Idomeni refugee camp emerged in 2016 in northern Greece, near the border with North Macedonia, during the height of the European migrant crisis. Thousands of refugees, primarily from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflict-affected countries, were fleeing war and persecution, traveling across Europe in search of safety and asylum.

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Idomeni became a key location along the so-called Balkan route, which many refugees used to travel from Greece to northern Europe through the Balkans. However, when several European countries began tightening their borders and imposing restrictions, North Macedonia closed its border in early 2016. This left thousands of refugees stranded at Idomeni, unable to continue their journey northward.

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As a result, a spontaneous, makeshift camp formed at the border town, with refugees living in tents under extremely harsh conditions, lacking adequate shelter, food, sanitation, and medical care. International aid organizations provided some assistance, but the situation was often chaotic and dire. Despite the difficult circumstances, the camp also became a space of resilience and community, with refugees organizing their lives, setting up makeshift streets, small businesses, and even holding weddings. Whenever my friends and I entered the camp to volunteer, the children greeted us with a warm "Hello, my friend!"

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I wanted to capture this humanity and resilience by documenting our experiences using disposable cameras. Some cameras were given to the children, allowing them to share their own perspectives on life in the camp.