For me, the refugee crisis, arguably the greatest international humanitarian crisis since the Holocaust, is the fight from which I can’t walk away. Until everyone has a piece of land on which they are allowed to stand, I will use my incredible privilege to support and defend those who have been displaced and abandoned by the international community.

I arranged to spend three weeks volunteering at the Women’s Centre in the Dunkirk Refugee camp in May. Two weeks ago, the camp burned down. People who had nothing now have less than nothing. 1700 refugees lost the pitiful shelters they had had in the camp. Many are living in tents in the fields around where the camp was and hundreds are still unaccounted for.

I will be going to Grande-Synthe (the town between Calais and Dunkirk when the previous camp was) for three weeks in May as planned. During that time, I’ll help with relocation if needed, distribution of goods, and advocacy. I will be meeting with several NGOs and non-profits working on the ground to support the hundreds refugees who are still in the area. I will be conducting interviews with women refugees regarding the need for a women and children only camp.

My essentials for these three weeks include accommodations, food, and rental car for a total of $2000. I am also asking for contributions to be able to buy what is needed for the women and children once I arrive: phone cards, charging stations, clothes, blankets, tents, food, sanitary and hygiene products, etc. All money raised beyond my essentials will be spent on products or services for the refugees. I am setting a goal of $5000 but as the need is so great, anything raised above this amount will easily be spent. I will leave the page open until the day before I am scheduled to return.

Please consider what you can offer and pass this plea on as far as you can. I will keep you all updated with any progress on the women and children’s only refugee camp and while I am in Dunkirk. Thank you.