About

In order to be able to rent the building, we have formed a non-profit organization which we would like to run as an association.

Our non-profit, the Sapphic Community Organization, came into existence to create a welcoming, accessible, safer space for the community of women and gender diverse people who live in and visit Eressos.

By welcoming, we mean that we aim to make all women and gender diverse people, regardless of ability, sexuality, race, origin, language, age, education, or class feel that the Sappho Community Centre belongs to them.

We adopt a feminist approach that is also critical of colonialism, racism, classism, ageism, ableism, lesbo-trans- and homophobia. While this commitment and intention will not guarantee equality and equity, it is something we strive to make real in our practices, relations and projects.

We will make this place safer for each of us if we engage to learn from each other and interact with curiosity and care.

Where we are

We recognize that the Sappho Community Centre is in Greece and on Lesvos, the home of Sappho. We are aware of the history and herstory of this place and strive to research and educate around it. While our language is English because of the international nature of our membership, we will endeavour to make the Centre also a place for Greeks and other people whose first language is not English.

Accessibility

We also aim to be accessible. This means financially accessible, but it also means accessible to people with disabilities. Collectively, we aim to prevent and address barriers to participation.

As Eressos is gentrifying and becoming less accessible to workers, to low income people and to many Greeks, we aim to contribute with others in the community to solutions that can keep or make Eressos accessible to all.

The environment

We are aware that we live in a fragile eco-system that is facing the effects of global warming, as well as the encroachment of humans on habitat and other ecological crises. We seek to develop practices of care for the water, the land, the plants and animals with whom we live. We aim to engage in eco-friendly practices in the running of the Sappho Community Centre.

As members, we strive to turn this commitment into reality.

How we are run

The Sappho Community Centre is run by its members through the Board of Directors and Committees. Each year, the members are convened to a General Assembly where they will vote on the priorities, elect the board of directors, and adopt a budget.

How the association is run, and the founding documents