LAURA (SPAIN)

Volunteered From FEBRUARY 2017 TO DECEMBER 2017

2017 I first heard about Habibi Center in December 2016 when my brother travelled to the north west of Greece for volunteering in the area. At the time, I was in Spain and it was difficult for me to travel over there. However, his testimony stirred something inside me and I became determinate to help somehow. After asking and knowing Habibi Center’s new needs, my husband and I happily helped organising the Habibi Center Virtual School and the official website. Since then, we collaborate in the distance. Last summer, I finally managed to briefly travel to Athens and meet the wonderful Habibi family. I enjoyed some time with them and learnt more about their cultures and ways of life. And, I deeply fell in love with children’s laughs and spontaneity. I would like to congratulate the Habibi family for all what they are doing, specially to all the extraordinary people that visit the center every day: youth, families and volunteers, who taught me important life lessons in these hard times. I am so proud of them. And I would also like to send a big hug to those who have already moved to other countries. My best wishes! Even if you are far away from Greece, you can still collaborate with Habibi Center in some way. EMILIO, CRISTINA AND MIGUEL (SPAIN) VOLUNTEERING DURING SUMMER 2017 It has been a lovely pleasure for us to do our bit in Habibi Center one more summer. What Steph and Toby started a year and a half ago has become a reality thanks to them and all the volunteers who have contributed with their work and support. In a little over a year, the project has achieved to have young people with official certificates in English, Maths exams successfully passed, and being nearly ready for the upcoming Science exam they all will have to face. All that hugely helping to show their increasing knowledge. The most important thing here is not the aptitude, which is up to a point too, but the attitude with which these young people are facing their future. Nowadays, human resource departments of large companies speak so much about terms such as adaptation to ‘disruptive changes’ and ‘resilience’. What change can be more disruptive than having to flee your country leaving behind your home, studies, friends and even your parents or siblings, in some cases? Who does it dare to question the ability of these young people to keep fighting to be able to get back and have the sort of life that corresponds to someone who is not yet in their adult age and is still in the training stage? For all the above, the most important thing these young people show us everyday is the huge determination they have to study and learn, and to face with courage the uncertain future they are facing since they left their homes, but with no hesitation nor giving up feeling, at all. We cannot find enough words to thank Steph for her dedicated life to the service of those who are struggling for one or another reason, as well as her affection and her honesty for the invaluable work she does. We also thank Alex for the warm welcome he gave us this summer in Athens. The boys will eventually leave Athens little by little and Habibi Center will have to readapt to the new times. There might be no more classes, the project might be relocated to another place or maybe only running classes through Habibi Center Virtual School. Who knows what the future holds for all of us! In any case, all the shared experiences lived by people who have supported the project will always remain. We only wish these young people not to lose their desire to be trained and to keep building up a future wherever they go so they can live happily. Unfortunately, the previous is uncertain and it only depends on them. What is unquestionable is the love they showed us from the very first day: That’s simply the way they are. ANNE (FINLAND) VOLUNTEERING DURING JANUARY 2017, DURING APRIL 2017, AND DURING JUNE 2018 I volunteered at Habibi Center during January 2017 teaching art. It was an experience that I enjoyed very much! Though it wasn’t always easy, I needed to do lot of planning and preparations for the classes and had to use lot of creativity to come up with good exercises for the kids. But it was absolutely worth it! Besides teaching art I think my main job was to encourage the kids. I loved seeing them gain more confidence and to get excited about learning new things. Also when thinking about life in Greece in general, who wouldn’t enjoy Greek food and appreciate the friendliness of the Greek people??!!