No one could imagine what would follow when a field owner next to our Transit Accommodation Facility in Samos, decided to grant us a small piece of land so the children could make their own garden.

With shovels, rakes and rolled-up sleeves, the children went to the field in order to prepare the ground. Since they cleaned the area of rubbish and rocks, they started to dig with the shovels to fluff up the soil, but also to remove all the weeds. Afterwards, they split the ground to distinguish each species that would be planted, at the same time forming slopes so as not to have stagnant water.

The time then came to decide what they were going to plant! They visited the neighbouring plant nursery and after many discussions with the owner and amongst themselves, they concluded on the plants of their choice. Running with the pots in hand, they started to “embroider” the ground to plant their plants. Tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, lettuces, eggplants, peppers in different colours, zucchini, cucumbers, parsley, celery, and mint but also watermelons and melons found their place in our garden. And as soon as they set up a watering system, the feeling of impatience started: the exit and return to the sshelter for all children now includes a visit to the garden! Exclamations are often heard: “Look how much it grew!”,”Ah, I saw a flower that came out, come and see.”

We are proud of their efforts, and we are glad that through their own “growth” in our shelter, they learn to respect the wonders of nature.

METAdrasi’s Transit Accommodation Facility in Samos is funded since June 2020 by EEA Grants in the framework of the Asylum and Migration programme.

Funded by EEA Grants
Fund operated by ΣΟΛ Crowe and HumanRights360