Information is Power so why restrict its flow ? ……

Obtaining the correct information regarding your options in life is so important – to everyone, but especially to a refugee.  Think – after escaping war, travelling a dangerous road to find safety and then to be stuck/ unsure of your options in a foreign country.  This situation is the norm for the majority of refugees in Greece, and must be so incredibly frustrating and depressing when you are trying to provide safety and a better life for your family.

I am not sure why the authorities don’t provide clear / concise information, and make it available in all the relevant languages.  I could be cynical about the reasons behind this ‘oversight’,..?

During my short stint at Hara Hotel, working with the lovely people at Northern Lights Aid, information regarding options for refugees seemed to be elusive, not quite within your grasp. The only concrete information I could give regarding the asylum situation was; ‘no the borders are not going to open’.  This was about it, as I was terrified of giving the wrong information.

When I got back to England, I started to do some ‘research’ regarding refugee options for those in Greece.  I did have one particular person in mind who I wanted to help personally, but I reckoned that any information I could get may be useful to Northern Lights Aid and the people in Hara Hotel.

My ‘research’ (I must put this is inverted commas) .. was really asking for help and advice from contacts.  I am not a legal person or I am unfamiliar with asylum procedures generally and so did not really know where to start.

How it works when you need help in the Refugee Volunteer Community – is very different than you may be used to…  This is a network of people who really want to help in any way they can. If they can’t help you then they know someone else who may be able to..if they cant then they may someone else who can… the network is extensive and information/ contacts are shared freely.  A network of unpaid (generally), experienced people with a variety of skills who all have the same goal.  It is really awe inspiring and driven by solidarity and team work.

So with regard to Hara and information provision.. it so happened that I contacted someone I knew (well kind of knew), he knew someone in the know, who happened to be in the area the very next week.  This person ‘in the know’ is the founder of the organisation RefuComm – dedicated to providing up to date information in a number of languages for refugees.  She worked quickly, utilizing the amazing multi-lingual refugees for the translating work.

Then – bish bash bosh – an Infotent was set up .. just like that… These people – as in all these volunteer groups and organisations –  just blow me away with their; drive, knowledge and sheer persistence to make a difference.

Information is power and without it we can be rendered powerless.. not a great position for anyone to be in, especially a vulnerable refugee family ..