Thursday 7 February 2019
THIS WEEK:
After sharing some sad news in our last edition of the RS Express about the suspension of our fantastic empowerment fund, we wanted to bring you some lighter news this week.
You wouldn’t be crazy in thinking ‘beauty’ and ‘refugee camps’ are concepts so far removed from one another, that it’s almost impossible to put them in the same sentence. And it’s true; there are many bleak sights to see and stories to be heard on a refugee camp.
But despite this, there are still some beautiful moments to be had at a refugee camp, and we’ve been sharing some photos of these moments on our Facebook page.
Here’s a few of the good moments that have happened over the last few weeks, and some of the beautiful things we see every week at Katsikas camp.
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The kids are the life and soul of the camp. . .
The kids have always been such an inspiration on camp, and we’re so happy that we’ve been able to contribute towards some of the joy on the faces of the kids playing in the camp’s play area.
. . .and our volunteers are the backbone that helps it run smoothly.
Whether it’s digging an allotment or helping to serve food at our free shop, our volunteers do everything with a smile, as they are an incredible bunch with hearts of gold.
Often, the most tedious tasks bring the greatest joy in the end
Sifting and sorting through clothes can feel like an thankless task, but it’s worth it when someone finds their perfect outfit!
When it rains, it pours, but when the sun shines, it shines brightly
The scenery at Katsikas can be mysterious, spectacular and bleak within the same day.
In art and literature, we often use the phrase ‘pathetic fallacy’ to describe the times when the weather seems to sympathise with moods and circumstances. And if we were to write a book about Katsikas camp, this weather would be the perfectly suit the intricacies and complexities that you can observe on camp.
Dreams are not lost at a refugee camp. . .
Speaking of art, big dreamers create big art! Check out some of the vibrant artwork that the kids of Katsikas have been creating this week on one of our walls.
. . .and fun isn’t just for children!
Many of us probably associate scribbling on the walls with being told off as child – but these big kids have also been getting artistic, creating an awesome new multilingual mural at Katsikas!
Community is beautiful. . .
The community garden is coming along nicely, and we can’t wait to welcome more colour onto camp in the spring. Thanks to all the big (and little!) helpers who have been doing a brilliant job.
. . .and so is John Sloan!
When the weather is right, lucky volunteers and residents may catch a rare (or not so rare) glimpse of an incredible sight in nature: John Sloan eating an ice cream. Whilst John is on holiday at the moment and having what looks like a fantastic time, we’re looking forward to having him back on camp and catching more photos of this intriguing ritual.
So you see, there’s beauty and bright thing to be found in everyday things, even in the bleakest, darkest of places.
Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you next week.
Please contact us today at info@refugeesupporteu.com if you’d like to help support refugees today.
Refugee Support
