My experiences in a Refugee HOme

Youth Day - Youth Civic Engagement

During my finals I made a list with things I wanted to do after my exams, things that I loved but had no time for. I wanted to go on a photography tour in my village, I wanted to draw a picture for my mother, I wanted to go on a short trip with my friends and finally, I wanted to help in the refugee home. Maybe holding German language courses or simply giving out clothes to the refugees. However it was difficult because I did not know who to contact and how to approach the organization. Luckily, in the newspaper a call for volunteers was placed by the refugee home and I wrote an email to apply. Two days later, the lady responsible for the volunteers, called me and asked me to come to the refugee home the next day.

When I arrived there, I was kind of lost. The area was huge because it were former barracks and it was designed for 1000 refugees. There were a lot of men and it took me some time to find the house 70, which I was looking for. Again many people were sitting around, some kids were playing soccer and others stood in front of a big container. And then finally, a familiar face! I recognized a girl from my former school. The two of us were asked to work in the family café, where mothers can sit down to drink a coffee while their kids play in the room next door. A group of Syrian men arriving that day came in and sat down to talk with an independent consultant about their chances for an asylum. But all they really cared about was when they could bring their families here in safety. 

In future, we were asked to do some creative work with the children, so we painted with watercolor, used textile color on old shirts and created garlands with crepe paper. Both the kids and we had a great time. I always walk out of the refugee home with a big big smile on my face thinking about the children and how much fun we had.

One day, a girl asked me to write my name and the name of the educators on the board. As I finished, she took the pen and completed the sentence with: “I love you, Shayma”. Of course it was not all picture-perfect – there were also strange situations and sometimes it was hard to deal with men. Moreover, the German Government has difficulties to provide adequate accommodation for all refugees. 

Now, that I am in Greece I miss this weekly appointment in the refugee home. The volunteering there made me more grateful for what I have – for my education, for my safe home, for European peace. The experience helped me to grow, to be more open-minded and to see refugees as individuals. Nobody can take these impressions from me. It seems that I learned more about myself in the few hours that I’ve spend in the refugee home than in school. 

Tips for you:  If you want to help in your local refugee home, just go there and say hello! People and social workers there are usually very kind and open people. If you don't want to go alone, take a friend or your sister/brother with you because it helps to have someone familiar around :)

By Sina Gösele
Originally published at Volunteers in Serres