General Volunteer Community Center and Free Shop

Glocal Roots is searching for volunteers to join our project in Kos, Greece.

On Kos, Glocal Roots is the sole NGO providing material and integration support outside the camp on the island of Kos. Our hub located in Kos town provides assistance to refugees who reside in the camp or have self-accommodated in the town, especially in their initial stages in Greece. Our primary focus is to cover gaps in basic needs and aid in peoples inclusion into society and empowerment, and do it fairly.

In The Hub, we have a FreeShop where we distribute hygiene and food products once a month to the displaced people that reside on the island. We also have a Community Center, providing a safe space where people can have a cup of tea or coffee, eat some snacks and spend time on it. In this area other different activities are happening, such as English classes, different cultural events, recreational activities, or workshops, depending on our volunteer and team members skills. We also run a Help Desk, where we aim to support refugees and asylum-seekers in the different questions they might have according to access integration basic services, for instance, the research for jobs and housing, or any other questions or concerns.

Tasks and responsibilities

The days at the shop and center are very dynamic and tasks may change a little bit from day to day. Each team member will be assigned tasks and roles.

However, the main daily tasks and responsibilities of volunteers may include:

• Registering new people in the FreeShop
• Explaining how the FreeShop works and assisting people in their shopping
• Preparing the FreeShop and keeping track of the stock and storage
• Shopping, going to suppliers, shops, collecting or gathering aid.
• If you are a driver you may be needed for transportation of aid, supplies, other volunteers, and those we are helping to support with their general wellbeing.
• Welcoming and maintain the community center and the common areas
• Cleaning the bathrooms, community center, shop, storage, kitchen, garden area and the entrance
• Organizing recreational and other type of activities
• Sitting and chatting with and preparing tea and coffee for the people in the community center
• Supporting people through our Help Desk (replying to WhatsApp inquiries, searching apartments, referrals to other organizations, organizing doctor’s appointments, etc.)
• Supporting in other administrative tasks (mail, receipts, advertisements, etc.(
• Social media content
• Running errands
• Teaching English classes (beginner level)
• Preparing and going on deliveries
• … and more!