selfm.aid

Celebrating Growth 🎉✨ At SKILLS FACTORY, celebration is at our core. We mark each milestone, from the growth of our project to the achievements of team members moving on to new paths. We celebrate the impact we’ve made together: providing hundreds, even thousands, of haircuts, laundry services, clothing repairs and phone fixes, as well as producing work uniforms and essential items for the community and camp residents. Personal milestones are important too, from birthdays and anniversaries to case decisions and interviews . One of the most meaningful parts of our celebrations is presenting certificates to recognise the skills our community members have gained through their hard work and dedication across each department. Here, every achievement, big or small, is valued and appreciated. Living in a camp environment can make people feel like they’re just a number, but here, we see them as individuals with talent, potential, and resilience. 🌱💪 SKILLS FACTORY brings people together as a team and a family. Across cultures, nationalities and borders, we gather to share joy, support each other, and recognise the incredible human spirit. This is the heart of SKILLS FACTORY, and this is what we celebrate! 🌍✨

At SKILLS FACTORY, we are more than just a space for creativity and learning. We are a voice for our community and today, we speak up for them. As we mark one year since the Hamas attack in Israel on the 7th October 2023, which led to the beginning of Israel’s military operation and genocide against Gaza, our hearts are with the people of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Over the past year, they have witnessed homes destroyed, displacement, families torn apart, hospitals and refugee camps bombed and starvation used as a weapon of war. Thousands have been injured, forced to flee their homes and tragically, many lives have been lost. Our community is made up of resilient individuals, primarily from Syria and Palestine, who trust us with their pain, hopes and dreams for a peaceful future. No one chooses to flee their home—they are forced to seeking safety, peace and a life free from violence. What is happening is not just a conflict. It’s occupation, oppression and genocide. Despite unimaginable challenges, our community continues to fight for their freedom and their right to live with dignity. Existence is resistance. We stand in unwavering solidarity with our community, their families, friends and beloved once’s. We feel their pain and we share their hope. SKILLS FACTORY is here to offer them a place of safety, belonging and support, where they can rebuild their lives, find joy and create a new future. They are creators, builders and survivors. We demand an immediate CEASEFIRE. The violence must stop. No more displacement. No more suffering of innocent people. Peace, justice and dignity must prevail. To all of our amazing community, past and present—our hearts are with you. We see you, we hear you and we will always stand with you. ✊🕊️ ‎نتمنى السلامة لكم #solidarity #palestine #syria #lebnanon #comunity #skillsfactory #skillsfamily #ceasefirenow #endoccupation

🤝 Join Our Board Are you passionate about making a difference? We're looking for a dedicated fundraiser to join our board! Use your skills to help us raise funds for our association, while working in a diverse and passionate team. Responsibilities include developing and implementing fundraising programs, promoting our mission and maintaining relationships, all while contributing to a meaningful project with great flexibility. Ready to make an impact? Join us and be a part of something meaningful! 💪✨ --- 🤝 Werde Mitglied unseres Vorstands Bist du leidenschaftlich daran interessiert, einen Unterschied zu machen? Wir suchen ein engagiertes Vorstandsmitglied fürs Fundraising! Nutze deine Fähigkeiten, um uns bei der Mittelbeschaffung für unsere Organisation zu unterstützen, während du in einem vielfältigen und leidenschaftlichen Team arbeitest. Zu den Aufgaben gehören die Entwicklung und Umsetzung von Fundraising-Programmen, die Förderung unserer Mission und die Pflege von Beziehungen, alles mit großer Flexibilität und im Rahmen eines bedeutungsvollen Projekts. Bereit, einen Unterschied zu machen? Schließe dich uns an und werde Teil von etwas Bedeutungsvollem! 💪✨ #selfmaid #skillsfactory #board #fundraising #togetherwearebetter

