Friends in the Field
Every week, I like to spotlight an NGO or volunteer project that has taken an interesting, joyful, and/or compassionate approach to the refugee crisis. Check them out here on on Twitter with the hashtag #FriendsintheField to find a new cause for inspiration or optimism.
If you know of any person, project, or group who you think should be given a bit of extra love and spotlight, let me know!
Flourish began in 2016 with a pilot program as Ritsona began to looked to meet the needs beyond housing, medical care, and food for the residents. Their aim is to create a medium for residents, particularly the youth of the camp, to explore their experiences in a creative and safe space. During their pilot program, they engaged the residents to create a large mural, and thereby taking ownership of their new space. You can read more about what Flourish has done in Ritsona here, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
By thoroughly rewashing blankets, sleeping bags, clothes and baby carriers that are abandoned in the intensity of coastal rescue actions, Dirty Girls is able to wash new life into sleeping bags and blankets - a small but vital step in honoring the dignity and humanity of migrants awaiting the next step of their journey. You can follow Dirty Girls of Lesvos on Facebook and Twitter, but I highly encourage you to visit their website to read their story for yourself. The large capacity washing machines bringing blankets and sleeping bags up to hospital standards of hygiene are completely donation run, so if you find yourself as inspired as I am, I encourage you to donate to allow the Dirty Girls to expand their operations. (Image credit)
Here's how it works: say you are a volunteer at a refugee camp. You need to give the camp residents some information about something going on in the camp that may interrupt the daily routine. This information is far beyond the scope of the limited Arabic phrases you've memorized, and the translator who usually helps you is not available. You open your facebook messenger app, and send a note to Tarjimly. Much like a crisis or information hotline, you are connected with a translator who asks what your role is and what you need to communicate. They'll translate it for you within a few seconds, and you can show your phone with the translated information to whoever you need to. In addition, the team at Tarjimly meticulously tracks data to improve their service and create a better understanding about what sort of information is getting lost between aid workers and refugees.
If you know of any person, project, or group who you think should be given a bit of extra love and spotlight, let me know!
Flourish Foundation
Flourish Foundation, a UK-based art therapy program that has programs all over the world, operates out of the the Isoboxes (picture a large storage container with windows, electricity, and a door) next to I AM YOU, the organization which I volunteer with. In many senses they are our neighbors in the camp. I AM YOU focuses a great deal of its energy on education, making the corner of camp we share with Flourish the de facto 'children's corner'.
Flourish began in 2016 with a pilot program as Ritsona began to looked to meet the needs beyond housing, medical care, and food for the residents. Their aim is to create a medium for residents, particularly the youth of the camp, to explore their experiences in a creative and safe space. During their pilot program, they engaged the residents to create a large mural, and thereby taking ownership of their new space. You can read more about what Flourish has done in Ritsona here, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.IndiGo Volunteers
Volunteering time and resources is a noble thing, that's easily said. However, the realities of volunteering and the industry built around the practice can be troubling. Being able to travel and donate your efforts while being mindful, responsible, and effective is a delicate balance that IndiGo Volunteers seeks to facilitate. By operating without collecting fees from volunteers or partner organizations, IndiGo is able to connect passionate people with incredible projects. In addition to recruiting volunteers and supporting NGO's in boosting their projects, IndiGo helps volunteers responsibly share and reflect on their impact, hopefully without reproducing harmful narratives.
If any of you find yourself inspired or driven to get out in the world to engage with something on the news that has been troubling you, I would highly recommend contacting IndiGo. Not only will they match you with an organization where you can have a meaningful impact, but they will follow you every step of the way to help you share and spread your story, making the idea of volunteering more accessible.
In my new role supporting IndiGo's social media team, I came across this incredible checklist for responsible social media usage while volunteering that IndiGo includes in its volunteer package. The guide is made by Rad-Aid, an advocacy organization that aims to change the narratives used by fundraising and charity media. The fact that IndiGo prepares volunteers for their work with this framework and operates without charging fees shows a commitment to reshaping the relationship between volunteer privileges and impact.
You can follow IndiGo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn! Give them a follow to see updates from partner NGOs and first-hand accounts from volunteers. Next time you find yourself scrolling, take a peek to open your mind to the idea of volunteering abroad.
You can follow IndiGo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn! Give them a follow to see updates from partner NGOs and first-hand accounts from volunteers. Next time you find yourself scrolling, take a peek to open your mind to the idea of volunteering abroad.
Dirty Girls of Lesvos
I was searching through organizations working in Lesvos for my internship with IndiGo Volunteers (next week's Friends in the Field guest), when I came across Dirty Girls' facebook page. They could not be a more perfect subject for a special International Women's Month edition of Friends in the Field. Dirty Girls of Lesvos have spotted a multifaceted solution for a complex side effect of humanitarian aid practices.
In their own words, "Dirty Girls washes (to hospital standards), blankets, sleeping bags and other materials so that they can be reused, rather than the present practices of most International Non Government Organisations (INGOs) – the cavalier trashing of all materials and replacement with new ones."
By thoroughly rewashing blankets, sleeping bags, clothes and baby carriers that are abandoned in the intensity of coastal rescue actions, Dirty Girls is able to wash new life into sleeping bags and blankets - a small but vital step in honoring the dignity and humanity of migrants awaiting the next step of their journey. You can follow Dirty Girls of Lesvos on Facebook and Twitter, but I highly encourage you to visit their website to read their story for yourself. The large capacity washing machines bringing blankets and sleeping bags up to hospital standards of hygiene are completely donation run, so if you find yourself as inspired as I am, I encourage you to donate to allow the Dirty Girls to expand their operations. (Image credit) Tarjimly
Tarjimly is a must-have tech tool that connects three billion bilingual speakers with the 23 million refugees worldwide. Using facebook messenger, Tarjimly provides instant and accessible translation services that allows refugees, aid workers, and volunteer translators to communicate in real time. As my arrival in Ritsona draws near and I become explicitly aware of my lack of Arabic and Greek, I gave it a test run and was put at ease by how easy it was to use.
Here's how it works: say you are a volunteer at a refugee camp. You need to give the camp residents some information about something going on in the camp that may interrupt the daily routine. This information is far beyond the scope of the limited Arabic phrases you've memorized, and the translator who usually helps you is not available. You open your facebook messenger app, and send a note to Tarjimly. Much like a crisis or information hotline, you are connected with a translator who asks what your role is and what you need to communicate. They'll translate it for you within a few seconds, and you can show your phone with the translated information to whoever you need to. In addition, the team at Tarjimly meticulously tracks data to improve their service and create a better understanding about what sort of information is getting lost between aid workers and refugees.
To follow along with Tarjimly's growth and developments in their service, you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Visit their website to find out how you can volunteer or donate to grow their service.
The Campfire Project
In July of 2018, Jessica Hecht and a team of theatre artists will visit the Ritsona camp to stage an abridged, bilingual production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. By exploring The Tempest's themes of exile, personal salvation, and the resilience of hope, The Campfire Project hopes to facilitate a creative outlet for the residents of the camp. The arts are a means to process and communicate unifying human experiences, and I am excited to meet the members of the Campfire Project team this coming summer. To follow and support their progress, visit their website , donate to their fundraising campaign, or follow them on Twitter.
The Campfire Project from Jenny Gersten on Vimeo.
The Campfire Project from Jenny Gersten on Vimeo.
