In October 2018 I went to Calais as part of a volunteering programme with St Ethelburgas from London. We were supporting the organisations Help Refugees and Refugee Community Kitchen. This video captures some of that experience.
I have always been a bit sceptical about whether these small actions really help, but spending time working with those who are supporting the refugees in Calais and Dunkirk changed my mind. The people who are living homeless there are between two worlds – their homes that they have left because they are unsafe and the European communities that are reluctant to accept them into their societies.
These people are living day to day in uncertainty, after having already risked their lives and undertaken challenging experiences to come to a place that they hoped would offer them support. These organisations are providing healthy food, clothes as well as tents and sleeping bags in order to make this difficult time more bearable for them.
I have no opinion around the political situation as I do not have enough awareness, knowledge or experience to comment, but what I have realised is that we are all humans just living day by day and some people are living in very difficult circumstances. So I wish to offer my help and support where I can.
These groups are always happy and grateful for any volunteers who can come to help whether it is for a few months, a week or even a couple of days. Check out the links below if you want to learn more:
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- Help Refugees
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- St Ethelburgas
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- Refugee Community Kitchen