Samos Volunteers and Jangala: Working Towards a World Where We Are Not Needed

On the Greek island of Samos, the impact of Europe’s migration policies is impossible to miss, and for many people living there, feeling connected, both digitally and emotionally, can be incredibly difficult. But just a short walk from the island’s closed-controlled access centre, a place called Alpha Land offers a different perspective.

Alpha Land is a community space run by Samos Volunteers. It’s a place to learn, play, reconnect, and today, it is also a place to get online with dignity, autonomy, and purpose.

Jangala’s Big Box and Lenovo donated laptops have become critical tools for connectivity, education, job-seeking, and community building. Together, the two charities are proving that internet access is part of a just, humane response to displacement.

A Safe Place to Learn and Rebuild

Education is one of the core services offered at Alpha Land. With most people staying on Samos for just a couple of months, Samos Volunteers have created a flexible English curriculum that fits the transient nature of life on the island. There are multiple levels, including women-only classes, and a drop-in system.

The laptops donated by Lenovo and Jangala have transformed how the team delivers these sessions. Volunteers can prepare and share resources, adapt lessons to learners’ needs, and keep classes consistent, even as teachers rotate in and out.

“The challenges we faced before receiving equipment from Jangala in Alpha Land were difficulties in helping people make an online appointment for our NFI distribution. Without WIFI, many people were limited in their autonomy [...] It also meant when people were in our spaces, they could not communicate with their loved ones, or research into information that may assist them during their asylum process.” says a member of the Samos team “Using our old laptops to monitor and evaluate people [...] was not reliable, considering the laptops would shut down, or be really slow, creating a lag or loss of information.”

Interactive CV Workshops

Another cornerstone of the programme is the weekly CV-making workshop. Many asylum seekers arrive without personal devices, so being able to sit down with a volunteer and use a laptop to craft a professional CV is invaluable.

"At the CCAC, the extreme overcrowding and poor management often mean people can queue up to two hours just to access basic services. We were committed to creating a different experience—one that reduces stress and respects people’s dignity.

With laptops and internet access provided by Jangala, our non-food item distribution appointment system has become much smoother. At AlphaLand, people can use the free Wi-Fi to book clothing appointments from their phones and choose a day convenient to them to visit the free shop. This has eased tensions, eliminated long waits on our premises, and ensured access to essential services humanely and respectfully."

Alessia, project manager at Samos Volunteers

Efficient, Respectful Distribution of Essentials

Samos Volunteers also runs the island’s non-food item (NFI) distribution service. With 3,000–4,000 people in the camp at any given time, and thousands more over the course of a year, tracking who has received what, and when, is a serious logistical challenge.

Before the equipment from Jangala, the registration system was unreliable and manual appointments often led to delays or errors. Now, thanks to laptops and Big Box’s stable internet connection,  people can book clothing appointments online from their phones and choose a time that suits them. Volunteers confirm appointments, gather feedback, and manage stock, all digitally.

This has drastically reduced queues, eased tensions, and made the experience calmer and fairer for everyone.

The impact of connection

Beyond programmes and logistics, Alpha Land has always aimed to be a safe, human space in a challenging context. Big Box plays a quiet but powerful role in that. People use it to message family, look up legal resources, or simply browse the internet, which are things that are mostly taken for granted, but which carry huge weight when you’ve been cut off from the outside world.

Thanks to the partnership between Jangala and Samos Volunteers, that connection is no longer out of reach.

Jangala and Samos Volunteers share a belief in creating systems that recognise people not as statistics, but as individuals with memories, stories, families, dreams, and a future that remains possible, no matter the obstacles. 

By providing high-quality digital tools, communities are empowered to reclaim agency, to learn, connect, and plan their futures with dignity.

We’re dreaming of a world where we’re not needed, But until then, we’ll keep working to make this experience as humane, respectful, and empowering as it can be.