HELP european migrants
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Most of you have heard of the migrant crisis in Europe, seen the awful pictures of families crossing the Mediterranean sea packed on tiny boats, heard about the slave trade ... Until a few month ago, that was “only news” for us too.
However, in December 2017, I joined the "Citizen Platform for Refugee Support". This Brussels-based organisation was funded by amazing people who couldn't stand seeing so many migrants (most of them very young) sleeping outside in a park, exposed to weather and police raids. Six months ago, I started opening my doors to these people. Most of them went through hell hoping for a better life in Europe, wanting to taste freedom, far from oppression and hardship.
This experience, emotionally draining, changed me. I have so much respect for those people, who often left their countries as teenagers to pursue their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. My heart broke while hearing their stories. They have seen the most evil side of humanity in Libya, and way too many deaths for their age. But they keep smiling. And hoping. They are life lessons for my kids - and for us too.
Some of the men I host(-ed), who grew up in a slum in Kirkos (Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia), became great friends. I devote more of my time trying to help them build a better life here. At the same time, we discovered Ethiopian culture and fell in love with traditional Ethiopian food that our friends cook.
We started importing powder for making traditional dishes, especially Shiro powder, a savory blend of chickpea flour and local spices. These powders are hand-made by moms from the Kirkos village.
We now have a project importing bigger quantities so that some (often single-) mothers from the village can live decently from selling the powder they prepared in Europe. In Kirkos, a family (one mom and two children) can live (frugally) with 60€/month, with little to no access to medical care and higher education.
However, in order for my friends to commercialize the products in Europe, we dream to give women access to a facility, where they could have access to clean water and cooking material. This space will also be used by underprivileged citizens to have access to shelter, water and electricity.
This project will both better the life conditions of families in the poor sub-city of Kirkos in Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia; and offer the opportunity of a challenging job to some hard-working and deserving migrants in Europe.
The Shiro powder, resulting from organic farming and home-made processing is an energy-rich product. It fits perfectly the European desire to eat more healthy – while not spending hours in the kitchen! My friends are eager to teach Europeans about it!
But, in a first time they need YOUR help to start their project. All donations will be use for cooking material and facility.
In addition or instead, if you would like to send food/ sanitary products/ clothes / shoes/ phones for the many people who come by / stay at my home, please feel free to contact me directly at [email redacted]. Also, if you would be interested in supporting a family monthly, please contact me as well. I can organize the contact. Any financial, material or administrative support is highly appreciate here. Whatever our political views are, these people are here now. I cannot stand the idea of their roaming the streets for food, sleeping outside, loosing their minds and last hopes in humanity, here in Europe, the supposed land of freedom and democracy. Can you?
However, in December 2017, I joined the "Citizen Platform for Refugee Support". This Brussels-based organisation was funded by amazing people who couldn't stand seeing so many migrants (most of them very young) sleeping outside in a park, exposed to weather and police raids. Six months ago, I started opening my doors to these people. Most of them went through hell hoping for a better life in Europe, wanting to taste freedom, far from oppression and hardship.
This experience, emotionally draining, changed me. I have so much respect for those people, who often left their countries as teenagers to pursue their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. My heart broke while hearing their stories. They have seen the most evil side of humanity in Libya, and way too many deaths for their age. But they keep smiling. And hoping. They are life lessons for my kids - and for us too.
Some of the men I host(-ed), who grew up in a slum in Kirkos (Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia), became great friends. I devote more of my time trying to help them build a better life here. At the same time, we discovered Ethiopian culture and fell in love with traditional Ethiopian food that our friends cook.
We started importing powder for making traditional dishes, especially Shiro powder, a savory blend of chickpea flour and local spices. These powders are hand-made by moms from the Kirkos village.
We now have a project importing bigger quantities so that some (often single-) mothers from the village can live decently from selling the powder they prepared in Europe. In Kirkos, a family (one mom and two children) can live (frugally) with 60€/month, with little to no access to medical care and higher education.
However, in order for my friends to commercialize the products in Europe, we dream to give women access to a facility, where they could have access to clean water and cooking material. This space will also be used by underprivileged citizens to have access to shelter, water and electricity.
This project will both better the life conditions of families in the poor sub-city of Kirkos in Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia; and offer the opportunity of a challenging job to some hard-working and deserving migrants in Europe.
The Shiro powder, resulting from organic farming and home-made processing is an energy-rich product. It fits perfectly the European desire to eat more healthy – while not spending hours in the kitchen! My friends are eager to teach Europeans about it!
But, in a first time they need YOUR help to start their project. All donations will be use for cooking material and facility.
In addition or instead, if you would like to send food/ sanitary products/ clothes / shoes/ phones for the many people who come by / stay at my home, please feel free to contact me directly at [email redacted]. Also, if you would be interested in supporting a family monthly, please contact me as well. I can organize the contact. Any financial, material or administrative support is highly appreciate here. Whatever our political views are, these people are here now. I cannot stand the idea of their roaming the streets for food, sleeping outside, loosing their minds and last hopes in humanity, here in Europe, the supposed land of freedom and democracy. Can you?
Organizer
Ophélie Faÿ
Organizer
Wezembeek-Oppem
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