Help Jen help refugees

My name is Jennifer Gray, I am 19 years old and I am looking for sponsorship to help me fund my trip to Samos, Greece where I will be volunteering at the refugee camp from the end of November 2018 to mid-January 2019.

Today I want to tell you more about myself. I’m studying Social Work at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, my passion is helping those in need. I will be volunteering with an NGO called Samos Volunteers who work with refugees coming into Greece from Africa and the Middle East. I found this group through the United Nations partners on the UN website.

Today in the world there are 65,3 million displaced people, fleeing wars, strife and economic hardship in their countries. It is one of the biggest challenges facing us in the 21st century. As a future social worker I feel I want to get hands-on experience of the realities that face me in my chosen profession as quickly as possible.

The refugee camp is highly overpopulated with its population exceeding its intended capacity four times over, even as summer temperatures can reach 43°C degrees, and water is cut off for at least eight hours a day.

Samos Volunteers provides help and support to refugees and asylum-seekers living in the camp and shelters on Samos, by instilling a sense of normality, combatting boredom, and empowering people while they wait for their asylum to be processed.

For more information about Samos Volunteers feel free to visit their website https://samosvolunteers.org/.

I have to raise R30 000 in order to volunteer. I have pay for all of my expenses myself My expenses include flights from South Africa to Athens and transport costs to get to Samos, further also food, water and accommodation for the duration of my stay. My flight costs R12500, accommodation is R7600, a sim card and data plan for my cellphone costs roughly R400 (it is required that I am reachable 24/7 in case of an emergency), transport to and from the camp costs roughly R1300, travel insurance is R840 and lastly food and water (tap water is not drinkable) will cost me R8000.

Please help me by contributing towards my expenses. Any donation is greatly appreciated. If you donate I pledge to keep you up to date with my volunteer trip experiences by regularly posting information on Facebook once I arrive.

I pledge to donate any extra money raised to Samos Volunteers which in turn helps the refugees.

Please help me help the displaced families in Greece by sponsoring me.