I am writing this in the ten minutes spare I have.. its my second day and as usual it feels like I have been here weeks.

I am so happy with how the Human Voice Project has started , and so grateful to the help that Ahmad has given .. This project is close to his heart, it was he who suggested it to me many months ago – the brain child of his close friend Kayra from Love without Borders.

In the blistering heat of Vial in July, we arrived yesterday around 5,30pm.  With the help of Faisal (a kind, smart, calm, peaceful English teacher who lives in Vial), we found 11 people to participate.  The people we met were so keen to take part, so keen to have a chance to have a voice.

The people participating so far are from; Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia and Afghanistan .. we are trying to represent all the nationalities here in Vial.  In return for their participation we are giving them 20 euros to thank them, living on 90 euros (or sometimes people have no income) a month is very tough here in Greece.

A tall, gracious man from Cameroon came to me and told me how desperate he was to tell his story, to explain what happened in his country and why his life has brought him to Vial.  He has been here for 6 months, when I said – ah that’s a long time for you – he firmly shook his head – “No” he said “I am safe here, I am happy to be here after what happened in my country.”  His words will stay with me always, as I try to use my imagination and empathy to think of a situation whereby I would be happy to live in Vial, as the alternative is so much worse.