Event No. 1: Clean Monday on Monday 11 March

“Clean Monday” (a weird sounding translation), is the first day of Lent in Greece. It is a national holiday and it is a tradition to make and fly kites that day. In Nea Kavala we celebrated Clean Monday following the tradition. It is nice for the monotony of camp life to be broken with celebrations and events, and people appreciate doing something different.

The Child Friendly Space was open from 10-1 as usual, and then we had a picnic lunch in camp, after which we quickly set up different ‘stations’ for the children to come and make kites. One resident from Afghanistan had his own station for making proper kites out of long thin sticks and bin liners; kite-flying is popular in Afghanistan and Pakistan so some of the men got really enthusiastic, making amazing kites, which you could then spot flying high in the sky over the following week whenever you came into camp. 

Me and Maria were on the ‘painting and decorating’ table; so once the children had made their basic kites, they came to us, and we helped with the decoration and pinning tails made of ribbon onto the kites. One of the girls is deaf. She was extra focussed and enthusiastic about decorating her kite; she stayed with us, adding complicated folded flower decorations to her ribbons, and making her own kite reel. She did everything independently, just coming to show us once she had finished each thing, or asking us if she needed something like scissors, with actions and gestures. 

The other children (especially the girls) wanted help drawing flowers and hearts on their kites so I helped them with that and Maria pinned the ribbons on afterwards.

Event No. 2: Norouz (Thursday March 21 2019)

The majority of the camp before the new arrivals came was of either Afghan, Kurdish, or Iranian origin, and Norouz is New Year (read more about it here) and a major celebration for them. Our group didn’t plan anything but let people know we would like to help facilitate anything they would like. Basically, music seemed to be the major thing, and some of the women requested that they could have make-up and beauty in the Womens’ Space, to get themselves ready for the Norouz party. 

In the end, the party was earlier than we thought; as DRC (Danish Refugee Council – they administrate the camp) got out their speaker and we had lent out a few instruments, and people were dancing and music was blaring at around 2.30. Sabina and I were in the Womens’ Space, with all the make-up, and she ended up giving me a makeover as no women turned up, apart from two who just wanted to use some mascara. 

So without visitors, we packed up, and went to join the party. The children had had face-painting and ribbons to make hair bands, and they were running round with the facepaints trying to draw on everyone’s faces.

It was a really nice day; people seemed to be relaxing, drums had been lent out and some of the men were playing to the music, the women all looked amazing, and everyone was dancing together, which was not a sight you would see often in camp.

If you would be interested in finding out more about We Are Here, please follow this link, where you can find out how to apply, donate money, and keep updated on the group’s activities.

About

During the last two weeks of my stay (24 March to 8 April) I worked mainly in the Social Space, and on translating our updated schedules so we had copies in English, Arabic, Farsi and French. I also did a lot of outreach work; visiting containers to meet new families who’d just moved in and needed introduction to our group’s work.

I loved doing outreach, it is one of the most rewarding things I did in camp. Meeting people and striking up a bond, and then seeing them come to the lessons and seeing how much it means to them to have had a friendly face visit them, and to feel informed and welcome to the activities, is a good feeling. I felt it made a difference, and people appreciated being approached and given the information. 

It was also such a pleasure; people would always invite you for tea, and to share food with them. It was continuously humbling to be shown the generosity of those who really have next to nothing, but who are so kind, and who make you feel like an honoured guest.

Towards the end of April, 500 new arrivals came to Nea Kavala, moved from camps in Lesbos and Samos. We heard that this was in preparation for the tourist season; and that residents of the islands had protested the huge numbers of refugees on the islands and insisted people be moved or it would adversely affect tourism. 

There was hardly any prior notice of this.  As soon as we received news of the move, we had to arrange emergency meetings and discussions for how to prepare; it was effectively doubling the size of the camp. The majority of the newcomers would be housed in tents, rather than the container housing already on site.

Residents in Nea Kavala were understandably nervous, and upset that people would be having to live in tents. They considered it shameful of the decision-makers, and were distressed at the thought of people suffering. 

 And when they did come, there were not enough blankets for them (they had one each), and people were really cold at night.

At the same time as this huge influx was due, we became aware of rumours that the border was going to open in the north, and that many people were planning to gather there to march together into Albania. The plan, which was named the ‘Caravan of Hope’ seemed to have been spread widely through social media. 

We were told by one resident that one of the organisers was somebody who had made it to Albania, without difficulty, and was there with a few hundred others; they were calling for a mass movement of people to join them, saying that together they could march onwards and the hope seemed to be that some European countries would have to take notice, see how desperate people in Greece are, and reopen their borders. 

Mobile Info Team (a volunteer group in Greece who publish up to date information on the current issues for refugees in Greece, alongside any updates in the asylum system which people should know, in multiple languages) released a statement urging caution and warning people of possible repercussions were they to leave their camps and containers. 

The Greek government has clamped down on people who have ‘broken’ the rules before by stopping their cash assistance and de-registering them, and it was unclear whether leaving camps and trying to cross into another country could lead to punishment by the government. We put the information up around camp, so that we could try to ensure that everyone was aware of the possible risks, and it generated a lot of discussion.

