Comic Relief

Comic Relief is a British charity founded in 1985 to raise money for projects in the UK and across the world. They support organisations that are working on the ground to assist the most vulnerable people and communities in society. A generous three-year grant from Comic Relief, through its “Across Borders” program, enabled ELIL to launch its Samos project in summer 2020 and support the opening of a new Athens office in 2021.

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In May 2020, after four years of successful work on Lesvos, ELIL established a new project on Samos. When we started working on the island, the camp was at ten times its intended capacity, with very few lawyers working to support this vulnerable population. Our team was able to significantly increase the availability of legal assistance, providing vital support and information to hundreds of people.

In Spring 2021, with continued, flexible support from Comic Relief, ELIL opened a new Athens office to help meet the critical need for legal assistance for asylum seekers on the Greek mainland. The project allows ELIL to provide comprehensive legal assistance to those whom we first assist on the islands and are then transferred to the mainland.

As part of these projects, our team of permanent Greek asylum lawyers and volunteer European asylum lawyers have provided legal information and assistance to thousands of people, helping them navigate the process, understand their rights and be fully prepared for their asylum interview and/or submit their family reunification application.