Blog: Elise on the edges of civilization

Elise Kant (1965) has been the director of the Haella Foundation since 2019. After working in war zones in previous roles, she has become closely involved with the situation of refugees on the fringes of Europe. “What we see there is that, as Europe, we have abandoned civilization and are detaining people in a dehumanized system.” That is why this blog is called: Elise on the Edges of Civilization.

Her profile can be viewed on LinkedIn.

The Haella Foundation has a special focus on this issue and works to raise awareness among donors and individuals, hoping to increase engagement with the cause.

At the moment, Elise is in Lesbos, temporarily volunteering for Fenix in advocacy and wherever extra hands are needed.

She maintains a blog about the situation in Greece, with a particular focus on Lesbos.

Lesvos
31 March 2025 / Human Rights, Reflection

No Medal for Compassion?

Oh come on, Ms. Faber. Please stop with this dreadful nonsense. It’s not even about the medals themselves — it’s...
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flowers
27 March 2025 / Reflection

Lessons from an Island Full of Contradictions

In all the stories about injustice and lack, sorrow and helplessness, there’s also the one about the wondrous nature of...
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travelling for haella
25 March 2025 / Field Experiences, Hope, Refugee Crisis

Trust as a Starting and Ending Point

Trust as a Starting and Ending Point The two most common questions or remarks I get when I travel to...
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samos
20 March 2025 / Human Rights, Humanitarian Crisis, Refugee Aid

Storm on Samos

Maybe it’s a good thing that it never becomes normal—the things that simply shouldn’t be, that leave a knot in...
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munir
18 March 2025 / Migration

The Unseen Struggles and the Power of Small Acts

The recurring theme in conversations over the past days has been the invisibility of problems. Munir speaks about Sudan, his...
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Nour
11 March 2025 / Conflict, Refugee Crisis, War

Nour’s Tears and the Reality of War

I was in the middle of writing a somewhat optimistic piece for LinkedIn when Nour walked in. The toughest guy...
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sunset on lesbos
8 March 2025 / Humanity, Society

Do you really want to go down in history like this?

I saw a man so happy he could light up the sun. He was allowed to stay—otherwise, he would have...
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Elise op Lesbos
6 March 2025

Greetings from Lesbos, the Mavrovouni camp.

Would you like to learn more about the situation here and what Fenix is doing about it? In this short...
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Luiza-Vinhal-Lily-Davies
4 March 2025 / Hope, Society

I wish I could write a hopeful story

I wish I could write a hopeful story. One that lifts you up. That you can hold on to when...
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dove
26 February 2025 / Humanity

I Am Safe Now, That Is All That Matters

I almost want to paint this sentence in large letters somewhere. Because that is what it’s all about. The essence...
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We have a dedicated bank account for private donations:

You can transfer your donation to:

Bank name: ABN AMRO Bank
IBAN: NL40 ABNA 0138 9831 86
BIC: ABNANL2AXXX
Account holder: Haella Stichting
Reference: General donation or Donation – Borders of Europe

Background

Humanitarian Abuses at Europe’s Borders

Encounters with aid workers at the outer borders of Europe.
Haella Foundation, field visit to Lesbos, Athens, and Thessaloniki – April 2024

Download the report (in Dutch): 2024-Haella-Griekenland.pdf