Equal Legal Aid, Greece - Ockenden International

Access to Asylum and Strategic Legal Aid for Displaced People

Across Europe, states are dismantling the right to asylum, both legally and practically. Greece is one of the clearest examples of this regression. Every day, we represent people rushed through defective procedures or left in legal limbo, in direct violation of European and international obligations. Soon, the European Pact on Migration and Asylum will implement across the EU measures that have already been introduced in Greece, resulting in arbitrary detention, human rights violations, and lack of protection. In this environment, Equal Legal Aid provides precise, independent legal assistance to help people lodge asylum claims, present evidence, and challenge unlawful decisions before the relevant authorities and courts. At the same time, we document violations and pursue strategic litigation to contest practices breaching the law and leading to inhumane reception conditions, unfair asylum procedures, or lack of access to legal remedies. We're very honored to have been awarded the Ockenden Prize, and thanks to it, we will continue fighting for a fair asylum system and for the rights, safety, and freedom of all those arriving in Europe.

Juliette Malfaisan,

Founder and Director, Equal Legal Aid

What the judges said

The judges agreed was a “solid application providing legal clinics at five locations as well as telephone hotlines. It’s providing an essential service, doing important work for refugees including support for victims of gender violence.” Equal Legal Aid they said has “proven effective” in giving asylum seekers the legal assistance required to navigate an extremely complex asylum procedure in an area with no government support or legal infrastructure. The project, which includes 22 lawyers and interpreter volunteers, has so far helped 3,800 refugees.

What the participants say

“I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for all the support you have provided me. I especially want to thank you for assigning Ms. Livia* to my case. She is an amazing lawyer and a wonderful person; she has worked tirelessly for me, stood by my side during the most difficult times, and showed true dedication to my case. I feel safe and supported because of her efforts and your organization’s help. Thank you for everything you do to help people like me.

I want to add something more personal because words are not enough to describe how I feel. Before I met Ms. Livia and your organization, I felt lost and alone after everything I went through. Your support gave me more than just legal help; it gave me hope and a feeling that I finally have a family here who cares about my safety and my future. You didn’t just handle a case, you saved a person. I will never forget your kindness and the humanity you showed me. Thank you for being the light in my darkest days.” – Anonymous participant

“My lawyer did an extremely good job on my case. She always responds to my messages, never misses an appointment, and is always ready to listen. She builds confidence and is always sympathetic to my situation. I hope all the lawyers at ELA will be like her. Thank you all, and special thanks to my super lawyer, Anna*. At least your efforts did not go in vain.” – Anonymous participant

“Having my lawyer’s support over all these years means a lot to me. I don’t really know the law or all the details of my case, so her presence helps me a great deal. With her, I feel guided and confident. She always knows what to do and how to help me. When I can’t attend my administrative appointments, she goes on my behalf. She and her team always take the time to listen, reassure me, and explain things as clearly as possible. The whole team always welcomes us with respect and kindness.” – Anonymous participant

. . . and staff/volunteers directly involved in the project

“The open door policy of ELA leads to the major part of our work as volunteer lawyers : being contacted or going to meet people from all over Northern Greece who have undefined numbers of legal needs because of the total lack of legal information people in the move face. By providing this, ELA helps them to understand, adapt and take informed decisions on their procedure and their life.” – Marie*, volunteer lawyer

“I have decided to volunteer as an interpreter for Equal Legal Aid because I know from personal experience how difficult it can be for refugees to navigate the system when they are limited by language barriers. I saw this as an opportunity to help others who feel lost in legal limbo. I also want to give back to my community. Life here is not easy. Limited resources and uncertainty can weigh heavily. However, I have learnt that we are all stronger than we realise. My message to the world is simple: see refugees as people with dreams, passions, and stories, not just as numbers. Open your hearts, listen to us and help us to build a future in which everyone, whether a refugee or not, can thrive. “ – Nathan*, volunteer interpreter

“The asylum procedure is incredibly chaotic, and applicants frequently face a critical lack of accessible information. Currently, NGOs are the primary actors intervening to bridge this systemic void. Interview preparations we provide at Equal Legal Aid are vital, as this is the most decisive stage of the procedure and frequently the applicant’s sole opportunity to present their claim. Expecting traumatized individuals to navigate this bureaucracy alone is deeply inhumane, making legal support an absolute necessity.” – Efthemia*, volunteer lawyer

“Initially, when I first joined ELA, I had just begun my studies in Counselling Psychology and was trying to understand how to apply this knowledge in a humanitarian context. By supporting the lawyers, I was introduced to an aspect of the field I had previously known nothing about. I came to realise that people going through the asylum process are rarely equipped with clear information about the procedures they are involved in; these are precisely the gaps that ELA seeks to fill. Working with interpreters like myself, the lawyers organise as many appointments as necessary to prepare individuals – both practically and psychologically – for the most important stages of their procedure. Interpreters are not treated as mere translators, but as key team members who signal a person’s comfort, understanding or frustration, acting as an essential cultural bridge.“ – Samah*, volunteer interpreter

