Lesbos is one of the Greek islands that has been at the epicentre of the refugee crisis in Europe, which has seen hundreds of thousands of people arrive in the continent from a variety of countries fleeing war and conflict.

There is a project in the Island called Earth Medicine which, since 2018, has been offering physical therapy to refugees. I became actively involved with the project last year and have been to Lesbos three times in the last 18 months to give acupuncture. I have given hundreds of treatments each time and witnessed the project growing into a communal effort involving volunteer therapists from all over Europe. In my last visit, there were many new arrivals, mostly from Afghanistan. This means the refugee crisis is ongoing and our efforts to provide help need to continue.

Acupuncture has proven to be a great success amongst the refugees as the offering of daily treatments has been extremely effective at relieving physical pain, headaches, sleep and emotional issues, digestive issues, and difficulties with mobility. A reduction on any symptoms makes it a little easier to cope with the burdens of living in the camp, the effects of past experiences and the uncertainties about the future that all refugees have to live through.

There is no other organisation in Lesbos where holistic care or physical therapy are available to refugees. The aim here is not only to relief physical symptoms, but to offer a safe space where refugees can feel human again after all the difficult experiences they have experienced and the indignities they are often subjected to.

Please help me get there again to continue this important work.

One day, it could be us or our loved ones in need of refuge and humane treatment. Let's plant the seeds of love and compassion so we can harvest this later.

With love and gratitude,

Sandra