Looking back over the last week and a few moments of connectivity we shared with the communities we work with and for on the Greek islands.
Looking back over the last week and a few moments of connectivity we shared with the communities we work with and for on the Greek islands.
This week on Chios, we welcomed the amazing Jalloh sisters to our maintenance team in Vial camp! Yanu and Haja are from Sierra Leone. They have been on Chios for only one month but couldn't wait to help the community in any way they can. Back home, they've been working in banking and finance. To them, maintenance is something completely new. However, they're eager to learn new skills and support our upcycling project within the camp.
On Lesvos this week, Konstantina - our sports coordinator - and Mohammad - our sports coach and photographer - met again with Anis. A super talented 18-year-old resident and a former volunteer sports coach in RIC Lesvos. Today Anis is focusing on her studies, hoping she can find a 'normal' life in Europe and join a university next year. "I hope every woman can find her way, be strong, fight for her rights and reach her goals", she said!
In Athens this week, Thiseas, one of the 'homes' we run together with The HOME Project celebrated the birthday of a young adult from Pakistan who turned 18! His shelter mates surprised him with a birthday cake and wished him all the best for the years to come. Congratulations to this talented guy for finding a job, pursuing his passion for gardening and building a future for himself. We're all proud of you and of this team spirit the teenagers continue to show. #nochildalone
On Lesvos, our vocational education and training sessions continue to enable our team of community volunteers to learn and develop new skills. In RIC Lesvos, our chai and construction teams are attending eight sessions of English classes on a weekly basis. Whilst our SkillsBuild sessions continue to welcome up to eight of our field translators three times a week. Not to forget the Farsi classes hosting some of our visiting volunteers and coordinators as well as other residents eager to learn the language to better connect with the community.
On Chios this week, we distributed 40 dry food packages to all the community volunteers of Vial camp. A weekly initiative enabling them to cook and share some of their preferred dishes. More so, to thank them for their tireless efforts in making Vial camp a more liveable place. A diverse place where all residents can feel cared for and connected.
These are some of the activities and programmes we run together with and for the communities on the Greek islands in an effort to transform refugee camps into safe, healing and enabling environments. By starting a fundraiser on our Kentaa platform, you too can contribute to our community-led projects including; chai distribution, tailoring, education, sports and waste management.