Blindspots is a non-profit, feminist association that supports People on the Move (POM) in humanitarian crisis areas.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia:
In our current project, we want to improve the living conditions of POM in the northern border region of Bosnia and Serbia and make the systematic discrimination in this place visible. Special focus is put on those seeking protection who are considered particularly vulnerable, such as families, children, and women traveling alone. Through our work, we aim to meet the basic needs of people on the move and increase the safety of those living outside camp structures like squats and makeshift dwellings. We work in cooperation with other international organizations and in close partnership with the local population.
In addition, through public relations and the media coverage of our work, we want to generate social awareness and political pressure. We regularly report on our actions, operations and the current situation of POM in Bosnia and Herzegovina on our blog and our social media channels Facebook and Instagram. In our podcast (Freedom of Movement) which is streamed on Soundcloud and Spotify and our shortfilms on Vimeo we try to give a more general explanation about the topic and critically question them. At political events, we also offer workshops on the topic of flight and migration and address the public with our demands at demonstrations and rallies.
Ukraine: "EXIT BUS - Safe Passage for All".
We currently started a new project to support the people in Ukraine. In collaboration with Ukrainian drivers, we organize a safe exit from the war zone and transport urgently needed donations to Blindspots in the Ukraine.
These Blindspots as we call them are mainly makeshift camps which are being set up in hotels, gymnasiums and other converted buildings. These facilities are often not connected to any supply structure and there is an extremely high demand for food and specific material donations. The Locations where people have fled to, to avoid leaving their country, are spread over a wide area and are sometimes difficult to reach. Leaving the country means tearing families apart, as males between 18-60 years
are banned from leaving the country. Also, there are other groups that don't have the same rights as people with a Ukrainian passport, they can’t prove their Ukrainian citizenship, which means they don’t have access to refugee aid services in Europe.
We have built a logistics center and warehouse in a Slovakian border town which is connected to a constantly growing delivery network from EU countries. The donation department in Berlin is based at Holzmarkt with Cadus and networks from here to establish collaborations to ensure a sustainable supply chain.
The donations are taken to the Exit Bus warehouses and a warehouse run by a Ukrainian organisation that sends trains to Kiev and other cities. The Exit Bus drivers are familiar with the area and well networked, so they are informed about the current situation and can not only use corridors, but also create them.
