The Gridmates Team
05.05.2016
Energy Poverty
The journey to an unknown home
The journey is long and this their story.
We are thrilled to collaborate with METAdrasi, a Greek NGO founded in 2010 which helps facilitate the reception and integration of refugees and immigrants in Greece.
Please read our story and support unaccompanied refugee children by giving them energy to continue their journey. A gift that will provide warm meals, heating/cooling, hot showers and lights to the children.
Donate $25 = 11 Days of energy.
In November 2015, a 2 year old boy from Syria, shown in the picture above, was found alone in the Evros region, near the Northern borders of Greece. METAdrasi's escorting team set out immediately to escort the boy to a suitable children’s accommodation facility. It was not the first time that a child was found alone in Greece, near the borders. And there are so many more that are not detected or found... "During the journey, the child was attached so much to me, that it was impossible for us to say goodbye and be separated" - said Lydia Bissara, Unaccompanied Minors’ escorting missions coordinator. "So, I spent the night by his bed, until he started getting adapted to his new environment. This experience shocked me!"
Two little siblings from Syria, aged 4 and 9, found themselves alone in Lesvos, in Greece. As soon as they were identified at Skala Sykamias, a member of METAdrasi’s Guardianship Network for Unaccompanied Minors took urgent action and managed to cooperate effectively with authorities and quickly initiate all necessary procedures for their protection. As a result, the children were transferred directly to METAdrasi’s Transit Accommodation Facility. They were taken care of by the facility’s staff and soon felt at home. Fortunately, their mother was soon located, and a few days later, the family was reunited and they were able to continue their journey together.
Adnan is from Syria, he is 9 years old. He fled the war with his parents and brothers and sisters. They walked from Damascus to Turkey. They reached the Aegean sea and the entire family boarded to a small boat to cross to the Greek island of Lesvos. The weather was stormy, the boat was overturned and the family was separated. Adnan was rescued and brought to Lesbos but his family was returned to Turkey with no money left to make another attempt at the crossing. When he was brought to Lesbos he was placed in a juvenile detention center and Ileanna, a local member of the Guardianship Network for Unaccompanied Minors, was assigned to take care of him. She spent time with him there, playing games, watching movies and keeping him company. "When Adnan was transferred to a permanent center for children in Athens, I took over" - said Evdokia Kouvara, Member of the Guardianship Network for Unaccompanied Minors. "He was the youngest child in the facility and had trouble making friends. That's why I made sure to visited him often."
"One day I received a call from Leros, a family had just arrived on the island and contacted me through METAdrasi’s team onsite. I helped them initiate legal proceedings to be reunited with their son. I was there when the family was finally reunited and said goodbye to them as they continued their journey to Germany. Adnan and his family still keep in touch with me!"
These are just a few stories...the reality is sometimes much harder.
Let's do our best to help them on their journey to an unknown home. Let's give them energy to continue their journey.
You have the power to make the difference. You have the power to energize their lives!
Support our campaign.
Donate $25 = 11 Days of Energy
Thank you so much for making dreams become a reality.
The Gridmates Team
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