No Name Kitchen is an independent movement working alongside the Balkans and Mediterranean routes to promote humanitarian aid and political action in favour of those suffering the hardships of extreme journeys and violent rejections. 

This is a real quote from a member of the NNK field team talking about a person on the move (PoM): we don't help, we decide to fight against injustice and empathise with those who suffer the illegalities of an unjust system. After a field experience, we learned much more as volunteers than we gave to those suffering from vulnerable conditions. 

No Name Kitchen's presence in Trieste

No Name Kitchen (NNK) began its work in Trieste in 2023, as this city is a strategic point on the Balkan migration route, where people arrive after enduring arduous journeys through the Balkans. The city serves both as a temporary transit point for those continuing their journey to other European countries and as a destination for asylum seekers settling in Italy. NNK's presence in Trieste initially focused on Silos, an informal settlement that housed many migrants before its eviction. Although this eviction disrupted the migrants' living conditions, NNK adapted its presence to the new context. 

NNK's work in Trieste

NNK's work in Trieste combines direct humanitarian assistance, community support and human rights advocacy. Its main activities include:

• Distribution: food, hygiene products and other basic necessities during the night shift, when the team travels between train and bus stations to help people on the move and those who intend to seek asylum in Trieste. NNK also visits reception centres and camps. 

• Psychological support: individual sessions; recreational activities (day centre and women's centre, Italian lessons and others). 

• CPR and camps: support 

• (3) Documentation of human rights violations: monitoring of the border between Italy and Slovenia. 

The population    

The population of people on the move in Trieste is diverse and varies over time. It can be broadly divided into two groups: Temporary residents: these people are actively on the move and stay in Trieste for short periods before attempting to cross into other European countries. They are often recovering from difficult journeys and returns. Permanent residents: these are people who intend to stay in Trieste but face significant challenges, such as a lack of space in reception centres. Many live in precarious conditions following the eviction from the Silos. This group includes people from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and unaccompanied minors. Both groups face systemic neglect and precarious living conditions. NNK prioritises meeting their basic needs, while advocating for systemic improvements to support these vulnerable populations.

What you need to know before you come

Accommodation: NNK does not have its own headquarters in Trieste. Volunteers stay in shared flats managed by ICS, which also hosts Resq volunteers in the same flat. This type of accommodation requires flexibility and respect for shared spaces.

Logistics: NNK relies on a shared car for transport (until January 2025). Volunteers must ensure that it is kept in good condition and report any problems to the logistics manager. Piazza Libertà is the central area for most activities, and other key locations are Chai Khana and Gradisca.

Challenges: Working in Trieste can be emotionally and physically demanding. Volunteers may encounter tensions during distributions. It is essential to maintain boundaries and follow safety protocols. Night shifts are physically demanding (sometimes from midnight to 8 a.m.). On occasion, there are tensions between the migrant community in Piazza Liberta..  

Team composition: logistics/tracking + communications + protection + health

Hand over: This takes place on the day of arrival; the newcomer is asked to arrive at the camp first thing in the morning; the outgoing coordinator is asked to leave in the afternoon/evening so that they can spend a few hours with the newcomer and introduce them to their duties. 

In this project, these are the positions that need to be filled (to be selected, you must commit to two months in the field):

1 POSITION: LOGISTICS/TRACKING FOCAL POINT 

• Support colleagues with logistics: welcome new arrivals, facilitate local documentation in coordination with NNK staff.

• Equipment, facilities, vehicles: ensure that NNK items are used correctly; if not, request replacement/repair.

• Supplies for activities: prevent illegal materials from being stored in the warehouse (e.g. some medicines require a prescription); keep the NNK contact database up to date; in coordination with the team, define food and NFI needs and draw up a purchasing plan in coordination with the monitoring Focal Point, in accordance with the team's budget.

1 POSITION: FOCAL POINT OF PROTECTION

• Legal information session: liaise with legal clinics in other countries (e.g. Italy, Germany) to develop online information sessions so that people on the move can ask questions about the asylum application process, the steps to take upon arrival, and other related issues. Gather people on the move, prepare them before the session, collect questions, and systematise the information.

• Identify "push back" cases and write reports in accordance with NNK's Guidelines on Collecting Testimonies. Report writing follows a specific methodology; sometimes volunteers conduct a wonderful interview that cannot be uploaded to our database because key information is missing. Inaccuracies jeopardise our ability to defend cases.

• Strategic litigation: seeking justice for cases that can be supported with relevant documentation in cases of illegal and violent reprisals.

• NNK collects testimonies from people who suffer abuse at the borders and publishes monthly reports together with other partners in the Border Violence Monitoring Network to call for change in policy-making. In addition, we launch advocacy campaigns with visual testimonies of violence and try to connect people on the move with lawyers who can initiate legal action against those responsible for the abuses.

Further information

Selected students will undergo a mandatory validation process with NNK before their final participation. It is advisable to ensure diversity within teams. For this reason, students who know each other may be sent to different locations in order to ensure integration and positive team dynamics.a. 

NNK is a grassroots organisation where highly motivated volunteers (non-profit/junior humanitarian profiles) find their place to gain first-hand experience in the field. Coming to NNK projects is a unique experience, but it is not for everyone. We are looking for conscientious and responsible individuals who can understand the sensitivity of being in the field, dealing with a vulnerable population as well as (in some cases) hostile actors. In the field, we adopt a low profile; we do not seek confrontation with the police, but rather mutual understanding. We are looking for people who are able to adapt to complex situations in which everyone contributes to teamwork (beyond the focal point). 

There is much more information about the organisation, the places where it works, the responsibilities of each position, etc., for those who want to participate in No Name Kitchen projects. Please ask the contact persons at your university for this information before the selection interview if you are interested.

Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers on the border between France and Italy

This project has local support, which means that the social organisation hosting you will be your main point of contact, with occasional support from the university responsible for the project. 

Comillas Pontifical University (María Iglesias Martínez)