Around the world, people spend a lot of time in offices – even humanitarians. There needs to be an administrative hub that organizes the work we day in every country. For our team in Islamabad, Pakistan, there was one thing at the office that was making that time more of a hassle – the bathrooms. The women’s bathroom was of particular concern. “There is poor management of this building,” said Habib from the team, “which means that that structural and hygienic upkeep sometimes just doesn’t happen, especially in the women’s room.” We saw an immediate opportunity to make a difference for our female teammates in the country, who deserve a clean, updated, and comfortable place to use the bathroom. So Day 38 was a no brainer – we got to work fixing that space! We fixed and painted the doors, renovated the tiles on the walls, put in a new floor, roof, and ceiling, and installed a new sink. Now, the bathroom is like new. Sometimes, doing the doable starts with the things that … [Read more...] about A Brand New Space
Campaigns
Got Your Back
We all have our ups and downs. But our teams around the world – who so often live in areas of conflict – can sometimes face emergencies that they have a hard time coping with. So our teammates in Pakistan had an idea. The team noticed that when their colleagues faced personal emergency situations, they would struggle with ways to cover the costs. Sometimes they would resort to borrowing support from others. But this put people in a risky situation - it was hard to get out from under that financial burden. Their solution? A revolving emergency staff fund – with the help of some Changemaking friends. “Staff members get small loans so they can address their emergencies,” said Habib from the team. “And then they can return the loan in 4-6 easy installments when they’re able.” Friends have each other’s backs. And teammates should, too. On Day 37, Team Pakistan proved that with just a little extra thought, they could be the family their friends need – anytime they need it. … [Read more...] about Got Your Back
Taking Flight
Over the past few weeks in Greece with Communitere, we've seen just how powerful getting your hands dirty can be - especially when you dig in with people you might not normally have much in common with. From beekeeping to crafting with LED lights, sometimes doing something together is the greatest way to break boundaries, and form friendships. On our last with day this team - for now! - we're at it again, teaching kids of all ages and backgrounds to make something beautiful, fanciful, and fun - kites! We got groups of refugee kids together with local kids for our kite-making workshop, with Communitere leading the way. They were shy at first, with heads down, concentrating on their work. But it took just a few minutes for the kids to loosen up and get to know each other. And once the kites were done, these friendships really took off! It didn't matter then who was a refugee and who wasn't - sometimes being a kid is just being a kid. The kite-making workshop was an … [Read more...] about Taking Flight
A Boost to Morale
Being a young adult in a refugee camp can take a toll on the spirit. Some young people begin to wonder if they'll ever return home, boredom can settle in, and they miss their friends and family terribly. Some of the teachers at Communitere saw their students struggling a bit, and had an idea. On Day 35, they threw their students a party! A chance to spend time together, eat special foods, and dance. The teacher surprised their students with delicious traditional Greek sweets, brought in movies to watch, and even had live music. One of the teachers described the student’s mood change. “They have been literally transformed. From sad and brooding they became progressively happy and laughing.” Some sweet treats, movies, and music can go a long way in making a student feel seen and important. Thanks to these quick-thinking, dedicated teachers, their refugee students know that someone’s got their back. … [Read more...] about A Boost to Morale
Cooks in the Kitchen
Many refugees who are living near Athens, Greece are in camps or lodging in unsafe buildings. But these aren't exactly most people's preferred housing options. So a lot of folks are looking for alternate options - this is where the Orange House comes in. The Orange House takes in 200 refugees a day. With its community services and safe place to sleep, many refugee choose to stay at the Orange House as long as they can. It's a great place to get to know people, and share a cup of tea or two. But there was one problem - the kitchen is out of commission. For a place like the Orange House, this is a big deal. It means they can't provide healthy, nutritious food to its visitors. This house is one of the only times refugee families in the area may have access to a good home cooked food. So, we thought, we can do something about it. On day 34, we fixed up that kitchen! We purchased a new sink, put in new shelving, and got brand new cooking and eating utensils. It's incredible … [Read more...] about Cooks in the Kitchen
