House of Humanity - Center for Refugees in Greece

Organized by Neda Kadri

House of Humanity - Center for Refugees in Greece

$10,770

raised of $15,000 USD goal

71 supporters, Project Closed

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Impact: Egeo, Greece

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This campaign will collect all funds raised by June 1, 2017 at 4:45 AM EDT

House of Humanity - Center for Refugees in Greece

71 supporters, Project Closed

Closed

Our dream is to create a centralized community space that provides refugees living in Lesvos access to basic humanitarian aid in a dignified manner.

"I wish I would have stayed in Syria/Iraq to die a quick death rather than coming to Lesvos to die slowly every single day. Is THIS the humanity the world claims to hold so dear. PLEASE. Just send me back."

As volunteers, we have heard this far too many times from refugees during distribution of humanitarian aid...

Together, we CAN create the solution.

UPDATE:

PHASE ONE IS COMPLETE & OUR DOORS ARE OPEN AND SERVING REFUGEES!!!

We are ecstatic to announce that we opened our doors last Thursday, May 11th!

Refugees enjoyed Chicken Shawarma (meat is not served in the camps) sandwiches as some "shopped" for clothing and others started stocking their food rations for Ramadan from the supermarket. Kids played soccer and rolled around on the scooters as their parents tailored their garments on the sewing machines.

The positive energy and laughter was contagious. We have been in Greece since December 2015 and never experienced the refugees feeling hope and happiness like we have in the center.

We are overjoyed by the success of this model... And are excited to continue to phase two and even more projects that encourage the well-being of the people fleeing their war-torn countries in search of safety. A MASSIVE thank-you to everyone that has contributed and made this vision a reality... But the work is nowhere near being done!

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TODAY!

The House of Humanity...

The ‘House of Humanity’ will be that safe space for refugees living in Lesvos, Greece - a place that allows them to feel human again, a place that not only provides access to basic humanitarian aid in a dignified manner, but that also affords them the opportunity to engage in educational and vocational activities.

A place of survival. And, a place of growth.

The House of Humanity will include a Free Supermarket, Clothing Boutique, Women’s Empowerment Space, Wellness Center, Schoolbox Project, and Technology Center with computers, a WiFi Cafe and a cinema.

We've rented a 20,000 square foot facility and, upon opening, can serve up to 550 Syrian, Iraqi, Kurdish, Yazidi, Afghani, Palestinian, African, and Pakistani REFUGEES per day.

Trial runs with the new distribution system made people VERY happy

What's happening in Lesvos?

In that Lesvos used to be the beginning of the journey for asylum seekers bound for Europe, it has now, temporarily, become the end of the line. Since the implementation of the EU deal in March 2016, Lesvos has been designated a “hot spot.” This restricts the approximate 4,000 refugees on the island from traveling to the mainland.

Seemingly overnight, needs shifted from ensuring they arrive safely to shore and aiding their transit through Greece, to provision of adequate support to refugees living below the poverty level; stranded in the country for an yet undetermined time.

Humans not feeling human...

Among the biggest challenges we face is distribution of humanitarian aid in a dignified and fair manner. Because of restrictions of accessing the camp, in the past, distribution of aid has been chaotic; most times out of the back of a van to whomever is able to make it.

Often people wait in long lines, sometimes in the harshest of weather, only to make it to the front and discover that the items they desperately need have run out.

Waiting in long lines for new shoes during a camp distribution...

Life for a refugee can be in a perpetual standstill. There are refugees on Lesvos that have been here for 10 months and more awaiting their fate. Many of them teens and young adults that should be in school or learning a trade. Even those that came with money have found their pockets run dry.

Refugees often complain that they no longer feel human. There is no safe space for them to feel “normal.” Their psychological state is poor, at best.

The Center will include:

SUPERMARKET

The FREEDOM OF CHOICE of what food they get is something the refugees have lacked since arriving on the shores of Lesvos; with the considerable majority relying on the military provided food for nutrition.

The supermarket allows our guests to select the much needed basic food and fresh vegetables & fruits items they want based on a point system.

CLOTHING STORE

The misery of waiting in long lines is compounded when the refugee reaches the front only to learn that the item is not available in their size or has completely run out.

Even when available, the refugee has no choice in what they get. They are ‘given’ whatever is available; being ushered quickly to move so that the line isn’t held up. This has created a great level of anxiety and tension during distributions.

Upon entering our guests will find that the clothing is hung up on railings as if they have indeed entered a boutique in a mall. They will be able to select the items needed themselves; colors, sizes, and styles. Even try them on.

TECHNOLOGY CENTER & WIFI CAFE

The only connection to the outside world for a refugee comes via the internet. The internet enables them to stay in contact with their families; follow their asylum applications, access education and undertake skill building workshops. The internet serves as both a connection and escape.

Benches will be constructed out of pallets, creating a lounge WIFI area. A stand with snacks, refreshments, and hot tea and coffee will be available in the lounge area. Bookcases will be sprawled out in between.

