When most people think of a Greek island, they picture a relaxing summer holiday. But I traveled here for my LiA: to work, and to support people who are going through incredibly difficult times. To be honest, when I first arrived, I was both excited and nervous.

On just my second day, I jumped right into work at OA. Any nerves I had quickly faded when I met the coordinators and fellow volunteers. They came from all over the world, yet we instantly connected over our shared mission. They welcomed me with open arms and truly made me feel at home.

[Picture 1: A glimpse into our warehouse. It might look like just endless rows of boxes, but this is exactly where the magic happens and where donations are prepared with care.]

From that point on, my days became full and meaningful. I learned the working procedures, memorized where everything was kept, and got my hands into everything, such as restocking the free shop (we restock the clothes according to its size and colors!), greeting customers, and packing clothes and daily necessities. Every task, no matter how small, felt like it mattered.

[Picture 2: A quick selfie while packing supplies for the teenagers. Knowing who these clothes are for makes every fold and every pack feel worthwhile.]

One of my favourite moments was when Yoyo, Hayden, Deven and I worked together to create clear size labels for different areas of the shop. It sounds like such a tiny thing, but we wanted our customers to be able to browse freely, find what they need, and feel respected while doing so. That is what this free shop is really about: dignity and choice.

[Picture 3: Yoyo, Hayden, Devon and I created clear size labels for the shoes and for other areas.]

I also had the chance to help design the extra summer distribution poster. Making sure our communication was clear, welcoming, and easy to understand for everyone.

[Picture 4: Helping to design the extra summer distribution poster.]

These first two weeks have been physically tiring, but incredibly rewarding. I love how our days have a rhythm to them, We gather for a briefing each morning at 8:30, figure out who does what, and come back together at the end of the day to debrief and reflect. It keeps us grounded and connected. Through all of this, I am realising that leadership does not have to be loud or grand. Sometimes it just means showing up, doing the work alongside your team, and genuinely caring about the people around you.

Let's keep going!