Support for refugees in Greece.
Donation protected
I am Ellen and I am Dutch, married with 3 older kids, we are a multi cultural family.
My story as an on the ground volunteer in Athens started almost 2 years ago in the Port of Pireaus. Around 5000 refugees (displaced people from war zones) were 'living' in tents with around 20 toilets between them.... The situation was unmanageable.
I started taking families out of the port in my car, one by one to have a shower etc in a local hotel. And just to lie on a 'real' bed for a few hours. I did this for about 3 weeks and must've taken at least 250 families to wash.
Around that time a friend donated me her apartment in Central Athens. It has 4 rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. I took one family from the tent camp to see it and we started cleaning it. Soon after this family plus 2 other families and 4 boys moved into the apartment from the tent camp.
They were happy to have just one room per family.
I got them mattresses, food, essentials etc.
In the space of about one year around 17 families, couples, old ladies, young men, moved in and out of the apartment. They would move on once they were in the programme of the UNHCR for reunification or placement in their 'new' and final country.
I have paid for most of their bills with the help of some very generous friends and family, and still doing so. I cannot do this much longer without more funding from a wider circle of people .
The people I help vary from refugees to immigrants and homeless people.
I have the apartment available for all people in need. To run this apartment I need at least 400 euros per month to cover the basic bills.
On average a family will stay for around 4-6 weeks, like a woman who is in her final stages of pregnancy but living on the street or in a tent. She and her husband / family can stay for as long as is needed. I contact the relevant organisation to find a permanent solution for this family...
I have just done extensive renovations to the apartment and am almost ready to re-open. I have put a new kitchen and bathroom in... And painted the whole place in pastel colours.
To make the 're-opening' happen, I need your help as soon as possible.
I work with these people around 3 to 4 days a week, which is most of my free time... I love it and something interesting and unexpected is always looming.... The Arabic I studied in Dubai has been of great use and so is my Greek, German, English and Dutch as most refugees want to learn any of the last 4 aforementioned for their final destination.
Most of the displaced people I have met are hard working people and all they want is a safe place for their kids, elderly parents etc and continue their lives in peace, have a job and send the children to school.
As you all know, Greece is financially incapable of helping this continuing stream of people illegally entering their Islands and cities and needing looking after... Brussels has sent millions but not much of this money has reached the people who need it.... So we try and raise money as individuals to help these people have a base, some food , clothes and medical care.
If you have any cash to spare, no matter how small or big, I would be so grateful! I can't wait to continue my project in the newly renovated apartment as soon as September 1st. Your support would be invaluable!
Thank you so much in advance and thank you also for reading my story.
Ellen Verhagen-Hamid
My story as an on the ground volunteer in Athens started almost 2 years ago in the Port of Pireaus. Around 5000 refugees (displaced people from war zones) were 'living' in tents with around 20 toilets between them.... The situation was unmanageable.
I started taking families out of the port in my car, one by one to have a shower etc in a local hotel. And just to lie on a 'real' bed for a few hours. I did this for about 3 weeks and must've taken at least 250 families to wash.
Around that time a friend donated me her apartment in Central Athens. It has 4 rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. I took one family from the tent camp to see it and we started cleaning it. Soon after this family plus 2 other families and 4 boys moved into the apartment from the tent camp.
They were happy to have just one room per family.
I got them mattresses, food, essentials etc.
In the space of about one year around 17 families, couples, old ladies, young men, moved in and out of the apartment. They would move on once they were in the programme of the UNHCR for reunification or placement in their 'new' and final country.
I have paid for most of their bills with the help of some very generous friends and family, and still doing so. I cannot do this much longer without more funding from a wider circle of people .
The people I help vary from refugees to immigrants and homeless people.
I have the apartment available for all people in need. To run this apartment I need at least 400 euros per month to cover the basic bills.
On average a family will stay for around 4-6 weeks, like a woman who is in her final stages of pregnancy but living on the street or in a tent. She and her husband / family can stay for as long as is needed. I contact the relevant organisation to find a permanent solution for this family...
I have just done extensive renovations to the apartment and am almost ready to re-open. I have put a new kitchen and bathroom in... And painted the whole place in pastel colours.
To make the 're-opening' happen, I need your help as soon as possible.
I work with these people around 3 to 4 days a week, which is most of my free time... I love it and something interesting and unexpected is always looming.... The Arabic I studied in Dubai has been of great use and so is my Greek, German, English and Dutch as most refugees want to learn any of the last 4 aforementioned for their final destination.
Most of the displaced people I have met are hard working people and all they want is a safe place for their kids, elderly parents etc and continue their lives in peace, have a job and send the children to school.
As you all know, Greece is financially incapable of helping this continuing stream of people illegally entering their Islands and cities and needing looking after... Brussels has sent millions but not much of this money has reached the people who need it.... So we try and raise money as individuals to help these people have a base, some food , clothes and medical care.
If you have any cash to spare, no matter how small or big, I would be so grateful! I can't wait to continue my project in the newly renovated apartment as soon as September 1st. Your support would be invaluable!
Thank you so much in advance and thank you also for reading my story.
Ellen Verhagen-Hamid
Organizer
Ellen Hamid-Verhagen
Organizer
