Donation protected
Hello! We are Livia Kestenbaum and Costas Hadjipateras, recent graduates, occasional activists, serial volunteers and hopeful do-gooders from the United Kingdom. At the end of August, we are going to drive to Greece in order to support the ongoing and everpresent refugee crisis. In the run-up to our departure, we hope to raise funds and collect donations that we can bring with us on our trip.
We have consciously decided for the time being to begin as independent volunteers. The needs and opportunities for refugees on the ground are constantly in flux and with this in mind, it is important to us that we stay adaptable, flexible and responsive. Our roles will likely include but not be limited to food preparation, landings, organising clothes in a warehouse, English lessons, childcare etc... We both have areas that we are particularly passionate about, for example Livia would love to be involved in a Woman's Centre and/or facilitate workshops for mothers and babies and Costas is interested in being involved in Search and Rescue efforts and/or using his engineering skills in workshops putting up shading and creating community spaces.
Costas has volunteered on the island of Chios a few times before but never for longer than two weeks. We have identified a need on this island as the closed refugee 'camp', VIAL, is actually more of a detention centre located in a waste disposal site, many kilometres from civilisation. Read more here.
Life on the Greek islands is extremely tough. The Greek population is under huge economic strain. Refugees appear to be being held there indefinitely whilst they wait for decisions on whether or not they will be deported back to Turkey or granted an opportunity to apply for asylum (which may well still be rejected 6 months down the line). This time spent in uncertainty can quickly detriment both physical and mental health. Unfortunately, most of the major NGOs have withdrawn from the island.
Many of you have donated generously before and we hope you find in us another opportunity to provide further humanitarian relief. We will be driving to Chios near the end of August, to volunteer independently whilst staying in constant communication with the grassroots organisations and friends we already have on the island. The money donated will go directly to fund the supplies purchased and not on our petrol money, roadside snacks, beachside snacks or groovy souvenirs.
We have consciously decided for the time being to begin as independent volunteers. The needs and opportunities for refugees on the ground are constantly in flux and with this in mind, it is important to us that we stay adaptable, flexible and responsive. Our roles will likely include but not be limited to food preparation, landings, organising clothes in a warehouse, English lessons, childcare etc... We both have areas that we are particularly passionate about, for example Livia would love to be involved in a Woman's Centre and/or facilitate workshops for mothers and babies and Costas is interested in being involved in Search and Rescue efforts and/or using his engineering skills in workshops putting up shading and creating community spaces.
Costas has volunteered on the island of Chios a few times before but never for longer than two weeks. We have identified a need on this island as the closed refugee 'camp', VIAL, is actually more of a detention centre located in a waste disposal site, many kilometres from civilisation. Read more here.
Life on the Greek islands is extremely tough. The Greek population is under huge economic strain. Refugees appear to be being held there indefinitely whilst they wait for decisions on whether or not they will be deported back to Turkey or granted an opportunity to apply for asylum (which may well still be rejected 6 months down the line). This time spent in uncertainty can quickly detriment both physical and mental health. Unfortunately, most of the major NGOs have withdrawn from the island.
Many of you have donated generously before and we hope you find in us another opportunity to provide further humanitarian relief. We will be driving to Chios near the end of August, to volunteer independently whilst staying in constant communication with the grassroots organisations and friends we already have on the island. The money donated will go directly to fund the supplies purchased and not on our petrol money, roadside snacks, beachside snacks or groovy souvenirs.
Organizer and beneficiary
Livia Kestenbaum
Organizer
Constantine Hadjipateras
Beneficiary