Our small team delivers life saving health measures to displaced people to reduce distress.

I first became involved in the refugee crisis in September 2015, when refugees arrived in Hamburg at a facility near to my work. Nearly everyday I would go to help with packing supplies and with transport logistics.

In April 2016 I read that a NGO in Hamburg was looking for a driver to go from Hamburg to Thessaloniki with medical supplies, clothes and other essentials, so I put up my hand! I was the driver, along with another volunteer. Once we arrived and dropped off the supplies, I started working alongside a German doctor, as his assistant in Idomeni, organising supplies for the patients. It was whilst working here that the need for primary medical care became so apparent to me but nobody was offering it. So I started developing what was very soon to become Medical Volunteers.

Back in Hamburg, I found some others and we bought a yellow ambulance, started up a Facebook page and soon started to receive donations and volunteers.

In July 2016, another volunteer, Andreas, and I drove the yellow ambulance loaded with medical supplies to Thessaloniki. A few weeks later that the first volunteers started arriving! It wasn’t long before we were offering treatment to up to 250 refugees per day on the side of the road. We started offering our services at the Vagiochori camp too.

One year later, we have grown further and work in three locations in Greece – Athens, Thessaloniki and Lesvos. Now we not only offer medical care in the camps, but also in clinics, squat houses and even car parks!

Going to watch the soccer is my last hobby that has survived Medical Volunteers!

In 2017, I searched for such an organization like MVI. In the spring of 2018 I have been in Greece for the predecessor organization of Medical Volunteers International. A diverse work expected me. From minor repairs in the accommodation as well as the emergency vehicles to the medical care of many refugees, everything was there. Thanks to a great team, this work was and is very well done. Now it was clear to me, here I must continue to give my knowledge available.

As a full-time photographer, I was asked by Benjamin in the summer of 2018 if I could imagine doing a photo story about the work of the volunteers in Greece. I was immediately enthusiastic about the idea and was able to take 10 days off to visit all three locations, Thessaloniki, Athens and Lesvos. I witnessed the impressive work of the volunteers with the camera. The experience and contacts made me feel so strongly connected to the cause that I decided to work in the organization back in Hamburg long-term beyond the photo story.

Alongside my profession as a photographer, I spend my time either with my wife and my dog, on a road bike, cooking vegan food, at punk or hip-hop concerts or in the stadium of Magic FC.

For the first time I’ve heard of MVI from one of my Greek friends. She informed me what MVI makes
possible; for example, the chance of supporting doctors and nurses while you are a medical student.
It is a great possibility to make new experiences and help the people in need.
As a child I always wanted to become a doctor and work for the MSF but now I am determined that I
don’t need to have a doctor’s qualification to help the people with the refugee background. I can
help them today and make their lives easier.

It is very impressive to see that so many people from all over the world have the passion to help the
people.

I love to travel with my friends and to learn about other cultures. I also do sports and read books in
my free time.

Am a doctor helper from Munich with the specialization in wound management and since 2017 I work recurrently in Greece as a volunteer.

Getting to know people from all over the world is so awesome. And it is possible to do so within MVI. Great contact with volunteers from all over the world, who donate their time, to help people from other countries, who are in desperate need of medical treatment.

The interplay of help performance and neediness gets a very special quality here at MVI. At the end of the day, you can feel fulfillment from the appreciation and gratitude. You can be happy to have done something meaningful.