As the refugee crisis continues, many of us are left moved & wanting to help, but unsure how we can go about this. I urge you to consider supporting a grassroots organisation, such as the ‘We Are Here’ Community Centre, which I am going out to volunteer with in February 2017. I am proud to say that this project was set up by my sister Eliza & a friend of hers about 9 months’ ago to support refugees in Nea Kavala camp in Northern Greece.

Having already suffered major traumas, the loss of loved ones & homes, refugees have been stuck in limbo in Greece since the borders closed in early 2016 & are facing an undefined waiting period & an uncertain future. This lack of information, progress, support, routine & occupation is having a very real impact on people’s psychological wellbeing.

In May, We Are Here built the centre within Nea Kavala, & worked alongside the people from the camp to provide education for children. Since then they have built up their team and services & offer a range of educational & recreational activities including adult English classes, art, drama, film screenings, bingo, a women’s space & a library.

It has been is amazing to see how much can be achieved with a very modest pot of funds, when in the hands of a committed & energised group of people. The project provides an important source of hope, routine & focus in the midst of a fairly bleak existence for hundreds of people.

Sadly, the community centre was destroyed in an arson attack at the end of last year. We Are Here is now raising money for educational & reading material to replace those that were lost.

I will be arriving just as the rebuild of the new community centre in Nea Kavala is completed. I would like to raise money to help them to restock the shelves of their new library. They are busy sourcing books in Arabic & Kurdish & also English graded readers. 100% of the money received will go directly to buying these supplies.

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreHereCentre/