At the end of 2023, l'Auberge des Migrants celebrated 15 years of humanitarian work on the Franco-British border.
Over the years, the association has adapted and evolved to meet the changing needs on the ground as effectively as possible.
Our mission is not only to provide direct aid, but also to ensure the existence of a logistical and humanitarian platform, bringing together different associations.
In the l’Auberge des Migrants warehouse, hundreds of meals are prepared, blankets and clothes are stored, and seven different associations coexist.
Scroll down to look back at the 15 years that have led to the association as we know it today.
2007-2008 : Our beginning
The association Belle étoile, who distribute food in Calais, announced the end of their activities. Some of their volunteers then set up the l’Auberge des Migrants and organised replacement food distributions.
2014-2016 : The Auberge is expanding
The needs are growing, and the association now distributes 900 meals 3 times a week, as well as clothing collected from private individuals. This aid goes directly to the nine places where exiles live.
We collect warm clothing, shoes, blankets and sleeping bags to help protect them from the elements.
In 2015, what became known in the media as the "Great Jungle" of Calais, up to 10,000 people live there.
We began working with Help Refugees, an English charity (later to become Choose Love), with whom we launched a shelter construction programme.
The activities of l’Auberge des Migrants move to a new warehouse and Refugee Community Kitchen, which prepares hot meals, joins the new site.
After October 2016: Dismantling creates a dramatic situation
The "Great Jungle" was destroyed and evacuated by the State, and the disappearance of the makeshift town also meant the end of semi-permanent shelter. Exiled people found themselves more vulnerable, and faced major material needs to protect themselves from the cold and destitution.
At the same time, Choose Love launched the Woodyard project, which distributed firewood in the new various tented camps which people now lived in.
In 2017, between 1,000 and 2,000 people are living in the border zone.The end of the Jungle and the shift in media attention led to a massive drop in material and financial collections for exiled people in Calais.
The Human Rights Observers project, which documents and denounces State violence against people in exile, was launched. l’Auberge des Migrants continued to facilitate and support the work of the warehouse's associations.
The warehouse grew to welcome new associations, with Refugee Women Centre, Utopia 56 and Refugee Info Bus joining what is now the leading humanitarian platform on the coast.
2018 : The solidarity march
To protest against the blocking of borders and campaign for a genuine welcome for people in exile, lAuberge des Migrants organised a solidarity march from Ventimiglia - Calais - London, which mobilised nearly 15,000 people between 30th April and 8th July.
2020-2024: Major developments
In 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, some of the associations stopped their activities and access to water, food, and aid provided by the association mandated by the State, was massively reduced.
To meet the growing need for food, some of the volunteers at the warehouse launched Calais Food Collective with the support of l’Auberge des Migrants. They ensured daily food distributions in Calais and Grande-Synthe.
Fin 2021, Choose Love, which finances up to 70% of the associations in the warehouse, withdrew from Calais. The humanitarian base was destabilised and faced complete closure. Under the initiative of l’Auberge des Migrants and Utopia 56, a consortium was co-founded. Calais Appeal was born, to raise funds and maintain the activities of the Calais humanitarian platform.
At the same time, l'Auberge des Migrants took over management of the Woodyard project.
In 2022, following the departure of Refugee Info Bus, l'Auberge des Migrants launched a new project, Channel Info Project. The aim was to fill the gaps in ensuring access to information and connectivity for people in exile, which is essential in a context where people risk their lives to reach the United Kingdom.
In 2023, the Human Right Observers project became an independent association.
Today, in 2024, l’Auberge des Migrants is more structured and stable.
From twenty or so volunteers in a garage in its early days, l’Auberge Des Migrants -through its two projects and the Calais warehouse- now provides 118,000 hours of voluntary work a year, each devoted to improving the lives of thousands of exiles stranded at the border.
None of this would have been possible without all the donors and volunteers who have joined us over the years, and for that we can never thank you enough.
What does the future hold for us? We don't know, but in view of the migration policies being pursued in France and Europe, we know that the fight is not over, and we are prepared to fight it alongside you for as long as necessary.