L’Officiel in collaboration with TEDxDaltVila : Oscar Camps

What inspired you to found Open Arms and what was the moment that pushed you to act?

It all started in 2015 when I saw the image of little Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian child who was found drowned on a beach in Turkey. As a father and a lifeguard, that image shook me. I couldn’t stand idly by, knowing that people were dying at sea due to a lack of help. So, we took basic equipment and travelled to Lesbos, Greece. What we saw there changed our lives.

What has been the most challenging rescue mission you have participated in?

Every mission at sea is the most important one because every human life is valuable, and our work is about protecting each and every one of them. In nearly ten years of Open Arms, there have been very difficult moments, with last-minute interventions where we have rescued many people. Today, more than 70,000 lives have been saved by Open Arms, but unfortunately, we have also seen many perish in this sea, which has become the world’s largest mass grave.

How do you handle the stress that comes with your job?

There’s no magic formula—I do what I can, to be honest, because it’s not easy. You witness a lot of suffering, a lot of injustice, but you also see hope in the people you help to safety. That is what gives me strength. Teamwork and support from our psychological team are also key to taking care of our mental health. And it’s not easy to disconnect because the challenges and problems that come with our work continue on land, and we have to deal with them.

How do you face the political and legal obstacles when carrying out humanitarian work in the Mediterranean?

With determination and transparency. We know that our work is uncomfortable for many governments, but our commitment is to human rights, not political interests. Open Arms complies with international maritime law and the conventions that all countries have agreed to uphold, designed precisely to prevent unnecessary deaths at sea. In this context, we rescue people in danger and hand them over to the competent authorities to assess each case individually.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about migrants and refugees that you wish more people understood?

That no one risks their life at sea for fun. They are fleeing war, persecution, misery or simply seeking an opportunity. They are people with dreams, with families, with dignity. They are not a threat, they are victims of a failing system because, on paper, we all have the same rights, but we live in a world of immense social inequality. I wish more people could see them for what they truly are: human beings looking for a chance.

How can ordinary people support Open Arms’ work and contribute to solutions for the refugee crisis?

There are many ways. The most direct is to donate so we can continue our work or to become a volunteer. But above all, not to remain indifferent. It is important not to tolerate racist or xenophobic attitudes around us, to debunk the misinformation that manipulates us, and to demand more humane policies. Every small action counts. It’s not just about saving lives at sea - it’s about changing the narrative to counteract the discourse of hate, which we all know how it ends—just look at recent history books.

What do you hope people take away from your TEDx talk?

That we can all do something to make a difference - you don’t need to be a superhero. It’s enough to take a step forward and refuse to be mere spectators of the injustices happening around us. My talk isn’t about me; it’s about what we can achieve when we stop looking the other way. I hope it inspires more people to act, to speak up against injustice.

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