A place for women to meet, learn and share
The programme is named after Melina Mercouri, the famous Greek singer, actress and politician, who was also a strong advocate for women’s rights and cultural freedom.
Melina Women creates a welcoming and supportive space for women to meet, spend time together, learn and exchange ideas.
The programme is particularly aimed at women from refugee communities – whether they live in the camp or elsewhere on Lesbos. Other women from the local community are also welcome to take part.
Learning through doing
Melina Women combines practical activities, creativity and time together.
Food and shared recipes
Food is an important part of the programme. Women bake together and prepare different drinks and foods, including herbal tea blends, fruit iced tea, pickled vegetables and traditional Afghan-Iranian recipes.
The products are often prepared for later use. The women also decorate the jars and containers, turning something practical into something personal and beautiful.
Practical and creative activities
We experiment with different materials and techniques, including batik, textile painting, porcelain painting and crochet.
Some activities are practical, others are simply creative and enjoyable. Women can try something new, develop their own ideas and learn from one another.
Decorative work
Jewellery, macramé and fabric brooches made from leftover materials are among the activities. We also explore creative ways of decorating nails.
Care and wellbeing
Melina Women also creates time for self-care. Activities include spa treatments, body scrubs, body butter and making simple perfumes.
These activities offer a chance to slow down, take care of oneself and enjoy doing something together.
Time together
The activities are not only about learning a particular skill.
Sharing breakfast, working together and having time for conversations are an important part of Melina Women. The programme creates opportunities to talk, exchange experiences and get to know women from different backgrounds.
Discovering your own abilities
We want women to experience that they can learn new things, create something themselves and contribute their own ideas.
Some activities are simply enjoyable. Others provide practical skills that can be useful in everyday life or later in professional life.
Melina Women is also a place where women can discover interests and abilities that they may not have had the opportunity to explore before.
Everyone is welcome
Melina Women brings together women with different experiences and backgrounds.
We believe that meeting, working and learning together creates opportunities for understanding, confidence and new perspectives.
If you would like to take part in one of our sessions, please contact us before coming. Our programmes have limited space and take place at set times.