Meet Karam, our amazingly social volunteer!
Every weekend in Nottingham, something amazing happens. We have a big, get-together for dozens of refugees and volunteers. It’s either at a park or community centre, and it’s like a party that makes everyone feel happy and welcome for days. Last week I asked someone how it got started. The answer, as is so often the case in the Midlands, was simply “Karam”. Karam coordinates Care4Calais work in the East Midlands, and she’s amazing. It’s not just the huge amount of work she does, it’s also the way she inspires people and brings them together. No Care4Calais group in Nottingham …
Refugees to do triathlon for Care4Calais!
Seven of the amazing refugees we support have formed a triathlon team to raise money for one of our community projects. It’s a truly international team, made up of people who mostly didn’t even know each other before they found themselves in the UK. There’s Sofia and Ernesto and their two children, who fled El Salvador to escape gang violence and extortion. Then there’s Adil from Sudan, Joseph from Chad and Arsema from Eritrea, who are all fleeing war, slavery and trafficking. Between them they will swim, cycle and run together at the spectacular Blenheim Palace triathlon on the weekend …
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 …