Although I was there for only a short time, the lessons I learned from working in refugee camps in Greece were invaluable. These are the lessons I wish other volunteer aid workers would take with them as they go 'in the field'. We all have our hearts in the right place, and this is meant to encourage others who want to do this fulfilling work to jump in with realistic expectations and emotional strength.
The 5 lessons I learned as an aid worker are:
- Sometimes what you think is nice, can l quite mean and unfair. We all want to give, and we have good intentions, but walking into the camp with aid is a disaster waiting to happen. At times, unmarked vehicles would pull up filled with items and a crowd of people would gather around, wondering if it was food or clothing. Children were getting suffocated in the crowds. In one instance, vans pulled up to distribute backpacks for the children. It got so bad that I had to tell them to drive away, as I got crushed trying to pull children out of the mob. Other times, people would show up with a few grocery bags of items, and would be mobbed coming out of the car. In the end, some people got aid, and some did not. This was hardest on the children who saw their friends getting toys or backpacks, while they did not. It created tension in the camps that were already on-edge. It’s best to bring your items to one of the distribution trailers, discreetly, so that the items can be given at set times.
- Don’t go in expecting to save people - Relationships need to be built I went in thinking that I would get in there and get straight to work counseling. It’s not so easy. These are people who left everything behind, paid smugglers who lied to them and cheated them, lost their loved ones and their belongings in the sea. All to come to a country where they don’t speak the language or have any ties. There is distrust and fear. They aren’t sure if what people are telling them is true. They aren’t sure if this bus is really showing up to take them to another camp, or to a detention camp. Sometimes you’ll simply ask if they want an extra blanket for the baby and they’ll say no, afraid you are tricking them or trying to sell them something. They are people who have suffered horrible traumas and it takes time to rebuild trust. Be kind, be caring, be understanding. Don’t worry about the language barrier. Having an interpreter is great, but many people really just want a caring face to share their story with. Go in knowing that yes, you will make a dent, but that this crisis is far from over.
- There is a lot of aid but not enough people to distribute. We might even be ok to not send anymore shipments for a while. There is enough there to spread to many of the camps. What I really wish I could say is, stop spending money on shipping items and just send the money over to Greece to be used as needed. What is really needed is people to go to the warehouses to sort through it all. People to determine which items need to go to which camps. People to actually transport the items from the warehouse into the camps. Not everyone is cut out for working with the refugees in the camps, directly, but there are a lot of people who want to help. Why not be part of the absolutely vital group of people working in the warehouse or driving? These are severely lacking. It broke my heart to see a giant room filled with diapers, knowing that just 2 hours away there was a camp that had no diapers at all. Children were soiling their clothes and parents would wash it and put it back on them. Behind-the-scenes work isn’t glamorous, but without it, on-the-ground work cannot be done. If you know someone in your community who is physically able to go, get together and raise the funds to get them there, rather than each of us spending money to ship items separately.
- There’s no time to cry but you must make time for YOU. I had many people say to me, “Oh, you’re so brave. I could never do that. I can’t see people suffering like that.” The truth is you are so focused on helping and getting the families what they need, there’s no time for a breakdown. And believe it or not, there is plenty of opportunity to laugh at a light joke and make their day brighter. You will see and hear horrific stories though, and you need to take care of yourself. Do the jobs you are physically and emotionally equipped to do. Do not skip breaks. If you are working during the day, go out and enjoy a nice dinner with your new friends in the evening. If you are signed up for night-duty, take the day for yourself. You cannot be of service when you are tired and rundown.
- It will be so hard to leave. You will leave a piece of your heart there in the camps and with the families you befriend. It will be difficult to say goodbye, knowing you may never see them again. Knowing they may end up in another camp, or another country. Your ‘real life’ will feel weird and petty when you get back. You will feel a sense of guilt at living a comfortable life back home while your new friends are struggling each day. Please don’t. Be grateful. Be conscious of your choices and enjoy what you’ve been given and what you worked hard for. The best thing you can do for them is be happy, and safe and living comfortably so that you can be of service again. Keep giving and keep serving. The world needs it.