My name is Aisha, I am your favourite Secondary School Teacher …

I met Aisha (not her real name) at a makeshift camp on a petrol station (EKO) in Northern Greece.  She was stranded here with her husband, Ahmed and 6 children.  Aisha and Ahmed had spent all their savings to escape the war in Syria.  They used to live in Aleppo where Aisha was a Maths Teacher and Ahmed a Senior Mechanical Engineer at a Petroleum Plant.  Unfortunately, I was unable to take any pictures as they still have family in Aleppo, who would be in danger if the regime knew they had escaped. This family had been through so much before reaching EKO.

They had travelled the most common route through Turkey to Lesvos, Athens and then to the border if Macedonia.  However, by the time they reached the border it was shut.  They made their ‘home’ in a UNHCR tent at EKO Petrol Station around 2 months ago. With no money and the wrong passports, this highly educated, gentle, kind family were forced to rely on others to provide the essentials for survival.

Their children are lively and bright and happy, seemingly unaffected apart from the eldest 2 – a boy of 16 and a girl of 14.  They seemed listless and bored with camp life, so little to do to occupy their time.

I asked Ahmed where he would like to settle, he said; anywhere that is safe, where his children can be educated and he and his wife can make a basic living to provide for their family.  No more than this.. They had a good life in Syria, both parents with decent jobs and the eldest 4 children doing well at school.  But in the end it became too dangerous to stay and so they fled, looking for safety.. Fate brought them to this makeshift camp in Northern Greece.

Each day Ahmed spends hours trying to make the asylum claim for his family via Skype, to no avail.  At the moment, claiming asylum from EKO is pretty much impossible.  Aisha told me that many people, in frustration with the situation try to cross the border into Macedonia – through the forests.  The lucky ones may get through, but most get returned. Sometimes they have been beaten and dumped back over the border – poorer and in worse shape than when they left.  She told me that she couldn’t put her family through this (the youngest only 1 year old).

Education is very important to Aisha, she worries that her children are missing out on their education.  Many months has passed since they left Syria – and they have no idea when or if they will be granted asylum in Europe.  Aisha doesn’t want a lot, she wants less than most people in the UK, and certainly does not want hand outs or charity.  She is clever and proud, she wants to work hard and provide for her family.  Aisha just wants a chance for her and her family to have a ‘normal’ life.  Life is camp is merely existence – you get that don’t you?

I can imagine that Aisha would be a great teacher, she is so calm and confident..  You would be happy if your children were taught by Aisha ..

My name is Aisha, I am your favourite Secondary School Teacher …