Amidst the deluge of increasingly shocking images from Europe’s refugee crisis it is rare to find much hope or positivity. However, one family-founded organisation is bucking the trend in the most remarkable way.

The Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) was founded by the Catrambone family in 2013 after 400 migrants drowned off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa. Using its 40-metre drone-equipped ship and a team of security staff and volunteers they have been able to rescue over 10,000 people from drowning in the Mediterranean sea. Earlier this year they were able to rescue 6,000 people within a period of only 60 days.

The family are clear about what inspired them to take things into their own hands and found MOAS- “if you see somebody drowning you cannot turn your back on them… those people need help”, said daughter Maria Luisa Catrambone recently.

MOAS is responding to a very real problem- just this year over 137,000 people have tried to cross the Mediterranean, fleeing war or persecution, and more than 2,500 have drowned. Just 3 weeks ago 200 people died after a boat bound for Italy sank just off the Libyan coast.

Take a look at the video at the top of this page. Their story is proof that while not everyone has the the resources available to respond in the same way as the Catrambone family, we do not have to wait for our governments if we want to make positive change. We can act now.