"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity " - Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
The below is a blog of my experience whilst volunteering at the Refugee Community Kitchen, Calais, in April 2018
The below is a blog of my experience whilst volunteering at the Refugee Community Kitchen, Calais, in April 2018
28.04.18 - The Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK) was founded in 2015 with a mission to provide nutritious food for refugees living in the Calais & Dunkirk camps of France.
Unfortunately, with the violent & brutal demolition of the Calais ‘jungle’ camp at the end of 2016 the situation in Northern France & Paris is worse than ever. Refugees have no shelter; they are sleeping in woods, ditches & under flyovers & face constant brutal attacks. RCK is needed now more than ever as it is the only hot food source & a vital life line for these refugees. Since the 1st of December 2015 RCK has served nutritious food to over 1,200 refugees a day, 7 days a week & is run solely by volunteers & funded by donations. Today was my first day & I can honestly say amid the tragedy here in Calais amazing things can be achieved when we work together for the greater good. ❤️
Unfortunately, with the violent & brutal demolition of the Calais ‘jungle’ camp at the end of 2016 the situation in Northern France & Paris is worse than ever. Refugees have no shelter; they are sleeping in woods, ditches & under flyovers & face constant brutal attacks. RCK is needed now more than ever as it is the only hot food source & a vital life line for these refugees. Since the 1st of December 2015 RCK has served nutritious food to over 1,200 refugees a day, 7 days a week & is run solely by volunteers & funded by donations. Today was my first day & I can honestly say amid the tragedy here in Calais amazing things can be achieved when we work together for the greater good. ❤️
29.04.18 - Why the question mark? As I lie in bed in my hotel room in Calais, haunted by the wind howling through my window & the rain beating down heavily, my heart is broken & I question, WHEN DID WE FORGET THAT REFUGEES ARE HUMAN⁉️
This evening myself & a team of 5 volunteers distributed food to refugees at 2 sites in Calais. We arrived in a van, with veg curry, pasta, salad, tea & water & set up serving stations. All the refugees we fed today were men, of varying ages, (some looking very young) mainly from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan & Gambia. I’ve been told there are about 100-150 minors under the age of 18 & as young as 12 who are in Calais entirely on their own.
As we distributed food in the freezing temperatures, (I did my best to avoid showing how painfully cold I was albeit with 3 layers of hoodies) I couldn’t help but notice how few layers these men had on. I could see their tents, unsecured, flapping in the harsh winds without any protection. Some told us they didn’t have tents & instead had been sleeping under trees & in bushes. These clusters of groups are scattered within industrial estates, on road sides or under bridges in Calais with no access to shelter, food, water, sanitation, education or protection.
The conditions they are forced to live in is grotesquely dehumanising. They have no dignity, are treated like vermin & have been abandoned & our governments are completely desensitised to the situation. Refugees aren’t some statistic, they aren’t an agenda item, they are humans, people just like us & this simple fact has clearly been forgotten. I go to bed with a very heavy heart tonight & a somber spirit - however, today has reiterated my acknowledgment of the phenomenal work the RCK continues to do, day in, day out & for them I give thanks.
This evening myself & a team of 5 volunteers distributed food to refugees at 2 sites in Calais. We arrived in a van, with veg curry, pasta, salad, tea & water & set up serving stations. All the refugees we fed today were men, of varying ages, (some looking very young) mainly from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan & Gambia. I’ve been told there are about 100-150 minors under the age of 18 & as young as 12 who are in Calais entirely on their own.
As we distributed food in the freezing temperatures, (I did my best to avoid showing how painfully cold I was albeit with 3 layers of hoodies) I couldn’t help but notice how few layers these men had on. I could see their tents, unsecured, flapping in the harsh winds without any protection. Some told us they didn’t have tents & instead had been sleeping under trees & in bushes. These clusters of groups are scattered within industrial estates, on road sides or under bridges in Calais with no access to shelter, food, water, sanitation, education or protection.
The conditions they are forced to live in is grotesquely dehumanising. They have no dignity, are treated like vermin & have been abandoned & our governments are completely desensitised to the situation. Refugees aren’t some statistic, they aren’t an agenda item, they are humans, people just like us & this simple fact has clearly been forgotten. I go to bed with a very heavy heart tonight & a somber spirit - however, today has reiterated my acknowledgment of the phenomenal work the RCK continues to do, day in, day out & for them I give thanks.
30.04.18 - So, yesterday we did 2 x food distributions in Calais & tonight we did 2 x in Dunkirk. Yesterday was freezing, but today felt colder with the unforgiving wind & rain.
