I am coming to the end of my three months here volunteering with refugees in Greece. My heart aches for the many people I have met fleeing their countries and their horrid stories of what they have endured as well as in the long and difficult journeys to try to secure a better life. Many are extremely educated and others are everyday families fleeing the wars and the horrors in their countries: Taliban (in Afghanistan), Al-Shabaab (in Somalia), Houthis (in Yemen), Al-Assad’s regime (in Syria), etc. I have truly met the most incredible people and am moved beyond words with what they have given up for safety and the hopes of a better life.
Some of the many activities I have continued to help with:
-Buying bus tickets for camp refugees (disabled, pregnant, women with young children) so that they can get to the main port city of Lesvos (a 1 ½ hour walk on foot). I have purchased over 1500+ euros worth.
Over 1500 bus tickets purchased over the last few months. Refugees I trust give them out inside the camp, as they know and witness who are the neediest.
-Teaching English as well as Tapping Technique for Trauma to the refugees at the huge center for women and children near Moria.
-Purchasing many bicycles, toys, baby bassinets and even water play toys (which were mostly enjoyed by the women), to donate to the center.
-Helping individuals, single mothers and families with cash donations to help pay for the fees for their passport and the trip on the ferry to Athens (once their asylum has been accepted), clothes, phones, Sim cards, food and medical supplies for those in need.
I found a young Pakistani man in the woods living in a tent…Haroun had been rejected 4 times for asylum and lives alone, hidden, and taking any kind of menial work he can find from local farmers who occasionally hire him for a few euros a day.
Haroun outside the old Moria Camp.
I purchased a phone for Fatima…a young teen from Afghanistan who lives with her mother and disabled brother in the camp…it was her 16th birthday and she cried when receiving a phone from me. I also purchased an electric pan and food so that the mother could cook food as their room has no kitchen
.
-And have been driving refugees to swim after I finish teaching.
Unaccompanied teen girls from Afghanistan swimming, something that would never occur in their country.
Fatimata,finally braving the waters…
Many of the Somali mothers I have come to know.
And lastly, I am sure many of you have read about the horrific refugee boat that sank outside of Greece this last week. 78 were confirmed dead, but hundreds more are missing (the boat was estimated to be holding up to 750 people). Many of the 104 survivors said the Greek Coast guard caused the boat to capsize as it was tipped by a rope they attached to it to try to tow it back to Libyan waters. Daily, in violation of international laws for asylum seekers, Greece continues to illegally pushback refugees they find in the sea, oftentimes beating them, stealing their money and phones. And Mitsotakis, the right-wing President of Greece, was just re-elected, so these deaths at sea will sadly continue. I have met so many incredible refugees in the last 5+ years…I can only imagine the amazing and valuable lives that were lost in this tragedy. There are no words…
Lexine