• Names have been changed for safety reasons

One Refugee's Story

The Other 2026 Winners and Finalists

Ockenden International’s five cash prizes recognise and reward innovative projects that deliver evidential self-reliance to refugees and/or displaced people, the defining principle of Ockenden International since its inception as the Ockenden Venture in 1951. The five cash awards are open to projects or programmes focused on Internally Displaced People (IDPs)/refugee self-reliance anywhere in the world. The other seven 2026 open prize contenders (with the other four winners italicised) are:

The eponymously named Daughters Rising project in Chiang Mai, Thailand empowers at-risk ethnic minority and refugee women and girls from Myanmar and Thailand through education, job training, emergency aid, and independence programs by tackling exploitation and inequality. It helps them find safety, skills, and self-sufficiency to break cycles of vulnerability and lead dignified, self-reliant lives.
Hope Foundation for Women and Children in Bangladesh’s project in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, ‘From Refugee to Health Worker: Building Self-Reliance among Rohingya Girls’ empowers displaced communities through healthcare, education, and training. Its Girls Health Aid Program equips young Rohingya women with medical and leadership skills, fostering self-reliance, employment, and improved community health while reducing dependence on aid.
iACT for its ‘Little Ripples’ project in the country of Chad, central Africa. The 2026 judging panel said it was heartening to see a project from the troubled, remote difficult-to-reach area of eastern Chad. They particularly liked the fact that the project was refugee-led within the refugee camp community – training the mothers to become teachers – while ensuring the camps were on board. They also noted the project’s “joyful approach” and impressive results, particularly in its work with very young children as well as the project’s built-in capacity for scale and empathy-based leadership, with 175 staff and volunteers having so far trained 1,975 teachers.
Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights’ ‘IT & Play (Toy) Bus – Mobile Support for Displaced Children and Youth’ project provides digital training, psychosocial support, and creative spaces, promoting healing, skills development, and independence, particularly for Yazidi and displaced youth recovering from conflict and trauma in Iraq and Syria.
Maya Vakfi (Foundation) in Adiyaman, Türkiye, conducts the project ‘Empowering Early Years: Enhancing Early Childhood Development for Refugee Children and Caregivers in Earthquake Affected Communities’ by empowering disadvantaged Syrian children and families through psychosocial support, education, and community programs following the devastating 2023 earthquakes.
Save Ukraine Foundation, in the Kyiv region, northern Ukraine, operates the ‘Hope and Healing Center’, providing comprehensive psychological and social assistance to Ukrainian children rescued from Russia and from Russian-occupied territories. The judging panel said it was an “impressive application borne of horrendous circumstances offering psychological support to clearly-disturbed children who have been kidnapped and returned” to Ukraine. The judges were impressed by the provision of holistic and bespoke care “ensuring that the children are given the best chance of rehabilitation and reintegration.” The 14 members of staff have helped rehabilitate 216 children.
Tumaini Letu, is a refugee-led organisation based in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Dowa, Malawi founded in 2012. Since 2014, its flagship project, the annual Tumaini Festival has used music, dance, and the arts to promote refugee dignity, inclusion, and self-reliance. The judges singled it out for “an unapologetic celebration of refugees’ talents and contributions” as well as the fact that the festival was started by refugees.” They were also surprised that it is the only festival located in a refugee camp – and one that was once a prison. The judges said: “It plainly – and aurally – integrates community.” They noted that the event has also sparked market opportunities for the Camp’s refugees, a reliable way to develop self-reliance.” They admired its positive effect on morale of the community and the 5,400 jobs for people in the Camp the festival has generated, invoking a deep sense of pride, hope and joy by focussing its activity on the creative and practical.” The project is managed by 15 staff and 10 volunteers.

The three finalists (in alphabetical order) and their projects, in the 2026 UK Prize, with the winner italicised:

Hopscotch Women’s Centre, Camden, London, for its ‘Hopscotch Afghan Refugee Project (HARP)’, which aids Afghan refugees, offering language learning, community building, and confidence workshops was the standout UK project this year. “An amazing initiative,” the judges said because it “promotes a thoughtful and holistic approach to supporting Afghan families – particularly, mothers, the most vulnerable among resettled Afghans.” The project’s success in fostering vital connections with local statutory and voluntary organisations benefit the whole community, while its focus on childcare allows women attending their sessions to engage more freely with the initiatives. One thousand, six hundred and forty six people have so far been helped by the project, which is run by seven staff and six volunteers.
HostNation conducts its ‘Refugee Friendship Project’ in Greater London, Greater Manchester and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead). HostNation is a volunteer-led charity connecting refugees and asylum seekers with local volunteer befrienders to ease isolation, build confidence, and foster friendships. Through shared activities and social support, it helps newcomers integrate, improve English, and feel part of the community.
The Launchpad Collective (TLC)‘s project ‘Led by Lived Experience: Unlocking Potential – Pathways to Dignity and Self-Reliance’ operates UK-wide supporting refugees to rebuild their lives through training, education, and mentoring. By improving skills, confidence, and employability, TLC supports refugees to move from exclusion to empowerment – restoring dignity and creating genuine pathways to sustainable work and independence.