Dancing in Ramadan
The mood at our visits isn’t always right for music, but yesterday at Dunkirk in the sunshine, it certainly was! The Kurdish community we were visiting soon had their favourite tunes blasting out of the speakers we’d set up – and then they got our volunteers up and dancing too. The sunshine and the dancing weren’t the only reason for smiles. Thanks to many clothing donations from people across the UK, we were able to give a pair of jeans to almost everybody there – skinny and black being the most popular choice! We offered shaves as well as haircuts, …
Refugees want to contribute
Let me please share with you the story behind this photo. While walking around the camp, I found these two boys. I didn’t really realize what they were doing in the beginning, but then I went closer to them to find them planting a tree next to the tent they live in. They were so busy making it beautiful, watering it and taking care of it. I forgot the situation they were living in for a moment and was just looking at how beautiful it was. I remembered the people who say: “those are coming to destroy our land” or …
“Wet, cold and forgotten by the world.”
This week we visited the Port of Ouistreham which is near to the French town of Cean. Here a group of Sudanese refugees sleep outside under sparse trees near to a holiday camp. It is a nice place to visit. The refugees are friendly, welcoming and always pleased to see us. There are local French people who provide food in the evening. The atmosphere is more relaxed than Calais. As we only visit once a month we packed as much stuff into the van as possible. We took shoes, coats, tents, backpacks, and bags of dates as it is Ramadan. Everything …
Facing prison for saving lives
“I would like to give my heartfelt thanks for all the effort you are making in favour of my cause and above all the Mediterranean – and that people around the world become aware that migration is not a problem, it is our mission. When a person flees from their country because of a civil war or an extreme famine, conditions that make it impossible for them to SURVIVE, it is our obligation to reach out to them. And to not build walls at the borders so that these people have to throw themselves into the water as the only …
Volunteering as a family
I wish the BBC could interview this family. The grandma comes to visit the refugees every week bringing food and treats. She takes home their socks and underwear to wash. This week she brought her daughter, grandchildren and their dog to visit. The five year old boy walked around the men offering dates and biscuits. They were all so good with him. Taking turns to watch out for him and guide him round the lake. Something so simple and normal but it brightened my day. I wish that people in the UK who are so frighted of ‘illegal migrants’ could …
The Refugee Volunteers
There are many unsung heroes behind the work we do in Calais. Sayeed, a refugee who helps with cooking lunches for the volunteers is one of them. He has a magical ability to turn a few vegetables and some rice into a tasty, heartwarming meal that really helps keep team spirits high. Here’s a lovely account from a recent volunteer of sharing memories, recipes and hope whilst cooking together in Calais: “On my last day at the warehouse we meet Sayeed* (not actual name) he has become friends with the charity over the months and helped with distributing items to …
Sara, a volunteer, describes volunteering in Paris
This week we were able to help nearly 500 of the refugees sleeping rough in Paris – thanks to kind donations and the hard work of 7 wonderful volunteers. We met many young men, and lots of women and children. We couldn’t change their difficult reality but we hopefully made things a little easier with duvets, tents, jumpers, hundreds of socks, sim-cards, packs of dry fruit, and other essential items. “Many people are really kind and thankful for what we give them, others get disappointed because we don’t have enough for all. There’s around 3000 refugees in Paris and you …
“My nationality is Refugee”
“My nationality is Refugee” – said an accomplished, educated and interesting young man to me to today. “Because the problem with being a refugee is that, if you doing anything wrong then all refugees are immediately blamed for your mistake, but if you achieve anything then the country that takes you in is quick to claim your efforts. So no matter how grateful I am to France for giving me a home, if I ever achieve anything great in my life I will be proud to say that I am a refugee – to show the world that we are …
Refugees have been denied their childhood
One thing I did not expect in Calais was that the refugees would remind me of the kids I teach at my school in London – but actually, the queue for second hand jeans was no different from the school lunch queue. There is the same mix of personalities and types: the cheerful ones, the shy ones, the cheeky ones, the cocky ones. The one who is always excited to see you. The one who taps you on the shoulder when you are not looking and then tries to keep a straight face. The confrontational one, who keeps queue-cutting and …
War crimes in Libya
Horrific attack targeting refugees and migrants at detention centre must be investigated as a war crime says Amnesty International. Armed men raided the Qasr Ben Ghashir detention centre, south of Tripoli on 23 April and shot a number of the people being held there. “These refugees and migrants should not even be detained in the first place. This incident demonstrates the urgent need for all refugees and migrants to be immediately released from these horrific detention centres where they are held arbitrarily in inhuman conditions and routinely subjected to abuse,” said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director …
