Establishing a stronger presence: insights from the 2024 Emergency Smile missions on Lesvos
Spanning from April to October 2024, Emergency Smile embarked on a series of five impactful missions to Lesvos, aiming to establish a stronger presence on this Greek island. Lesvos, located in the northeastern Aegean Sea, is the third-largest Greek island and is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, olive oil production, and the famous Petrified Forest. In recent years, the island has become a key arrival point for people seeking refuge and safety, hosting Europe’s largest reception centre, Mavrovouni, where thousands endure challenging living conditions.
Through these missions, RED NOSES International aimed to bring joy and emotional relief to individuals who have faced significant adversity, fostering hope and resilience in a difficult context.
The missions in focus
Lesvos 1: collaboration and adaptability
During the first mission, held from March to April 2024, the Emergency Smile team delivered workshops tailored to the unique needs of unaccompanied minors, women, and children. Collaborations with partner organisations such as Iliaktida, Yoga and Sports WIth Refugees, and Because We Carry were vital in building trust with the people they worked alongside.
Key learnings revolved around adapting humour to cultural contexts and leveraging the strength of the team to provide consistent support in a fluid and unpredictable environment, which is always very challenging.
Lesvos 2: deepening connections
The second mission, conducted from 13 May to 9 June, focused on flexibility and cultivating personal connections. Challenges such as fluctuating attendance and sudden changes in plans underscored the importance of being resourceful and quick on our feet.
The mission’s success lay in its ability to meet people where they were—whether organising workshops at When We Band Together’s women’s space, engaging unaccompanied minors with simple yet evolving games, or supporting aid workers with a steady, joyful presence. The emphasis on small, intimate interactions highlighted the value of quality over quantity.
Lesvos 3: strengthening collaboration
From 29 June to 27 July, the third mission pushed boundaries with its innovative humour relief workshop, which brought together staff from seven partner organisations. This initiative fostered collaboration and strengthened ties among aid workers, creating a sense of shared purpose.
This mission also underscored the importance of a cohesive team dynamic. The team’s ability to adapt their approach, assign clear roles, and embrace spontaneity allowed them to deliver impactful sessions. At the Paréa Community Centre, the Emergency Smile team could truly leverage and learn from the power of improvisation, focusing less on rigid plans and more on creating connections through playful interactions.
Lesvos 4: navigating new dynamics
The fourth mission, held from September 1 to 28, focused on adapting to new linguistic and cultural dynamics while maintaining the team’s core emphasis on fostering connections. Collaborating with organisations such as Because We Carry, Paréa Community Centre, Iliaktida, Movement on the Ground, and Ariadni Lesvos, the team delivered workshops and shows tailored to diverse groups, including women, children, and people with disabilities.
Highlights included an emotional moment in Paréa where a participant rediscovered the joy of dancing despite physical challenges, and an opportunity to engage Arabic-speaking participants through one of the artists' cultural and linguistic skills.
The mission reinforced the value of flexibility and creativity in working across different cultural contexts. Strategies like turning translation into a playful interaction and leveraging team strengths allowed for deeper connections. Lessons learned during this mission also underscored the importance of maintaining strong partnerships and cultivating innovative approaches to engagement.
Lesvos 5: expanding Humour Relief Workshops
The final mission of the year on Lesvos took place on Lesvos from September 29 to October 26. The team focused on maintaining strong relationships with the partner organizations, while also expanding their activities. An essential highlight was the provision of two Humour Relief Workshops, one of which brought together aid workers from seven different organizations. The second focused on medical staff from the Boat Refugee Foundation, introducing techniques inspired by healthcare clowning to enhance their connection with young patients in clinical settings.
The mission was rich with emotional moments, especially at Paréa, where interactions with children and adults often created profound connections. One such experience involved a young boy who, inspired by Ezzat, declared, "I will be a clown like you." This sentiment underscored the deeper impact of the team’s presence on the people they met, transcending the performance itself.
Acknowledgement of Support
The missions on Lesvos were made possible through the support of various organizations and partners. Notably, Lesvos 1, 2, 3, and 4 were partially funded by the Alta Mane Foundation, whose generous contributions helped bring laughter and connection to those facing difficult circumstances.
Conclusion
The Lesvos missions of 2024 brought together clowns from across the RED NOSES network to inspire laughter, joy, and human connection in contexts often defined by hardship. Across five missions, the teams engaged with people of all ages. The development of the Humour Relief Workshops emerged as a key achievement, demonstrating the value of humour and play in both humanitarian and healthcare settings.
Through these missions, the clowns affirmed their commitment to seeing humanity in every individual, shifting the narrative from one of crisis to one of shared experiences, resilience, and connection. As Erika put it, “This is how the world should be—kids playing and adults enjoying their happiness.”