It was really stressful and upsetting for everyone, and it became clear to me how desperate people are. Going into camp every day as a short-term volunteer, meeting new people and helping facilitate activities, it wasn’t always in your face the background of suffering that is ever present in all the residents’ lives. Day-to-day life in the camp is depressing, and stagnant, and this glimmer of hope, however unlikely it was to lead to anything, was tempting people to make a dangerous decision. 

One resident in camp, who was always helping us out with everything, was determined to go. I wasn’t supposed to give advice, but I couldn’t help saying that no European country had shown any sign of opening the borders, and it could be dangerous, and maybe he would be de-registered, and there was practically no chance of any positive outcome from leaving the camp to try and cross the border like this. 

But listening to him and others explain how there is nothing here for them, and conditions in the camp are worsening, (for example, donations to Drop in the Ocean* have fallen and now dry foods aren’t being provided anymore – this makes a big difference), and it is years before their interviews, it was hitting me how hard it is for people to keep their spirits up when their futures seem to be on hold indefinitely, and are out of their hands. 

These are young people, who should be able to study, work, and make plans for their futures; but they can’t, because they have been forced to flee their countries and now Europe won’t assist Greece in coming up with a solution to this crisis.

In the end, some people went, others didn’t, but the Greek government did not clamp down as it could have done; and people returned back to the camps. 

*Drop in the Ocean https://www.drapenihavet.no/en/home/ are a Norwegian volunteer organisation which was providing (until recently) a regular market stocked with donations of clothes, in addition to vegetable distributions, laundry services, a bicycle rent shop and a workshop with tools which could be used by camp residents.

If you would be interested in finding out more about We Are Here, please click on this link, where you can find out how to apply, donate money, and keep updated on the group’s activities.

About

Shireen (not her real name) is from Iran. She invited me and Sabina (who is volunteering in our group’s Womens’ Space) for dinner. We found that she has to wait until 2024 for her asylum interview. Apparently if she had applied to have it in Athens it would have been sooner; but in Thessaloniki the waiting list is 5 years, and once you have an appointment, you can’t make a new one easily and if you do it may just take longer.

She made us a chicken and lentil stew, called Khorasht Qaymeh, with rice and Shirazi salad, which was finely chopped onion, cucumber and tomatoes in a lemon and yoghurt dressing. It was delicious, and she taught us the names for all the ingredients in Farsi.

She and her husband have adopted one of the many puppies in camp. She says he only speaks Farsi and that he is like a son to her. She told us that her husband has a medical condition but there is no support in Greece for him. A relative of hers is in Germany, and they managed to get some medical papers sent over there and a diagnosis was made; with the advice that he needs to avoid stress, have a settled routine, and regular check-ups; all of which is impossible in the camp. 

Shireen was angry and frustrated at the lack of support in Greece. She understood that Greece is struggling itself, and that the huge number of refugees on top of its economic problems is impossible for the country to handle and that is why people’s needs are being neglected and adequate support is not being provided. However it is sometimes impossible to stay calm given the circumstances. 

During our visit, her son went out with a fishing rod all ready to go fishing which surprised me, but it turns out there’s a river nearby, and lots of residents have caught fish there! I smelt barbequing fish one evening whilst leaving camp, and it made me happy that people have an option, to add to their meals something they can go and get for themselves, for free, without being reliant on the food handouts, or stuff they can buy from Lidl with their cash cards. 

And people in camp are so resilient and innovative. People have created ovens out of scrap metal and wood; they make their own bread; and have built kitchen annexes to the containers out of bits of wood, plastic and metal; whatever spare parts they can find. It’s a testament to their creativity and construction skills; almost literally making something out of nothing. It’s very impressive how self-sufficient people are, and very different to the UK, where we are so used to buying everything ready made and have lost many of these practical skills.

We were invited to another family’s home after the Norouz party which had taken place earlier in the day (on March 21st); where they gave us a delicious traditional drink made from water, dried fruits and nuts which are heated together overnight. Norouz is the Iranian, Afghan and Kurdish New Year. We sat with the family of five; two parents and two boys and a 2-year old girl. The boys were obsessed with magic tricks and kept doing them for us which involved them waving sweets around, getting us to close our eyes, and then showing us that the sweets had disappeared when we opened our eyes. 

Norouz is celebrated at the Spring Equinox and signifies the coming of Spring. I heard the Kurdish story behind the celebration, but still need to learn the Iranian and Afghan one. In the Kurdish tale, an oppressive king was ruling the area which would be Kurdistan today. He was violent towards his subjects and killed men, women and children indiscriminately.

A blacksmith called Kawa determined to rid the kingdom of this cruel king. He told the people that he would go up to the king’s palace on the mountain, and kill him, and if he succeeded, they would know because he would light a fire that would be visible all over the kingdom. He did this, and lit a huge fire to show the people that the king had been slain. This is why they light fires at Norouz today.

If you would be interested in finding out more about We Are Here, please click this link, where you can find out how to apply, donate money, and keep updated on the group’s activities.