A short account of our work and everyday life
"Another volunteer, Henri, and I stayed in a cosy little house in Kato Tritos, a quiet village near the Gulf of Gera, surrounded by walking trails through olive groves. With regular visits from cats, two traditional bakeries, and a small grocery shop stocking everything we needed, it was a lovely place to stay.
Each morning at 8, Giannis collected us from the bus stop and drove us to the Home for All farm. We began by feeding the cats, dogs, chickens, peacocks, and rabbits, before helping wherever needed. Our tasks included weeding the plots, planting, harvesting vegetables, fertilising olive trees, restoring the wooden ceiling in the olive oil showroom, cleaning, potting flowers, repairing the chicken fence, and fixing outdoor furniture. We also helped prepare the showroom and porch for a group of master’s students studying humanitarian aid in Athens, who came to learn about Home for All’s holistic approach.
One Sunday, I accompanied Nikos to assess an olive grove for a potential harvest by the Home for All team. He explained that the resulting oil is often shared between the grove’s owner and the harvesting team, under arrangements such as 60/40 or 50/50. On two other days, Henri and I joined Dimitri, the farm’s agricultural specialist, at a nearby grove to lay out nets beneath the trees in preparation for the olive harvest. Traditionally, horses or sheep graze the grove beforehand to clear the grass.
At around 1:30 each day, Giannis drove us to Home for All’s nearby canteen, where we shared lunch with the team. Afterwards, we returned to the volunteer house or occasionally spent our free time exploring Mytilini, with its welcoming old cafés (Mousiko Kafeneio), bookshops, and architecture.
Other outings took us to the natural hot springs on the Gulf of Gera (Therma), the Monastery of Archangel Michael in Mantamados, and the treehouse of the painter Theofilos in Karini.
I grew very fond of the team and particularly appreciated the kindness and respect everyone showed one another."
- Vera (2026)