July highlights: Local roots, global reach

People for People Days kick-off

After years of fieldwork and months of consultation with mental health professionals and migrant support stakeholders, we reimagined our former Rolling Aid event for unaccompanied migrant children. The result? A multi-day experience called People for People Days – a more comprehensive, dynamic intervention rooted in trust, care, and co-creation.

We kicked off this first edition with the boys of AZC Eindhoven through a two-day pilot. Day one focused on co-design: we listened, played, baked, and connected. The boys shared what matters most to them – and we listened.

A week later, we returned with a tailor-made experience shaped entirely by their voices. From sports and creative workshops to curated music playlists, every moment was theirs. 

This marks a significant shift – from one-off events to sustained, structured, and emotionally resonant interventions.

This programme not only offers joy and belonging – it also builds long-term bridges between unaccompanied migrant youth, volunteers, and local communities. It also lays essential groundwork for our upcoming mental health programme.

A warehouse in Amsterdam – a beehive for Ukraine and beyond

As always, behind the scenes, our warehouse team, together with our amazing volunteers, have been hard at work – packing and dispatching aid, mobilising resources, and managing logistics.

While millions of Ukrainians have fled their country, many remain stuck in conflict zones after being displaced. In coordination with our local partner, Lifeline Ukraine, we identified areas where support is most needed. We packed and dispatched essential supplies including winter clothing, blankets, household items, and hygiene kits.

Lifeline Ukraine helps people, small businesses, and communal infrastructure organisations in Eastern-Ukraine – in their efforts to survive and thrive throughout and after the war.

Local communities take over post-quake efforts in Morocco

Armed with hands-on skills from our June mission, local communities in Morocco’s Al Haouz region, working in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages Morocco, are now installing more Better Shelter relief housing units in two additional villages.

We handed over building materials so they could continue what we started together: creating educational spaces in areas hardest hit by the 2023 earthquakes. These multi-purpose spaces are being locally adapted to meet community needs – from remedial classes, fun activities, literacy sessions and women’s gathering, to community libraries.

Renewed partnerships

Each month brings new milestones – and reaching them is only possible with the right partners by our side. In July, several partners stepped forward with renewed commitments to reaching people in need with the right type of support.

“At HEMA, we believe in a better everyday life for everyone. That’s why we give new clothes that don’t end up in stores a second chance through wonderful initiatives like People for People,”
— Nina Moers, Public Affairs Advisor at HEMA

We’re deeply grateful to HEMA for donating winter clothes, blankets, and household items to support our crisis response in Ukraine. These essential supplies will provide comfort and protection to displaced people caught in Ukraine’s conflict zones.

We also thank Clean the World for once again entrusting us with a generous donation of 6,000 hygiene kits, which we’ll soon deliver to displaced families inside Ukraine. As a global leader in environmental and social impact, Clean the World helps reduce landfill waste by collecting unused soap and plastic amenities from the hospitality sector and recycling them into new hygiene products.

Another exciting development is our renewed partnership with Young Impact, a movement that empowers youth to make a difference in areas such as climate, diversity, health, and equal opportunity. This collaboration goes beyond donation – it’s about sharing knowledge and building capacity – in line with Young Impact’s inspiring motto: “Improve the world in a way that suits you.”

Our recent People for People Days in Eindhoven, designed for unaccompanied migrant children, beautifully showcased our valuable partnership with the Laguna Collective and Combibrug. The event reflected months of thoughtful co-creation and brought together Laguna’s international expertise in humanitarian psychosocial support with Combibrug’s deep roots in community vitality and youth engagement. Together, we’re building a strong foundation to advance mental health care for young refugees.

Gaza: A call for humanity

We stand in outrage at the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The siege has led to mass starvation, even as food, water, and medical supplies remain piled at the borders.

As part of the global humanitarian community, we join the urgent call initiated by Save the Children: Ceasefire now. Lift the blockade. Let the aid in. Civilian lives must never be bargaining chips in political conflict.

Meet the Change Makers: A new LinkedIn article series

In July, we launched the first article in our new LinkedIn series, Meet the Changemakers, spotlighting the brilliant minds behind our upcoming mental health programme. This series brings you insights from psychologists, humanitarians, and field experts who have shaped our strategy over the past seven months.

Our first piece featured Joriene van Der Kolk, founder of the Laguna Collective. Check her valuable insights, and stay tuned as we continue this important conversation.

And finally, our new website is up and running! Check it now!

At the heart of our mission lies a dual commitment: to support displaced communities, both near and far. When we respond internationally, we act locally – and when we act locally, we never lose sight of the broader global picture. Our work is rooted in the belief that no matter where people are, they deserve to be reached with compassion, dignity, and tangible support.