One Step Beyond launches 2021 with a two parter about two people who refused to let the pandemic of 2020 prevent them making planned life changes. In part 1, Adam Fletcher - yes, he is a relation - talks about his volunteer work with asylum seekers on the Greek island of Samos, and why it has inspired him to hang up his career as a touring musician, including lucrative work in a touring Abba tribute band, and go back to college to become a doctor.

In an interview conducted from the Island of Samos on New Year's Eve, Adam talks about the conditions faced by the refugees on the island, many of whom have been living in squalor for years now, the work of various charities and NGOs, and why he feels blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to spend time with them, and to embark on a fresh career.

Some of the articles mentioned in this Episode:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/world/europe/greece-samos-migrants.html

https://www.rescue.org/video/finding-courage-continue-greeces-refugee-camps

https://www.rescue.org/country/greece#what-caused-the-crisis-in-greece

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJHGmJwjj38/

The short monthly Soundcloud podcast hosted by Medequaliteam.

Also:

https://observers.france24.com/en/20200918-blocked-camp-samos-refugees-demand-legal-justice

https://theconversation.com/samos-grim-winter-leads-to-protests-by-refugees-living-in-limbo-on-greek-island-110116

https://www.pressenza.com/2019/12/children-alone-amongst-6-000-refugees-on-samos/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/on-a-greek-island-that-welcomed-migrants-residents-and-refugees-feel-abandoned

A list of NGOs and charities typically operating on the island of Samos, as supplied by Adam Fletcher:

Action for Education

Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France)

The Flying Seagulls Project

Glocal Roots

Help Refugees / Choose Love

Indigo Volunteers

Med’Equaliteam (this is the NGO Adam currently volunteers for)

Movement on the Ground

Precious Plastic Samos 

Project Armonia 

Project TEN 

Refugee4Refugees

Refugee Law Clinic Berlin

Samos Volunteers

Still I Rise

Verein FAIR

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