RLS’s Lucy Alper, Project Coordinator and Lawyer in our Greek team, runs regular training and information sessions for other organisations supporting people seeking safety, including Meraki Humanitarian Support and Medical Solidarity International (MSI). These sessions provide a legal overview, along with the history and context regarding the situation for refugees in Greece.  

This knowledge sharing is a key part of our work. It strengthens the sector as a whole and makes sure organisations are well equipped to support people on the move, particularly within the Greek system.  

These organisations are also now our neighbours. Our Greek team recently moved into the Victoria Community Centre (VCC), named after the nearby square in Athens.  

VCC is a multifunctional, collaborative and community-based effort of eight partner organisations. Between us, we offer essential resources, support services and a sense of belonging to people across Athens, especially in the Victoria neighbourhood. Every day, hundreds of people from 40 countries come through its doors.  

Here’s what recent session attendees said:  

“Good work requires good training. Some knowledge requires dedicated time and space to be properly absorbed. That is why we are grateful to Lucy Alper, coordinator of Refugee Legal Support, for training sessions with our Athens team. Lucy provides a legal overview and a history of the situation for refugees in Greece, grounding it in the developments of recent months. Who are the people we see at our centre every day? What is their legal status? Why are so many recognised refugees being sent back to Greece from other European countries? These are questions our volunteers navigate constantly – and having the chance to work through them carefully, with an expert, makes a real difference. The trainings remind us of something important: legal support for people on the move is not a specialist add-on. It is fundamental. Organisations like RLS do two things at once – they offer free legal support directly to refugees and asylum seekers, and they make their expertise accessible to frontline teams like ours, helping us work with more confidence and clarity. Both matter. Both are essential. Thank you RLS.” - Matilde, Coordinator at Meraki Humanitarian Support  

“The legal workshops we have with Lucy are especially helpful to gain a better understanding of the legal obstacles refugees face in Greece. It is always interesting and at the same time shocking to learn how fast the system changes and how often rights are written down in one way but in practice the reality is completely different. It is very helpful to hear about the actual practice and the reality a lot of people are facing in Greece. Our team members always find the sessions so valuable. Thanks Lucy for the very informative and interactive sessions.” - Judith, Coordinator at Medical Solidarity International (MSI)  

“It was a very comprehensive and fantastic overview of incredibly complex topics.” - MSI Volunteer  

“The training with RLS is always incredibly helpful for both our volunteers and staff. There are so many uncertainties between what the law says and what actually happens in practice, so it’s really valuable for everyone to get clear, updated information.” - Jazz, Project Manager at Glocal Roots  

“It’s the second time I went to a session with Lucy and I learned even more.” - Glocal Roots Volunteer  

Training other organisations is one part of our work in Greece. Alongside it, our team provides legal support and representation to people seeking safety. Find our more about our work in Greece here.  

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