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.
17 February 2025 /
Asylum Policy
“It’s cruel.” X from Syria barely holds back his tears. When I spoke to him in April last year, he...
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The wind has died down. The sun is shining. At 9 AM, we leave from Mytilini to the camp a few kilometers away. Upon arrival, we check in with the Greek police.
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12 February 2025 /
Asylum
The first time I was on Lesbos, in April last year, I was constantly aware of the camp, the injustice, the problems—no matter where I was on the island.
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I don’t see very well. It’s not a tragedy—let’s make that clear. It mostly means that parts of my vision...
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Back when Joseph Kony was still terrorizing northern Uganda, I traveled there with two Ugandan colleagues to visit our local...
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7 February 2025
I write about the situation here on Lesbos with passion—deeply moved by the people, impressed by the organizations, and angered...
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“I always live two lives. The part I hide is eating me up.” It could hardly be put more clearly....
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It feels like a lesson in humility. The camp on Lesbos lies right by the sea, and today it is...
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These words come from asylum interviews with people who have arrived on Lesbos. Reality, as it turns out, is often...
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In recent weeks, I have received many questions about how people in the Netherlands can support those in the camps...
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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