Our dedicated team on Chios is made up of around 10 people from all over the world. The group is managed by the field coordinators who are overseen by the advisory board.
Field Coordination Team
Legal Representative of Offene Arme in Greece – Pothiti Kitromylidi (Toula)
Toula is a founder of the organisation, a resident of Chios, and central to all of our operations! She is responsible for the overall management of the organisation, its financial and strategic planning, recruitment and management of volunteers and coordinators, and oversight of all aspects of the operations.
Field Coordinator – Tamsin
Tamsin is retired and lives in Cambridge, UK. She has been a regular volunteer with OA since 2019 undertaking a variety of roles as a general volunteer, supporter and coordinator. Currently she is involved in recruitment and practical support of coordinators, fundraising, data management and financial monitoring.
Field Coordinator’s Assistant – Léna
The Field Coordinator’s Assistant is the right hand of the Field Coordinator. They play a central role in recruiting volunteers, handling communications, and fundraising efforts.
Free Shop and Warehouse Coordinator – Antonia
Warehouse Coordinators work closely with and report to the Field Coordinator. They share responsibility for the management of the free shop, distributions, daily operations of the warehouse, supplies, management of volunteers, and the maintenance of a safe environment.
Free Shop and Warehouse Coordinator – Arianna
Warehouse Coordinators work closely with and report to the Field Coordinator. They share responsibility for the management of the free shop, distributions, daily operations of the warehouse, supplies, management of volunteers, and the maintenance of a safe environment.
General Volunteers
A team of 6 to 12 volunteers carry out a wide range of roles to ensure the operations can go ahead. We have recruits from all over the world and of all ages from 18 to 80+
Our Remote Team
All of our remote team have experience of volunteering with Offene Arme on the island and have wanted to carry on supporting its work by giving their time to the organisation while having other responsibilities and commitments in their home countries.
President/Chairman – Alexander
Alex lives and works in Marburg, Germany. He has visited Chios many times as a volunteer and established Offene Arme e.V in 2017 initially as a platform for fundraising and to raise awareness for the situation on the Greek Isles. He now manages the finances of the organisation and provides remote support in all areas including strategy and personnel.
Fundraising Supporter – Fran
Fran lives and works in London, UK. She has volunteered a couple of times and has brought her considerable skills to the team covering for absent Distribution Warehouse Coordinators on the ground and playing an active remote role in identifying and applying for grants.
Welfare Supporter – Sam
Sam is a social worker by background, living in Devon, UK. He has supported refugees and displaced people at home and abroad for many years
In his words…‘I came to Chios and instantly loved what it was doing – its offer of practical support, a willingness to flex to respond to almost any need – a truly human response to people in difficult circumstances. My role is in particular to support the wellbeing of the co-ordinators and others, making sure that we are looking after ourselves and each other, in order to that we can offer support to people on Chios’