Meet Paul, the UK peacekeeper who keeps coming back

This is the story of Paul, the UK peacekeeper who decided to help Care4Calais for the first time. He enjoyed it so much he is now a regular volunteer on both sides of the Channel, providing vital assistance to those in need.

Coming to volunteer in Calais can be a big decision, but hundreds of people donate their time and energy to refugees by volunteering with us every year.

One of the many privileges of our work is meeting so many incredible people inside and outside of the settlements. Every volunteer has their own story to tell: of their motivations for coming, and the impact that their work has on their lives going forward.

Paul’s journey

Paul is just one of many volunteers who came to Calais for the first time in January this year. Having spent two years in Kosovo as a Peacekeeper, Paul had seen first-hand the complex issues that lead to people fleeing their homes in search of safety and stability. He wanted to do more to help people in need, and found Care4Calais.

Within a few weeks of finishing his first volunteering experience with us, Paul was signed up for another visit. It was great to see him back this week.

Motivated to do even more, he applied for a position as a Red Cross Volunteer Case Worker to assist refugees in the UK, as well as getting involved in an English language training programme.

Paul’s experience and insights from Calais helped him to take things to the next level, and he will soon be providing vital support to people on both sides of the Channel. We’re really grateful for Paul’s valuable contributions to our work so far.

We love hearing about everyone’s onward journey to understand the issues, raise awareness, and be part of the social movement for change.

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