🙌🏻 MEET THE TEAM 👩🏻🎨🏭 Hello, I’m Maria. I'm from Athens, but my roots are from Samos. I’ve spent almost all my summers here and for the last four years, I’ve been living here. I’ve studied Renovation and Restoration of buildings in Greece and after this, I pursued Architecture in the Netherlands. Although my background has no direct connection to this field, it has greatly contributed to shaping who I am today. Living abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone, fostering the ability to adapt to diverse situations easily. Moreover, it enhanced my cultural awareness and enabled me to understand different cultural backgrounds more deeply. Since August ‘23, I've been a part of Skills Factory, initially as the Office and Volunteer Coordinator. However, with the recent restructuring of the organization, I seized the opportunity to transition into a new role. In addition to handling recruitment responsibilities, I now oversee all artistic initiatives, including coordinating screen prints and lino prints. Moreover, I've taken on the position of Community Development. There my primary focus is on bridging connections between local businesses, our organization, and community volunteers, facilitating their integration into the local society. As a local, I've had the opportunity to witness the evolving situation on the Island from various angles. SKILLS FACTORY stood out to me as an organization that resonated deeply with my values. While I had been familiar with their work, it wasn't until August '23 that I noticed a position opening that seemed interesting for me. Taking a leap of faith, I reached out to them directly. It was a big change leaving my old job, but I haven't regretted it. Working at SKILLS FACTORY is exciting because every day is different. One thing I really love about this job is how much I'm growing. Being here I'm getting better at lots of different things, both in my personal life and at work. It just goes to show how chasing after what you love and trying new things can really change you for the better.

🌍✨ CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY ✨🌍 On the occasion of last week's World Refugee Day, we stand in awe of the resilience, strength and potential of all the incredible people within our SKILLS FACTORY community.  In the spirit of solidarity, we celebrate the powerful community we've built together - where every voice is heard and every hand contributes to our collective growth. Our vision is clear: to welcome, empower and uplift each other, producing humanitarian aid ourselves and develop innovative solutions. Thank you to all of you - our participants, supporters, and volunteers - for being part of our journey and for believing in the power of community and solidarity. 💪🏽💛 #WorldRefugeeDay #SkillsFactory #SkillsFamily #CommunitySpirit #Solidarity #Empowerment #HumanitarianAid 

🌟 Werde Teil unseres Teams! Wir suchen ein ehrenamtliches Vorstandsmitglied für Finanzen und Buchhaltung bei selfm.aid. Wenn du Leidenschaft für Zahlen und unsere Mission hast, freuen wir uns auf dich! 💪📊 Schaffen wir gemeinsam eine bessere Welt 💛 ------ english version (slide 5) ------ 🌟 Join Our Team!  We are looking for a volunteer board member for finance and accounting at selfm.aid. If you have a passion for numbers and our mission, we want to hear from you! 💪📊 Let’s create a better world together 💛 #selfmaid #vorstand #finanzen #buchhaltung #board #finance #accounting

REOPENING PARTY PICS 🥳🪩 🎉 Last Saturday was a day to remember at SKILLS FACTORY’s reopening party! 🎉 We were overjoyed to welcome our NGO partners, the local community, dedicated volunteers, and their loved ones for a celebration filled with music, laughter, and love. ✨ It was a beautiful reunion that reminded us of the power of togetherness and collaboration. 🌟 Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for this unforgettable day! 🙏❤️ #SkillsFactory #CommunityLove #Gratitude #SkillsFamily

🔥 Stir up change as our Kitchen Coordinator! 🌟 At the SKILLS FACTORY on Samos we are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Kitchen Coordinator to join our team. 🏭 💪🏽 Are you passionate about culinary craftsmanship and humanitarian work? 🥗✊ This role is your chance to lead a dynamic team at SKILLS FACTORY, where we create nutritious meals, innovate with leftovers, source local ingredients and cultivate community while following a training schemes. From menu planning to team empowerment, you'll be at the heart of our mission. 🌱 Apply now and be a part of something truly impactful! 👨🏻🍳👩🏽🍳 To apply, please send us your application with your relevant experience and an introduction about yourself to info@selfm-aid.ch Let’s create a better work together 💛 #skillsfactory #wehaveskills #joinus #kitchen #empowerment

🎉 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKILLS FACTORY Celebrating 3 incredible years of empowerment, creativity, and community at SKILLS FACTORY!🎂 From beginnings out of scratch to transformative growth, we've built a space where skills flourish, potentials are seen, and feelings of belongings were created. 🛠💪🏼 Here's to many more years and the incredible individuals who make our space to such an unique and inspiring place 🌟 #HappyBirthday #SkillsFactory #wehaveskills #SkillsFamily #empowerment

📸 PICTURES OF THE MONTH Thrilled to celebrate one month of SKILLS FACTORY 2.0 being open! 🎉 Our doors have welcomed new volunteers, expanding not only our Skills Family but also empowering ourselves with each and everyone’s skills. What a gift, to grow through the knowledge of others. 📚🛠 Here's to continued rising, learning and making a difference together! 🌱 #togetherwearebetter #empowerment #wehaveskills #skillsfamily