A plea for refugees from Kirsty, sixth-former and volunteer
This story about volunteering with refugees in Calais was written by Kirsty, a sixth-form student from South Yorkshire (on the far right in the picture). Before volunteering with refugees in Calais, I had an idea of what it would be like: what I would hear, see and learn. These preconceived ideas were mostly incorrect. For example, a common belief is that the camps are full of violence and separation between groups. This is in fact a complete reversal of the truth. I was overwhelmed by the camaraderie and community spirit all around me. As someone said to me, “Why …
Trying times in Calais, but our volunteers are amazing
Today we’d like to thank our current team of volunteers in Calais, for doing the most incredible job in the most horrific of circumstances. In the last week refugees in Calais have faced particularly some violent, traumatising events. A young Sudanese man was killed when he fell under a lorry’s wheels, just a few days after another Sudanese refugee died after being hit by traffic. A mass eviction in Calais left hundreds without shelter and spare clothes, this coming just two weeks after another huge eviction in Dunkirk. And the authorities ploughed up one of our main distribution sites, making …
Sharing solidarity, friendship and flatbreads in Leeds
We had the loveliest time at our distribution in Leeds this weekend, with so much going on! It was great to see the lads from the nearby hotel. Many of them have been there at least a year, and they’ve all recently endured racist abuse from far right groups. However, they do tell us that our friendly and consistent presence goes a long way to making them feel safe. This weekend we were giving out clothes – the t-shirts were very popular because it’s been so sunny in Yorkshire lately. But also the great thing about the brilliant space that …
Meet Pavel and Monir, our farmer-refugees
The Sutton Community Farm in south London is incredibly kind to the refugees we support, donating baskets of delicious fresh fruit and vegetables for us to distribute in hotels. This is great as there is often a shortage of wholesome fresh food provided. Sometimes refugees go down to the farm with Seema, our South West London volunteer, to help carry the baskets of goods. The farm volunteers are so friendly, and at the weekend one of them, Sonia, noticed that Pavel and Monir were interested in the work that was going on. She downed tools to give them a guided …
Eid Mubarak!
Eid is a time of pure joy and celebration for Muslims, but for those refugees in a strange country far from home it can also feel heartbreakingly sad. To help with that, our amazing volunteer Nicola put together gift bags with these beautiful home-made lamps “to bring light in the darkness, and let them know they may be a long way from home, but there are people here who love and welcome them.” Nicola was so saddened by anti-refugee demonstrations in her area that she resolved to do something to counter the isolating effect they can have on refugees. …
Dear Ms Braverman…
This is a letter to Suella Braverman written by a 10-year-old Care4Calais supporter called Elyse. After hearing about the UK Government’s treatment of refugees she was so upset that she went off to do her own research, and then wrote to the Home Secretary to say how she felt. Her mum shared the letter with us, and we loved how its simple human empathy – a quality its addressee and her colleagues seem to have forgotten. We’re sharing it here with her permission.Thank you Elysse. You are an inspiration Dear Ms Braverman, My name is Elyse Martin and I am …
180 coats distributed in Calais
On Saturday we gave out more than 180 of these warm jackets to refugees in Calais, and boy were they badly needed. A lot of the refugees in the queues were newly-arrived in northern France, and dressed in drastically inadequate clothes like t shirts, thin cotton jumps, and bits of light sportswear. Clothing like this is no use against the bitterly cold winds and rain that whip into Calais at this time of year, and you could see many of the guys were freezing. It felt quite sombre compared to usual distributions, because at the request to guys observing Ramadan, …
Jenga – Care4Calais style!
Today in Calais I met a rock star. I was playing Jenga with Adil, a Sudanese refugee in his twenties. It was our special Care4Calais version of Jenga, which doubles as a learning English quiz. The questions are things like ‘what’s your favourite colour?’ and ‘who’s your favourite person in the world?’ Multi tasking and having fun. Some of Adil’s replies were so funny. Could he play an instrument? Oh yes, electric guitar – didn’t I know he was a rockstar back in Sudan. Naively at first I thought he was serious, and he roared with laughter. Next – his …
Our volunteers are helping freezing refugees – can you?
Early this morning I checked the temperature where I live. It was minus six degrees; the streets all around were covered in an icy covering of frost. And yet today in my town, and places all around the country men, women and children refugees will be walking the streets in thin clothes, with Home Office-issue flip-flops on their feet. I know this is true because right now my volunteer group is working round the clock to arrange and sorting distributions of warm clothes for refugees in our area. To see people coming in shivering, their feet clearly chilled to the …
This wonderful gift brightened our day in Calais
Yesterday we were going through our mail at the Calais warehouse when we noticed a mysterious, lumpy package from the UK. Opening it, we found dozens of EU-plug phone chargers, a power bank and a bag of Euros and cents – and a note explaining where it had come from. It turned out they were from some young refugees – all under 18 and travelling by themselves – who had crossed the Channel. Realising the stuff was unusable in the UK, they had saved it all so they could send it back for refugees in France. Connie, a former C4C …