With the mainstream media (which is riddled with right wing, classist & racist motives) who play on the narrative of refugees being scum, I thought I would share my own experience of them with you from the food distributions I’ve been on.
My initial reflection is how eager they are to say hello & ask how you are with such keenness. ✨
I’ve genuinely never been around so many people who say please & thank as much as them (& really mean it). ✨
Whatever they ask for, whether it’s a plastic cup, an extra spoon, a cover for their carton box, or more food, it is ALWAYS asked for. Nothing is ever taken without being granted permission. ✨
They share their food. Each person is allowed 1 x carton box full of food, but many of them take 2 x spoons with 1 x box. I questioned why this was the case & was told they share with friends even though they are fully aware that they can take extra boxes for friends if needed. ✨
They queue & wait patiently. ✨
They call you brother / sister & for the longer standing volunteers, they often ask how the volunteers’ families are. ✨
If I was having to unload / load the van with heavy items, I often found they would immediately help me. ✨
And this last memory is one that will forever remain in my heart; at the end of the distribution one of my duties was to go round the van with a black bin liner to pick up all the rubbish. I got no further than picking up 2 x spoons when 4 x men rushed over & refused I pick up any more & before I knew it they’d taken my black bin liner & started picking up all the litter for me in the wind & rain...✨
Of course you see those who don’t want to engage & are of course discouraged by life, but as with Veria Camp, they are few & far between. I looked at them, with their clothes soaked through, wet to the bone, with flip flops or sodden shoes, shaking with extreme cold yet 95% of the time I was received with warm smiles. It’s hard to fully digest in such inhumane conditions - but that’s been my experience & I wanted to share ❤️.
With the mainstream media (which is riddled with right wing, classist & racist motives) who play on the narrative of refugees being scum, I thought I would share my own experience of them with you from the food distributions I’ve been on.
My initial reflection is how eager they are to say hello & ask how you are with such keenness. ✨
I’ve genuinely never been around so many people who say please & thank as much as them (& really mean it). ✨
Whatever they ask for, whether it’s a plastic cup, an extra spoon, a cover for their carton box, or more food, it is ALWAYS asked for. Nothing is ever taken without being granted permission. ✨
They share their food. Each person is allowed 1 x carton box full of food, but many of them take 2 x spoons with 1 x box. I questioned why this was the case & was told they share with friends even though they are fully aware that they can take extra boxes for friends if needed. ✨
They queue & wait patiently. ✨
They call you brother / sister & for the longer standing volunteers, they often ask how the volunteers’ families are. ✨
If I was having to unload / load the van with heavy items, I often found they would immediately help me. ✨
And this last memory is one that will forever remain in my heart; at the end of the distribution one of my duties was to go round the van with a black bin liner to pick up all the rubbish. I got no further than picking up 2 x spoons when 4 x men rushed over & refused I pick up any more & before I knew it they’d taken my black bin liner & started picking up all the litter for me in the wind & rain...✨
Of course you see those who don’t want to engage & are of course discouraged by life, but as with Veria Camp, they are few & far between. I looked at them, with their clothes soaked through, wet to the bone, with flip flops or sodden shoes, shaking with extreme cold yet 95% of the time I was received with warm smiles. It’s hard to fully digest in such inhumane conditions - but that’s been my experience & I wanted to share ❤️.
1.05.18 - The Refugee Community Kitchen in Calais is an incredible organisation run by truly inspiring volunteers. Its unwavering commitment in providing hot, wholesome food (come rain or shine 7 days a week) ensure that refugees in Calais have access to one freshly cooked meal per day, which as you can imagine is a life line. Without this operation, refugees would have no access to food or water. It’s a meaningful space, run by people who care & people who make a direct positive impact on the lives of those in need.
I can’t stress enough how easy it is to volunteer with them. Calais is an hour away, there are plenty of accommodation options there & whether you can volunteer for 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year - it’ll be worth every minute of your time. I promise! 22,000 volunteers have passed through their doors over the last 2 years & it truly is a product of everyones efforts. In the short time I was there I felt welcomed, appreciated & looked after & slotted into their methodical operation with ease - & you can too! Thank you RCK for the invaluable work you do for humanity. The unsung hero's - you are exceptional.
I can’t stress enough how easy it is to volunteer with them. Calais is an hour away, there are plenty of accommodation options there & whether you can volunteer for 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year - it’ll be worth every minute of your time. I promise! 22,000 volunteers have passed through their doors over the last 2 years & it truly is a product of everyones efforts. In the short time I was there I felt welcomed, appreciated & looked after & slotted into their methodical operation with ease - & you can too! Thank you RCK for the invaluable work you do for humanity. The unsung hero's - you are exceptional.
