The rampant corruption in the country was one reason for the Maidan protests – and the protests have had an impact. Civil society is keeping an eye on the government; pressure from the outside is growing. Reforms are implemented, an anti-corruption agency was created – first steps are being taken, three years after the protests in Kiev. This development, however, shows that these initial steps are by no means sufficient to combat corruption in the country in the long term. But the next steps are already in sight.

One of the reasons for the Euromaidan protests was the desire of many citizens to join the European Union. Important parts of the association agreement have entered into force, but it will take some time until full membership is reached. The confidence and strength of the Euromaidan movement continues to have an effect; but three years after the start of the protests there are also dissatisfied voices that believe that the process of convergence with the EU is taking too long.

After the electoral fraud in 2004, civil society in the Ukraine found its voice with the Orange Revolution, and in the following years organized itself as a stable alliance, causing the Maidan protests in the fall of 2013. After the end of the protests, new forms of action have emerged which now have a strong influence on the country and its development.

In the fall of 2013, the first demonstrations on the Maidan in Kiev began, leading to ever-increasing protests. On December 8, more than 500,000 people participated in the rally. Protests escalated in February 2014 and took a bloody turn, with 80 people dying. After the conflict was resolved with the help of the German, French, and Polish foreign ministers, Yanukovych fled the country. Since then the country is being rebuilt. A lot has been achieved in the three years since the start of the protests, but it’s still a long way to go to EU accession. We are looking at a Ukraine in the process of transformation.

If the refugees land on the island of Lesbos in Skala Sikamnieas they will most likely go to the Lighthouse Relief camp at the beach. The Lighthouse Refugee Relief is one of several camps that care for and provide new arrivals with basic necessities after making their way across the sea to Europe.

It is not just since mid 2015 that the people of Lesbos have dealt with refugees. For decades people have come from nearby Turkey to Europe. However recently the number of refugees had increased exponentially. While there are a number of relief organisations & volunteers there to help it has changed the island.

Thousands of people achieve as refugees Europe in the town Scale Sikamineas in the north of Lesbos. From there, the refugees are divided to the various camps.