- R
Hello everyone!
We've all seen the heartbreaking photos of Aylan Kurdi, Omran Daqneesh, and countless others whose lives have been either tragically taken or completely shattered due to war, displacement, violence, political persecution, and destruction. We would like to offer a way for you to impact people's lives in a positive way.
Our names are Pouneh and Anthony and we have been friends for over 15 years (since high school - shoutout to Rancho Cucamonga High School) and come from two different yet similar backgrounds. This year, we decided to use our time off from work and life's responsibilities to do something different that would positively impact others' lives.
We are embarking on a journey to Athens, Greece, to volunteer with refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and many other countries who are currently living in Greece. We will be volunteers at Zaatar NGO 's Orange House and will also be visiting other camps and non-profit organizations in Greece.
We will act as YOUR proxies in Greece by donating any funds you donate to us to refugees on the ground.
Pouneh's Perspective
"This year, instead of having a party for my birthday and receiving gifts, I am asking for my friends and my community to donate any monetary funds or resources they may have to me to give to refugees in Greece. I understand that not everybody has financial stability or access to monetary funds and thus, ask those who cannot donate to instead share this page on their social media outlets. 100% of the proceeds Anthony and I will fundraise will go to refugees. The current situation of refugees in Europe hits especially close to home for me, as a person of Southwest Asian/North Afrikan (SWANA) background whose parents migrated to Switzerland in the 1970's. As a Swiss person, I feel a responsibility to ensure that refugees who have entered Europe are safe and welcomed, regardless of their national origin or asylum status. As a SWANA person in diaspora who comes from a place of privilege, I am committed to my community's wellbeing in diaspora and in our homelands."
(Photo: Pouneh in Jerusalem)
Anthony's Perspective
"We are all rays of sunshine. Every day, we have the power to either shine our light onto others or not. Be the light that shines...be generous and kind, show warmth, compassion, and empathy"
(Photo: Athony skateboarding in Sarajevo)
**100% of proceeds will go to refugees in Greece**
To learn more about the current status of refugees in Greece:
Al Jazeera English
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/07/refugees-greece-living-prison-160716142452953.html
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/20/refugees-greek-camps-targeted-mafia-gangs
Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/19/pressure-mounts-on-greek-refugee-camps-as-more-migrants-come-acr/
UNHCR
UNHCR's reports and articles
To volunteer with Zaatar NGO: http://zaatarngo.org/index.php/volunteer/
We thank you so much for your support and commitment to making our world a better place. We will give you updates throughout our trip and look forward to hearing from you.
**100% of proceeds will go to refugees in Greece**
(This is the only photo we have with the both of us in it haha! Throwback to 2003)
We've all seen the heartbreaking photos of Aylan Kurdi, Omran Daqneesh, and countless others whose lives have been either tragically taken or completely shattered due to war, displacement, violence, political persecution, and destruction. We would like to offer a way for you to impact people's lives in a positive way.
Our names are Pouneh and Anthony and we have been friends for over 15 years (since high school - shoutout to Rancho Cucamonga High School) and come from two different yet similar backgrounds. This year, we decided to use our time off from work and life's responsibilities to do something different that would positively impact others' lives.
We are embarking on a journey to Athens, Greece, to volunteer with refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and many other countries who are currently living in Greece. We will be volunteers at Zaatar NGO 's Orange House and will also be visiting other camps and non-profit organizations in Greece.
We will act as YOUR proxies in Greece by donating any funds you donate to us to refugees on the ground.
Pouneh's Perspective
"This year, instead of having a party for my birthday and receiving gifts, I am asking for my friends and my community to donate any monetary funds or resources they may have to me to give to refugees in Greece. I understand that not everybody has financial stability or access to monetary funds and thus, ask those who cannot donate to instead share this page on their social media outlets. 100% of the proceeds Anthony and I will fundraise will go to refugees. The current situation of refugees in Europe hits especially close to home for me, as a person of Southwest Asian/North Afrikan (SWANA) background whose parents migrated to Switzerland in the 1970's. As a Swiss person, I feel a responsibility to ensure that refugees who have entered Europe are safe and welcomed, regardless of their national origin or asylum status. As a SWANA person in diaspora who comes from a place of privilege, I am committed to my community's wellbeing in diaspora and in our homelands."
(Photo: Pouneh in Jerusalem)Anthony's Perspective
"We are all rays of sunshine. Every day, we have the power to either shine our light onto others or not. Be the light that shines...be generous and kind, show warmth, compassion, and empathy"
(Photo: Athony skateboarding in Sarajevo)**100% of proceeds will go to refugees in Greece**
To learn more about the current status of refugees in Greece:
Al Jazeera English
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/07/refugees-greece-living-prison-160716142452953.html
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/20/refugees-greek-camps-targeted-mafia-gangs
Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/19/pressure-mounts-on-greek-refugee-camps-as-more-migrants-come-acr/
UNHCR
UNHCR's reports and articles
To volunteer with Zaatar NGO: http://zaatarngo.org/index.php/volunteer/
We thank you so much for your support and commitment to making our world a better place. We will give you updates throughout our trip and look forward to hearing from you.
**100% of proceeds will go to refugees in Greece**
(This is the only photo we have with the both of us in it haha! Throwback to 2003)