Ten years ago, I watched the residents of Lesbos welcome refugees. Now the public narrative says this was a mistake.


Social scientist at Refugee Support Aegean
Ten years ago, I watched the residents of Lesbos welcome refugees. Now the public narrative says this was a mistake.

Closing Pikpa, a volunteer-run refugee shelter on the island of Lesbos, would be a mistake we cannot afford to make.
![Established in November 2012, Pikpa has always been an open, self-organised camp that functions on the principles of dignity and solidarity, writes the camp's co-founder, Efi Latsoudi [Lesvos Solidarity-Pikpa/Facebook]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pikpalesvos.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)