asked about volunteering on Samos here.



Travel and Accommodation

You can find information for volunteers about traveling to Samos and accommodation on the island here.




Further reading about volunteering in a humanitarian context.

Without the contribution of volunteers to humanitarian work, life for displaced people living in Samos would be much more difficult than it already is. However, despite good intentions, untrained volunteers can cause harm or aggravate the problems they seek to address. We underline the importance of training our volunteers and encourage self-study to prepare people to work in this challenging environment.

We’ve selected the following article and videos to give you an idea of the challenges you may face as a volunteer and clarify the challenges that can and do arise from working in the environment we’re based in.

As Travel Opens Up Again, Aid Voluntourism Needs To Get Real.

Volunteer Tourists Are Still Showing Up at Greek Refugee Camps. Are They Really Helping?