Buzzing for Change
Today we’re back in Thessaloniki, Greece, to see what’s buzzing with Communitere. They’re always hard at work thinking of new ways to better serve the refugee community. And for Day 33, they’re thinking about bees. Refugees often have a difficult time figuring out ways to support their families in a new place. “They need to fight the feelings of uselessness and to find a practical way out to unemployment,” said one friend from Communitere. So they had a sweet idea – what about bees? Beekeeping, they thought, could be a great way to learn a new vocation and provide a much-wanted honey to sell in their local communities. Communitere also thought beekeeping could be a great way to integrate the local community and refugees, working together to find common threads that connect them. So Communitere organized a beekeeping workshop, inviting people of all backgrounds, languages, and religions to learn together. It didn’t take long for people to connect with what we were … [Read more...] about Buzzing for Change
Ready for Winter
Right now, it's cold in Greece. And for refugees living in Serres Refugee Camp, that means a tough road ahead. Shelters, community spaces, and latrines need to be winterized - but so do classrooms! It's too cold to learn in the classrooms as the currently are, and teachers don't want class to be cancelled. Neither do the parents and kids! So Communitere had an idea. Communitere had just secured some land inside the camp that was perfect for a classroom space. And they've been hearing from students who are asking looking for a place to learn and to spend time reading. So on Day 32, we set to work building a new classroom space and library for the students. But this time, they were ready for winter. “The community has waited patiently while we have secured this land, and we really want to offer them this space! Finally!!” said one of the teachers. The Yazidi refugees who live at this camp now have a place to study and grow together. And they don’t have to freeze to do it! … [Read more...] about Ready for Winter
Green Streets
The desire to live in a beautiful place is universal. It's wonderful to stroll down a scenic driveway, or walk through a lush meadow. Up until a few months ago, the colors that defined Eleonas Refugee Camp in Greece were brown and grey - brown sand coated shoes, floors, and faces. Grey, dull concrete and metal structures made up its infrastructure. Taking matters into their own hands, a group of camp residents decided to beautify their street. They replaced gravel surfaces with a paved concrete path, and built wooden planters to house a variety of green plants. Soft green fabric was draped across the top of the containers to create shade. This "green street" inspired something new - Project Elea! The project has one goal - let the residents of Eleonas Refugee Camp beautify their space however they want! Together with Project Elea leaders, we hosted 6 different pop-up stations, interviewing 88 residents of all different backgrounds and ages to determine the best … [Read more...] about Green Streets
Closing the Curtains
Yesterday, we visited the refugee guesthouses on the island of Lesvos. We're back again today because we noticed something else that needed fixing - there were no curtains. Most of us are used to having privacy when we want it. It's not that you don't want to see your neighbors, it's more that you'd like to choose when you do. But imagine not having that choice everywhere in your home. We wanted to do something to give these newly arrived refugees some privacy. So we put curtains up! The little pops of color really brightened the place up! Now there was privacy, some character, and a true homey feeling to the guesthouses. The curtains from today and rugs from yesterday may not seem like they'd have much of an impact. But now, these families will be able to close the curtains at night, or open them to let the light in. And that simple act, that we too often take for granted, can make all the difference. … [Read more...] about Closing the Curtains
Snug as a Bug in a Rug
When you picture the Greek Islands, what do you see? For most, white-roofed beautiful houses, warm air and the bright shining come to mind. This is very true in the summer. The winter, however, can be a different story. During the colder months even the Greek Islands can get cold, wet, and drop below freezing. And on the island of Lesvos, the guesthouses where refugees stay needed a bit of a face lift to make them suitable for winter. For Day 29, we took the first step toward making that happen. The floors of the Lesvos guesthouses are all tile, and if you've ever walked on cold bathroom tile in the middle of winter, you know exactly why this is a problem! It's COLD! And for refugees who are sometimes missing even the basics, sitting or walking on cold tile is sure to be uncomfortable. The solution was simple: rugs! The rugs make the floors softer, warmer, and cozier. “Mum, look this is like the one we had at home!” a 7-year-old girl from Syria exclaimed. The … [Read more...] about Snug as a Bug in a Rug