Hayley Smith, founder/director of LHI, is on the ground at the LHI Refugee Center in Serres, Greece. Here’s her latest report:
Hayley is on the ground helping out at “the field” in Serres, Greece.
Yesterday’s afternoon shift at “the field” was absolutely wonderful (“the field” is what everyone in Greece calls the LHI Refugee Center, learn why here). These 3-hour shifts, which provide additional support since our teachers and volunteers are otherwise engaged, allow for sitting and chatting with the Yazidi residents of the nearby camps—albeit from a distance and through a mask—who are waiting for their classes to start or just come to take a breather from the camps for a while.
Even though the current heat wave drains me of any energy (and sometimes my will to live), it is an automatic conversation topic. Over the years, we volunteers have learned how to say “galaki gherma”, which means “It’s sooo hot” in Kurmanji. In turn, the camp residents already know how to say “air conditioner” in English. Our solar-powered AC system is, after all, the most essential part of our spaces in the summer (well, 3 out of our 4 spaces. We’re still trying to find funding for the 4th).
Conversations often go far beyond the weather, opening our respective windows to other cultures and perspectives. I just wish that you could magically appear here and have a chat with the Yazidis! But since you can’t be here, here are some snippets from some of these chats:
1. Chatting with a Fifteen year-old boy, who melted my heart:
Me: “How did you learn such good English?”
Kid: “Here. And my first German class is tomorrow.”
(By the way, his whole family takes classes from us!)
The three boys who helped Hayley weed the garden beds.
2. Three kids, two of whom have special needs, insisting on helping me pull weeds:
“We help you,” or “Look, teacher, look!” when they pull out really big weeds. “Eat!” when they bring back ripe figs from nearby fig trees.
3. Murad, an older man who runs our community vegetable garden:
“Stop, stop! It’s better to weed at 6 or 7. It’s too hot. Sit in the shade.”
He wasn’t wrong. Side note: He speaks to me in Arabic, which I LOVE!
Kids enjoy painting and getting messy in the Child-Friendly Space in Serres, Greece.
Government restrictions have temporarily reduced the overall number of refugees who benefit from our services on a daily basis, but the energy that comes from learning and empowerment is still palpable. Not only that, but our Yazidi resident volunteers more than make up for low international volunteer numbers in a beautiful way; our remote learning program also allows people to learn and do healing activities from their caravans in the camp; and despite the mandatory face masks, the eyes will always show when people are smiling!
Click here to learn more about our Refugee Center in Serres, Greece.