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| 'Our
houses and local school was bombed. We left when we realised the water
and electric would not come back. You have been so kind to us. Thank
you.' (Taken from Solidarity Symi Facebook page) |
Before we left on our latest trip to Datca,Turkey, Hil said 'Do you think we should go to Kos and offer to help?'
Her comment got me thinking. Going to Kos was tricky involving two ferry trips and really we didn't have the skills to help much. Neither could we take much stuff. I had also had some very invasive dental treatment and was stitched up and stuffed with pain killers and antibiotics, so wasn't really a lot of use to anybody!
However I kept thinking and saw this group of humanitarians posting on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/solidaritysymi?hc_location=ufi
So how could we help them? I can see Symi from our garden in Datca. I couldn't sit around enjoying my 'chips on the beach' and 'beer o'clock on the balcony' without helping in some way. I could send them some money but I really wanted to send stuff. There are no big shops on this little island and things are much more expensive than in Datca. So my initial thoughts were I could package up some things from our wardrobe and bathroom cabinet, buy a few T shirts from the market and send them over on one of the boats that does trips there and they could be collected at the other end. I asked a few of my friends if they would like to donate a fiver towards some clothes from the market. I asked around for a boat captain who might be prepared to take a couple of bags for me.
Well, I could never have imagined what would happen next although I should have known because I have some truly fantastic friends.
Within 10 minutes of me posting for a boat, I had a reply offering help. It was slightly problematic as it was high season and all of the boats were booked up with other trips but I was assured that the following week there would be one.
Then Linda, one of my expat friends was onto me saying she had been out shopping and had bought loads of the stuff they were asking for and was asking around for more. Shortly after that many friends had asked for my bank account details and the money started rolling in. I don't like asking for things but I didn't need to, once people knew they just wanted to help. Even one of Jack's friends from Belgium sent over 100 euros with him to help. Others who were unable to get money to me donated to the groups fund http://www.everyclick.com/solidaritysymi/info
At this point I realised I couldn't bung it all on a boat to Symi and wave goodbye, I had to go with it just to make sure it all got to the Solidarity Symi group. So it was to be me and quite a bit of stuff. Of course Hil wasn't going to let me go alone so she was there - my right hand woman and the one who started me thinking about it all. It was all her fault really! Then Sylvia gave me loads of money and things she had bought and said she wanted to come too. When Matt arrived on the scene the following week, he also said he wanted to come as he hadn't been there before. I'm pretty sure he thought we needed a bit of looking after.
So armed with a lot of money, Jack, Hil, Sylvia and I hit Datca market and some of the high street shops. Solidarity Symi were asking for things like shorts and T shirts as it is still very hot there and will remain so for some time. We were lucky as the market traders had reduced their goods as the end of the season was in sight. So we bought in bulk and did quite well.
Soon after word got round and I was given bags of new things and bags of things people had cleared from their wardrobes and cupboards. I'm pretty sure there must be a few almost naked expats in Datca now. As a bonus I have made some new friends of different nationalities. People were turning up with things or calling me to collect them. One even gave us a delicious supper when we went to collect her bags. Linda - my other right hand woman was collecting things in her home.
The boat was always on my mind. Although Mehmet had said don't worry he would find one. I didn't actually have a firm date or boat. So anyway I was in a bar chatting to my Mr Fixit. Metin. He popped over to the Bora boat and chatted to the captain who said he would be available for a trip after the weekend and would take us. 'How many bags?' he asked - 'Oh 10 or so, maybe a few more' (whoops, what a fib). Finally we heard that he would take us on 3rd September. I relaxed a little after I knew that.
By the evening of 2nd September I had 21 bags packed up in my lounge. They contained mostly new things with a few bags of nearly new clothes. There were T shirts, shorts, trousers, skirts, underwear, hats, nappies, wet wipes, a tent, shoes, toiletries, toothbrushes, over the counter medicines, women's hygiene products, toys, rucksacks and other useful bags.
I knew Linda had about 12 more bags which we would collect the next morning and Sylvia had some which she would bring to the boat along with a lovely breakfast to have on the way. All of these people were so lovely with their support.
So the morning of 3rd September arrived and our alarms were set for 6.30. We had already taken 8 of the largest cases to the boat the night before and we managed to cram the rest of it into the car. On arrival there were some handsome, strong men waiting to load it onto the boat. Then Matt and Hil went off to collect another car load from Linda. Then came more surprises. More people arrived with 5 huge cardboard packing cases full of shoes, clothes, nappies etc. I didn't know this very beautiful lady but she said she had seen all about it on Facebook. Others arrived with more big bags. I think in the end there were over 50 bags and boxes. The captain just smiled and helped load up. So much for my 10 or so bags!
A lovely English gentleman arrived to help us load up. This man had already said to tell him what he could do to help but I knew he was grieving for a loved one and I really didn't want to push him. However there he was all smiley at the harbour and handed me an envelope with a lot of cash in it. Enough to provide food and water for a great many refugees for a day. I had also received kind cash donations from others at the last minute so it amounted to a size-able donation which I later handed to Wendy one of the directors of Solidarity Symi.
The journey over on the boat was lovely, blue skies, turquoise water - hard to believe that every day one hundred or more crossed this stretch of sea in flimsy rubber boats.The beauty of this crossing (I believe about 5 miles of it) hides the fact that it is treacherous with dangerous currents. The traffickers use it because Symi is one of the several islands close to Turkey. Many arrived on Symi with just the sea soaked clothes they stood up in, having to throw their few possessions overboard when the boats started to sink. Some were told to leave their bags on the beaches around Datca as there were too many in the boat. One child died on a boat recently having been shot in the cross fire, another 3 year old received terrible head wounds when one of the traffickers clubbed him for making a fuss on the boat. Many were rescued by coastguards when their boats flipped over. Many were left on small rocky outcrops having been told Athens was just over the hill, the coast guards rescued them too.
