Hello all,

I have spent the last 6 weeks volunteering at a refugee camp in Athens, Greece for a NGO charity called 'The Schoolbox Project'. The charity focuses on providing trauma informed eduction, art and play to children in refugee camps throughout Greece (for more information: schoolboxproject.org).

I can honestly say that this has been the most eye opening and inspiring experience that I have ever had. The refugee camp that I worked and lived at was an old, abandoned holiday resort that was a €10 taxi trip to the nearest town and an hour to the nearest hospital. There are over 100 families made up mainly of vulnerable children and women who have fled from both Syria and Iraq. The people I met where the kindest, most warm hearted and welcoming people, however they were all extremely bored and lonely. The children had barely any toys to play with and were always waiting for school or activities, run by the Schoolbox volunteers, to start so that they had something to do. They often played with the large bins and rubbish that was at the camp because they have nothing to do!

While teaching at this camp, I realised how much the children would benefit from simple sports equipment such as bean bags, cones and bibs that could provide lots of different games and activities for the volunteers to run. Therefore, I am hoping to raise at least £300 to buy some equipment for the camp. I would truly appreciate any donation, no matter how small. This money would be spent on people that are very close to my heart and treated me like family for 6 weeks and therefore I cannot truly explain how grateful I would be for any donation.

Thank you for reading my story! If you would like to know any more about my experience please do not hesitate to contact me!

Lots of love and thank you in advance,

Illy xxx