Supporting Refugees
We have two worthy causes that directly assist with caring for the lives of refugees. 50% of funds received will go to 'SARAH' and 50% will go to 'Save The Children'.
SARAH
The basic inner conviction and practice that is conveyed with SARAH is universal: Search And Rescue for All Humans. They believe that sea rescue is a humanitarian duty and not an act of mercy.
Making Europe into a fortress does not mean that people will no longer flee. Rather, the routes that people have to take in their desperation and in their search for a better, safer life for themselves and their loved ones are becoming increasingly dangerous and deadly. Although over 16,000 people have arrived on the Canary Islands, the dangerous Atlantic Ocean (a wild ocean that we’ve sailed across many times) has also cost at least 600 people their lives so far.
On the Canary Islands, the politically responsible structures are completely overwhelmed with the dignified accommodation of people who have arrived. The pier in Arguineguin, Gran Canaria, threatens to become a new Moria - Greece. Moria is a chaotic mass of humanity. Built to house about 3,000 people, it is now home to more than 13,000 (including an estimated 1,000 unaccompanied minors) more than it has ever held.
Sarah are helping with the overwhelming amount of humanitarian duty on land. Their team has been active in both sea rescue and civil society initiatives since 2016. The experience they’ve gained and the unconditional humanitarian commitment, flows into SARAH.
By Sarah currently helping aid with sea spotting and rescue of refugees, they have already saved many lives. The team are renting out sailboats and taking their small crew out into the open ocean for days on end. As mentioned in the video, there aren’t any NGO vessels constantly out there helping spot the vessels and report them to the Spanish Coast Guard. These small refugee vessels filled with people could potentially miss the islands, and more people could lose their lives at sea.
Sarah are hoping to secure their own vessel, that they will name SARAH, that has much faster and a longer range. This will allow them to plan their missions flexibly and to shift their operational area quickly. Ideally they would like to operate both in the central Mediterranean and on the coast of West Africa.
They are firmly convinced that no person in need should be left alone and that no one should be killed while fleeing. Since the discontinuation of state-coordinated sea rescue operations in 2016, it is mainly civil sea rescue organizations that rescue people fleeing from drowning and document human rights violations in the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, the European Union continues to isolate itself and assumes neither political nor humanitarian responsibility, but relies on military armament and cooperation with civil war militias from Libya.
Sarah believes that no one should drown while fleeing across the Mediterranean. They believe that every life counts. In explicit compliance with the Geneva Refugee Convention Art. 33 para. 1, no one shall be returned to a country where the life or health of the refugee is threatened.
If you would like to help SARAH become equipped with a newly built, fast and powerful boat to save people from distress in the Mediterranean Sea, we would love it if you would donate what you can with us, and rest assured knowing we’ve met these people first hand and know the direct impact you will be having on the lives of Refugees.
Save The Children
Save the Children is one of the highest rated charties on Charity Navigator. They believe every child deserves a future. Founded over 100 years ago, they have changed the lives of over 1 billion children. They work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.
As a global organisation, in 2018 Save the Children directly reached more than 40 million children in 116 countries. Their international work spans countries in Africa, Pacific Islands, South East Asia, South Central Asia and the Middle East.
When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, they are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. They ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. They deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. They do whatever it takes for children - every day and in times of crisis - transforming their lives and the future we share.
