HELP ME DISTRIBUTE SUPPLIES TO REFUGEES IN GREECE

My name is Eleanor and I am 18 years old. A recent trip to Tanzania forged what I believe will be a lifelong passion for humanitarian aid and volunteering. The trip really highlighted how privileged my life in Australia is and it also opened my eyes to how much of an affect an individual or small group can have on communities that are less fortunate than our own.

On September 4th I will be travelling to the Greek Island of Chios, near the Turkish Coast, to volunteer at Souda Refugee camp with Involvement Volunteers International. My role as a volunteer in Greece is to sort donations, distribute food, water, blankets and goods, assist in the mother and children centres and help with boat arrivals on the coast. I am aiming to raise at least $2000 in order to buy $50 grocery bags to distribute to families and individuals within the camp.

For every $50 I receive, a bag containing baby wipes, nappies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, fresh fruit and vegetables, stationary, exercise books, small toys, and picture books will be donated. I will take photos when in Greece and keep you all updated on the distribution of these bags.

Living on the other side of the world, like me, you may have felt helpless and completely isolated from this devastating situation. We can’t change what has happened to these people, but we can all play a small, yet incredibly significant role in what is yet to happen.

If you are not in a situation to donate at this point in time, that is perfectly okay! I would really appreciate it if you could share this page with your family and friends so that we can raise awareness and funds for this great cause.

Thank you so much in advance,

Eleanor x

As the Syrian Civil War reaches its 6th year of destruction, the world is experiencing the worst refugee crisis since World War Two. With more than 4.9 million Syrian refugees and 6.1 million internally displaced Syrians, more than 13.5 million Syrians need urgent humanitarian assistance. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are more than 2000 refugees on the small island. 60% of these refugees are Syrians, 20% Iraqis , 10% North Africans and 10% other nationalities. Syrian refugees are smuggled to the Island by boat from Turkey. As soon as they reach Greece, the refugees can apply for asylum. If they qualify as legitimate asylum seekers, they are transferred to mainland Greece. If not, they are forced to return to Turkey. Overcrowding, malnutrition, trauma and poor living conditions within camps are worsened by severe delays in processing asylum claims. Many refugees have been stranded in these shocking living conditions for more than 6 months.