NOBODY WOULD MAKE THIS VERY DANGEROUS JOURNEY UNLESS THEY WERE DESPERATE.
They know how dangerous the journey will be but as one woman said 'First they bombed our houses then our schools. When we realised the water and electricity wasn't coming back on we had no option but to leave'.
On arrival there were 2 of the team of fantastic humanitarians to meet us. Some other passengers on the boat kindly helped us form a human chain and we unloaded the boat. The first time I had seen it in it's entirety - just loads of it! Some of the refugees helped us carry it to the reception centre. I think they were surprised by the amount. I certainly was. I can't praise this team of people with their volunteers highly enough. They are working in a disused post office with nowhere near enough room and there we were dumping at least 50 boxes and bags on them! We stayed for a few hours helping to unpack some of the things. There were queues of refugees outside waiting for fresh clothes and shoes or bags. They were invited in a few at a time where volunteers who are on holiday or are living there kitted out each person. It was very humbling to see all this going on. I had been worried about how I would cope emotionally but it was so busy, there was no time for tears.
Since our visit there has been great progress and they have now installed some porta loos and showers. That bag full of hotel sized toiletries somebody donated will have been very useful.
As for the refugees - not economic migrants at all. Well they didn't want to be there, nobody would make that dangerous, terrible and very expensive journey unless they absolutely had to. These were mostly the ones who had some money - well to start with and the way they were being fleeced by traffickers it wouldn't last long. Most were people who had good jobs and nice homes and families until the war and now they have almost nothing. The one who I will always remember was Mohammed a 19 year old beautiful young man who was studying English literature at university. He was travelling with his brother. Their parents sent them but remained in Syria. I didn't ask him why but I suspect they spent all they had sending their children. He may never see them again and that haunts me. His wish was to be able to finish his studies and get his degree somewhere. He was offering his services as a translator in the centre but maybe he has moved on by now.
While we were there I kept myself busy unpacking so I didn't actually hand out much stuff. I did hand over a ball to a young boy and his face was a picture - he could hardly believe it. My bright green new Crocs went out the door on a Syrian lady's feet almost as soon as they were unpacked - smashing. Sylvia put one of our hats on a little boy's head and he was delighted - now he won't get his head sunburned. I saw one of the lovely blue cotton bags that was donated by the side of a lady waiting for a boat to take her to Athens. Later I saw quite a few of the clothes from Datca market being worn. Hil says as she walked down the steps from the centre people were calling out thank you to her but she was too overwhelmed to reply.
So, am I glad we did it - yes of course. I have made new friends, I have seen how wonderful people can be. My eyes have been opened even more to this crisis and I felt very humbled. Our bit of help was a tiny drop in the ocean but for that day it helped quite a few people so I am satisfied that I have done something along with so many others who are doing so much more every day.
Since our return I have seen so many terrible comments about the situation, people who do nothing to help and just spew out vile comments based on inflammatory things they read in the media. I will not get drawn into this any more. Nothing will change their little minds. I will continue to support Solidarity Symi who are the most wonderful group of people. I think another lady is planning to take another boat of aid from Datca soon.
This war should never have happened, these people should never have had to leave their homes but it did, they need help and I couldn't ignore them.
Lots of people have thanked me, even the harbour master in Datca but I didn't do it for that and it kind of all happened without me realising. It wasn't just me - it was loads of people and they all know who they are so thank you.
If you want to donate - follow this link. I know they will spend your money wisely. I have seen it going on.
http://www.everyclick.com/solidaritysymi/info
Read about their work - and see our picture!!
https://www.facebook.com/solidaritysymi?fref=ts
Here is a link to a mail article that is mostly correct. They did say there was a truck load from Bodrum but I think that should have read a boat load from Datca - but never mind the rest of it is factual and correct.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3223683/Amid-tears-tragedy-British-Good-Samaritan-IAN-BIRRELL.html
I didn't feel comfortable taking photos of refugees but you can see photos on the link above. Here are some photos of our preparations and some general views of Symi.
Who ever reads this PLEASE do something to help. I can't praise this humanitarian group on Symi enough. I feel sure very penny you donate is spent wisely to help those in need.
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| This was the photo that got me thinking 'What can we do?' It was Solidarity Symi's Face book page that made me help. |
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| Another unbearably awful photo taken from Solidarity Symi FB page. The little boy who was clubbed over the head by a trafficker when he made a fuss on the boat. |
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| How could we sit drinking at beer o'clock knowing what was going on just over the sea? |
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| Symi a Greek island visible from our house in Datca, Turkey. |
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| My band of shoppers in Datca market. Thank you so much to all the people who trusted me with their money. We spent it carefully. Jack was a great help carrying all the stuff - this was just a little of it! |
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| Some of the shopping. We bought things that Solidarity Symi published on their Facebook page. |
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| Just a few of the things, in the end there were at least 50 bags and boxes. |
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| Just a start - over 40 more big bags and boxes followed. | | | |
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| A nice cup of tea before we sailed. |
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| Blue skies and calm seas for us. |
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| Arriving in Symi - such a beautiful place. |
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Arriving on Symi - Hil, Matt, Sylvia and I with the crew of the boat. The photo shows just some of our donations.
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| This photo is from one of the ladies who works tirelessly every day to help. Here is what she wrote. | I
share this photo not because I think you all want to see my washing,
but because this particular laundry represents one refugee family's
entire possessions. Imagine that! How precious must that be to that
family, all they have left. Help us to help them by donating through www.everyclick.com/solidaritysymi- | | | |
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| This is the only photo I took of refugees, they were waving to us and saying thanks as we left. The police station is behind where lots were queuing up to be processed. |