Computer stations will be set up that will serve allow us to offer vocational training on various computer programs.

CINEMA

A form of psychosocial therapy in and of itself, a cinema will provide much entertainment, joy and a little bit of normality to children’s lives, a relief for parents to refugees.

WOMEN'S ONLY SPACE

Many women have expressed fears of vulnerability; and exploitation has been observed.

A lounge in the women’s only space will allow them to relax and access the Wi-Fi in a safe environment. The space will feature a beauty zone with vanity’s set up with hot wax machines, and blow dryers, and other cosmetics. It may appear that these items are cosmetic and therefore not necessary, however our mission is to help restore humanity, and these are frequent requests from women during our distributions.

Discussions will be facilitated to help women explore issues like the hardships of traveling alone with children, exploitation by smugglers and in the camps, and more.

WELLNESS CENTER

The average day of a refugee consists of nothing more than waiting. They are waiting in line for an appointment with an agency, or waiting in line for food, clothing, or simply waiting to learn their fate. Even those that have the money to use transportation to go to the city do nothing more than walk around. There is no stimulation. The health & fitness center will stimulate both mentally and physically.

THE SCHOOLBOX PROJECT

The Humanity Center makes available vital services and a safe space for children living in refugee camps. We have partnered with the Schoolbox Project, bringing recreation, education, and trauma-informed care to children living in refugee camps.

We NEED YOU to make the vision a reality!

The 1800 square meter (20,000 square feet) facility has been rented, the supermarket shelves bought and although we've made great progress this far we NEED everyone's help in order to continue.

With YOUR support, our doors could be open by next month! PLEASE help us make this DREAM a REALITY for the 4,000 refugees living in Lesvos!

Funds raised will be used to execute and maintain this project.

Spreading smiles and happiness even more before officially launching.... Imagine the joy we can bring!

Our Story....

October 28th, 2015. A day many remember as one of the most tragic nights for refugees trying to cross the sea. It was this Wednesday night in Turkey when Rafat’s cousin; along with her four children, her husband, and approximately 300 other Syrian refugees, boarded an overcrowded wooden fishing ship.

They were destined for Greece. They were in search of a new life. They were in search of... life. They took great risk, and had desperate hopes. Warsaw Shire writes, "you have to understand, that no one puts their children in a boat, unless the water is safer than the land".

Suddenly, with Lesvos lights in sight, the second deck of their wooden ship collapsed. It collapsed down into the first deck leaving a gaping hole that flooding the boat with rushing sea water.

Chaos, emergency rescue operations by civilians, fear and confusion followed; by the end of the night, several dozen people were still unaccounted for… Among those missing, was Rafat’s cousin, two of her children, and her husband.

I took on the Rafats' missing family “case” while search and rescue operations were still taking place. A couple hours after I had begun to search for them, it was announced that operations had now shifted to recovery of the deceased.

Two days later, on October 31st, I got the call. The bodies of the toddler and eight-year old had washed ashore. The baby was still in the jacket he was wearing in the last picture taken of him… The same picture we posted everywhere praying a volunteer had stumbled across them.

By the time Rafat made it to the island a few days later, the bodies of the parents had washed ashore as well. Four of his family members had perished trying to reach safety. They say one can’t really find closure or grieve the loss of a loved one until after the burial; Rafat, along with the families of about 70 human beings, would do neither. There was nowhere to bury them. So in a refrigerated truck they lay for three weeks while the municipality figured it out.

That is when the volunteering journey for Rafat began. He came to mourn the loss of his loved ones who perished in the sea. He soon found himself on the shores, driven by resolution to help those who still had a chance. The drive was born of his grief. Rafat would use the same rubber dinghies that carried the refugees, only he was riding them out to sea to make sure people made it to shore safely. On my computer at home in the USA, I used an app called WhatsApp to coordinate between online activists monitoring the boat trips, and the volunteers on the ground performing rescue operations, Rafat among them.

I joined Rafat on the coast of Greece in December of 2015. We pulled in hundreds of boats, with Rafat often swimming out to manually bring in those boats that were disabled safely to shore.

In January, the “Angel of Moria Project” baton was passed on to us from another volunteer. The baton carried very heavy responsibility. "Angel of Moria Project" provided cash assistance to the most vulnerable cases; women traveling alone with children, the elderly and disabled.

Policy and rules forbid volunteers of larger NGO’s to provide direct financial assistance even to the most needy of refugees. Soon, our phones were constantly ringing with calls from those very volunteers asking us to assist families standard operating procedures had forbid them to assist.

Because of this constant and overwhelming need, Rafat and I connected and coordinated with a network of other independent volunteers… In a few short months, this network was able to provide thousands of ferry tickets, thousands of Euros in cash assistance, hundreds of families placed in private accommodations, and send an aid caravan to Edomeni, Greece!

No bureaucracy… No delays. Just human beings simply coming together for the sake of humanity. It was thus that Humans 4 Humanity was born.