The desire to live in a beautiful place is universal. It’s wonderful to stroll down a scenic driveway, or walk through a lush meadow.
Up until a few months ago, the colors that defined Eleonas Refugee Camp in Greece were brown and grey – brown sand coated shoes, floors, and faces. Grey, dull concrete and metal structures made up its infrastructure.
Taking matters into their own hands, a group of camp residents decided to beautify their street. They replaced gravel surfaces with a paved concrete path, and built wooden planters to house a variety of green plants. Soft green fabric was draped across the top of the containers to create shade.
This “green street” inspired something new – Project Elea!
The project has one goal – let the residents of Eleonas Refugee Camp beautify their space however they want!
Together with Project Elea leaders, we hosted 6 different pop-up stations, interviewing 88 residents of all different backgrounds and ages to determine the best ways to improve their community. Residents shared tea as we listened, together planning how to improve the streets.
“Without listening, one cannot claim to be for the people,” said one Project Elea member. “The community can be proud of their efforts and feel a sense of ownership and pride over where they live.”
