Solidarity for refugees

Today I decided to do something different and so Kim (a lovely lady from Holland) and I headed down to Skala .. we chanced upon Lisa (who I met at the airport on Saturday ) who has been working for the Dirty Girls of Lesvos ..  This amazing group collect all the wet dirty clothes from the refugees who arrive on the beach.. have them washed and sorted and distributed to more refugees as they arrive, so they have clean dry clothes to wear ..   We helped Lisa to sort the clothes and went with her to the Dirty Girls HQ which is within a Lighthouse camp .. what can I say really??? .. These people are truly amazing and inspirational .. The lighthouse camp is beautiful,well run and organised. 

There is a welcoming and inclusive vibe … Whilst I was there I met an orthodox greek priest who rents the land for lighthouse and works with both lighthouse and the uncr in Skala .. one of the ladies we met (Nina) interviewed the Father and what he had to say was quite touching .. I have tried to attach a short extract as he answers the question as to whether this is work a priest should be doing.. he answer is beautiful .. I will have to post whilst in  England as it keeps crashing here ..

Father Christophersoph (spelt wrong I am sure)

I  will be going back tomorrow to organise some shifts working with Lighthouse ..

David the camp manager from Barcelona with Carolina. . The camps adopted sheep

Well .. its nearly midnight .. and I can’t sleep .. I have been thinking how we can drain trace tomorrow considering we are quite remote I can’t imagine finding anywhere selling dye … decided I will go to the local mini mart and see what hair dye they have. . well we managed a level survey with bits of old pipe today .. must get sleep .. 😩😩

I have been working at the Hope Centre today (the hotel being renovated to help refugees on the island) .. its a great idea and a big project . My morning was spent slicing boats with Cookie (a lady from Brighton with a great sense of humour and boundless energy) which have been abandoned on the beach after dropping off refugees. This is a big task as there are many along the coast  .. i was glad that the sea wasn’t as too cold as I got compketely soaked..

Part of a boat which has been roughly patched before its journey…

The afternoon I spent tracing drains and looking at the treatment plant for the site with a fellow volunteer .. It is key to the project that the wastewater system gets up and running  either partially or fully quite quickly .. got me quite excited 🙂 I know I am strange to be so interested in sewage but we all have our quirks .. looks like this may be a project for me to look at whilst I am here .. will keep you posted ..

Looks like an RBC to me ☺

Felt I achieved a lot today .. got a plane to lesvos . Met ang .. ran into another volunteer lisa who needed a ride .. drove to the capital .. we got Angies greek phone to work .. drove through mountain roads to molyvos .. met my contact thom . Dropped Lisa off . Visited elipi hotel.. which is being renovated to accept refugees (met some volunteers ) with Thom . Back to molyvos . Drove myself back to the hotel .. got lost 3 times .. met some amazing  people who have made it their life to help refugees on Lesvos .. donated loads of clothes and the hygiene packs  .. then found my way back in the dark to my guesthouse. . Phew .. A bit tired .. glass of red and bed I think ..

The mountain road

Sorting clothing at the hotel  . .

Arrived in molyvos after a brief stop in mitilini to see auntie ang .  . Managed the drive without too much problem Eek .  . Just back from visiting an old run down derelict hotel which us being renovated to house and help refugees  . I think I may be spending some time there 🙂

Me and ang at the harbour

And so after leaving a note each for my 3 boys and my husband my journey starts .. The journey is more complicated  and expensive for me (as I am completely self funded) .. due to the airport strike at athens tomorrow which is a pain .. but will be fine in the end ..

The luggage I have with me is tremendous. . I am hoping the airlines are lenient considering the purpose of my trip ..

Donors continue to support and people send messages of good will which is great … The fund exceeds £4K .. which also exceeds my initial expectation … people have been very kind and supportive which has been very motivating .. especially my husband who  will have to manage the household (which is v busy) and his job for the best part of 10 days  . . Well here it goes .. one love x

Photo does not do justice to the size of the blue suitcase filled with donated clothing and toiletries

It was time to explain to my 7 year old why I am going to lesvos .  .so I talked to him about the war and how families homes have been destroyed and families like ours made homeless leaving their country with nothing .. The first thing he said was “will you die” .. I reassured him regarding this and he was ok with my explanation  …

The second question was “will our house ever be bombed ?” .. of course I answered with motherly reassurance. . But I felt very uncomfortable afterwards .. as a mother I don’t even want my children to consider such a tragedy happening to our family ..  and yet countless other mothers have to live day to day unsure where the next meal -shelter – clean clothing is coming from .. unsure of where they are heading..just so long as it’s away from the conflict in
their homeland.. trying to protect their families at all costs …

For our children to know what is happening on our doorstep is the least we can do ..However uncomfortable. . . one love x

Continue reading “How to explain to a British 7 year old” →

Emergency supplies have been sent to Kara Tepe (Syrian family camp) and Molyvos (North shore where many boats arrive) in Lesvos – funded by donors who have been moved by the refugee tragedy which continues to develop.  This is the greatest movement of refugees since WWII .. people in desperate need.  The response in general from those in power has been wholly in adequate and inhumane …

I have only 10 days before I embark on my trip to Lesbos to help the refugees in any way I can .. Freed by my recent resignation from employment, my costs self funded – I am determined that together with my donors we can make a difference ..

The fundraising now stands at £3,750, which is amazing and shows what solidarity and people power can do.

Auntie Angie on carrot peeling duty in Lesvos on Christmas day .. my auntie decided to travel on a one way ticket to lesbos to help the refugees .. go people power 🙂 x

So with less then 2 weeks to go i am trying to get organised .  . 100 emergency sleeping bags and 200 emergency blankets have been sent to kara tepe and 1000 emergency sleeping bags will be sent to molyvos next week .. All courtesy of people power .. I have a number of waterproofs donated if anyone has any they don’t need please send them my way .. Thanks Emma