JOIN US

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. Still, 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,

• Cleaning and maintenance of our spaces,

• Teaching classes,

• Translation (if applicable),

• Distributing clothing in our warehouse and/or free shop,

• Sorting and stocking our Non-Food Item donations,

• 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 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 can commit for eight weeks or more, we would love to hear from you!

In your volunteer application below, make sure to mention you are interested in the teaching position.

The Logistics Officer is mainly responsible for maintaining and improving the Samos Volunteers buildings (community centers, warehouses, and volunteer houses) and vehicles. They will work under the supervision of the Logistics and Distribution Coordinator, also supporting with other tasks, including operating our clothes free shop and managing the warehouse.

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:

1) Maintenance of vehicles and buildings:

• Safety and security of the buildings (e.g., checking fire extinguishers);

• Maintenance of the spaces (Alpha Centre, Alpha Land, warehouse, and volunteer houses): repairs, cooperating with plumber, electrician, etc.;

• Bring the cars regularly to the mechanic and ensure they are safe and clean.

2) NFI distribution:

• Support the smooth operation of the free shop and ensure all beneficiaries receive an equal amount of items;

• Support the registration of beneficiaries using Boxtribute and Google Sheets;

• Act as the security focal point for the warehouse in the absence of the coordinator;

• Ensuring the warehouse and free shop are clean and tidy together with the coordinator;

• Support in the procurement of NFI and sorting incoming donations.

Key Requirements:

• Minimum commitment of 3 months;

• Basic maintenance and building skills (e.g., building shelves, fixing tents, repairing furniture);

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

• Strong organisational, decision making and conflict resolution skills;

• Experience in logistics and NFI distribution

• 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; two days never look the same. The ability to be adaptable and flexible is extremely important;

• Driver licence;

• Fluent in written and spoken English.

The Alpha Centre Officer and Alpha Land Officer oversee 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, and 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 constantly changes 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.

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 provide support to general donor management.

Key requirements:

• Minimum commitment of 3 months;

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

• Fluent in written and spoken English; desirable: working knowledge of Greek

• 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;

• 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.

Communications, Fundraising, and Advocacy Coordinator

Samos Volunteers (SV) is an independent group of volunteers providing informal education, psycho-social support and NFI distribution to people living in the Closed Controlled Access Center of Samos (CCAC).

The Communications, Fundraising, and Advocacy Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the organisation’s sustainability through developing and implementing our fundraising, communications, and advocacy strategy with the support of the Communications Officer.  

Start date: 16th June 2025

Location: Samos, Greece

Minimum commitment: 6 months, full-time

Application deadline: on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is found.

Equal Opportunities: All applications will receive equal treatment regardless of the applicant's sex, ethnic or national origin, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religious or political beliefs, marital status or family circumstances. Our aim is to foster a culture of inclusivity and to embrace and celebrate our differences. We therefore particularly encourage applicants from under-represented backgrounds, such as people with lived experience of migration, people of colour, those who identify as LGBTQI+, and those from low-income backgrounds.

Further information: The organisation will refund the coordinator's reasonable living expenses in the form of a stipend of 700€ per month. A private room in one of our shared houses is provided free of charge.

Mandatory time off is one week after three months of engagement and two weeks after six months if the engagement is extended for at least two more months.

The selected candidate will have to be able to provide a criminal record check and two references.

By sending your application, you consent to Samos Volunteers processing your personal data. You have the right to withdraw your data at any time. Read our Privacy Notice and Data Protection Policy for more information.

If you have any questions about this role or would like to learn more, please email our project manager at projectmanager@samosvolunteers.org.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please fill in this form as soon as possible as this position will be filled on a rolling basis.   

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

Communications

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

• Update Samos Volunteers’ website;

• Coordinate the Samos Volunteers' quarterly newsletter;

• Respond to our communications email, answer general enquiries, and function as a first contact point of the organisation;

• Manage the Communications Officer.

Fundraising

• Oversee the fundraising of the organisation in collaboration with the Project Manager;

• Maintain donor relationships;

• Organise fundraising campaigns;

• Manage our Donorbox account;

• Research and apply for grants.

Advocacy and Campaigning

• Plan, design, and deliver advocacy campaigns that reflect the realities and experiences of those in the refugee and migrant communities living on Samos;

• Act as the spokesperson for Samos Volunteers, liaising with journalists, researchers and politicians, to share situational updates from the island and closely collaborate with individuals from the refugee and migrant communities to amplify their perspectives;

• Collaborate with local and national organisations to jointly organise advocacy and campaign material (e.g. draft open letters, press releases and policy briefings);

• Represent Samos Volunteers within national and European advocacy networks;

• Maintain and develop positive relationships with partner organisations and solidarity movements.

Administrative/ field coordination tasks

• Monitor and evaluate the fundraising, communication, and advocacy efforts on a monthly basis;

• Support the coordination team in covering additional tasks;

• Support by covering shifts in our community centres;

• Report to and collaborate with the Project Manager.

Key Requirements:

• Minimum time commitment of 6 months and ability to stay in Greece without visa support;

• Aged over 24;

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, ability to interact with various actors, and experience in articulating complex ideas in an appropriate way;

• Strong management, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills;

• Experience in designing advocacy materials and campaigns;

• Experience in managing social media channels;

• Experience working in grassroots organisations (preferably in Greece);

• Understanding of the complexity and challenges of humanitarian work, including concepts such as saviorism and privilege;

• Understanding of the asylum process in Greece;

• 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;

• Awareness of cultural diversity (cultural sensitivity) and of displaced communities more generally;

• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Desired:

• Graphic design/photography skills;

• Experience using Mailchimp, Squarespace, Canva, and Donorbox;

• Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Arabic, Greek or French languages are a plus.

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 travelling 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?