Happy Caravan is a Netherlands‑registered nonprofit founded in 2017 by Syrian refugee Alaeddin Janid, who first began teaching English, maths and art inside a Greek refugee camp.
From those early “street school” days, the initiative grew into two non‑formal classroom sites near refugee settlements in Greece—one around Lamia and Thermopylae—where children often lack access to structured learning or creative spaces
If you’re looking to support them, they offer both long‑term on‑the‑ground and virtual volunteering roles.
On the ground, volunteers typically help run daily classes for refugee children, offering academic and creative lessons in English, maths, art, even cinema‑style storytelling. A former Edinburgh University volunteer described spending three summer weeks in June teaching at camps near Lamia. She emphasised how the structured classroom provided security and normalcy for children whose futures often seem uncertain .
Live volunteers often speak of Happy Caravan as an emotionally supportive “bubble” within difficult camp environments, a sentiment captured in their volunteer videos on Facebook. Those joining on-site roles typically commit to several weeks or more, joining other “long‑term volunteers” who help build continuity in the programs.
If travelling isn’t feasible, Happy Caravan also encourages people to become virtual volunteers from home—perhaps helping with lesson planning, fundraising campaigns, digital storytelling or social‑media management.
.In practical terms, volunteering usually involves coordinating with the organisation through its website’s “Get Involved” page, or via their Facebook or Instagram profiles (they’re active across channels) .
Preparation often includes some form of training or induction, briefing volunteers on camp context, child safety, and lesson structure.
To sum up: if you could commit to weeks in Greece, you’d be teaching refugee kids face‑to‑face; if not, you can still add value remotely. Either way, you’d be contributing to a Dutch‑run initiative with strong roots in refugee education, offering children structure, creative expression and hope.
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Happy Caravan & Refugee school opportunities in Greece & Netherlands
