- More than just a number -

Was kommt dir als erstes in den Sinn, wenn du das Wort Flüchtlinge hörst?

Denkst du an überfüllte Camps, an kleine Schlauchboote und Rettungsvesten? 

Denkst du Flüchtlingswellen, an die große Zahl von 80 Millionen insgesamt?

Oder denkst du an Nachbarn, an Freunde von dir, an Menschen deren persönliche Geschichte du kennst?

In meiner Arbeit auf Lesbos arbeite ich zum Teil mehr mit Zahlen, als mit Menschen und doch möchte ich mich erinnern dass hinter jeder Zahl eine Geschichte, eine Person, eine Mutter, Tochter, ein Bruder oder Ehemann steckt. Deswegen ziert mein Büro der Spruch - more than just a number.

»This is the very private story of our family, our real legacy since we do not need to borrow imaginary heroism. Our very real story:

No one leaves their home country except if the home country has become a shark’s mouth about to swallow us. I had told my children that we are the children of the planet earth and that we can flourish wherever we are. But we have discovered that the planet earth is not a planet of freedom, and the free society is a big lie and all who pretend to have freedom carry wide cages and freedom for their own way.

The refugees have stopped living their grief in a visible way. With time I discovered that my will has been robbed the second day I arrived at this place, and I was an eyewitness to how my humanness slipped from between my fingers and just left me while I was staying neutral and silent. I have learned how to hide my pain in a cage and to feed it with the crumbs of my spirit, so it grew and engorged me.

I am a mother of five kids, a refugee, and I live in tent 76 in an overcrowded camp which rips of life. I live in a natural reserve and I do not own the privilege of practicing my grief as it should be, no… the time is mine and it isn’t… the places, even my features I am forced to counterfeit them daily…in order to create out of them a smile for my kids. I just wait daily that the truck of life runs over me and gives me rest…

Adam tries his best to be okay but he bursts from time to time with a fit of strong crying after which he sleeps for weeks and never leaves his bed.

Salma “Why do I not die, mom? I have heard people say that death is comfortable, and you will just disappear”.

Izak: "As long as we have our pet Alex with us, I will stay here because I will never give him away."

Jacoub: "Mom, I love this place where there is no school, we always play."

Youcef: "Mom, I am happy to live here, why are you so sad, here there are no baths, I can play with the mud and sleep."

Malik: "These days will be over, and everything will be good, most important is that we are all together." «

Linda, Adam, Salma, Malik, Youcef, Jacoub, Izak - Algeria

» An Inhabitant of new camp.

Everything is messed up. There are some moments. It is like something strangles you, you need to chat with someone, someone realize you not just for listening but there isn’t and you wanna take yourself out and make your spirit find some rescue.

I’m sure of that these hard moments are for every single person who lives on this planet but something goes wrong I think for me it is supposed to be enough.

I have some dreams like every girl of my age. I wanna make them come true, don’t wanna waste my golden days of my life here. I pretend that I’m strong but I’m not.

I wanna be done but I’m afraid of that. Here makes a lot of people to a thing that they aren’t from inner. Actually. They lost hope. I can completely understand them.

Some moments come you’d prefer to give up.

Despite all of these I keep thinking to my dreams every night. «

Mina - Afghanistan

» It's worth reading each ones story.

Fled from the war, tired of life, disappointed by the future prospects, missed by the family, we arrived in a foreign country.

Like a child who cannot walk and talk, we have experienced joy.

We hear the voice of kindness of people, but we do not understand what they say.

We think of our homeland. But in our war-damaged country we have no place anymore.

Here only the laughter of children brings us happiness.

With children we forget our sorrow and for a moment we get hope.

Since my childhood my books have surrounded me.

Now here in Camp Moria, with no sign of life from our family, among the children we feel as if we were children as we used to be.

The only task I and my children have is to give lessons to these children here.

Without hope for the future. Maybe one of these children will have to describe themselves like this.

It's worth reading each ones story. «

Abed, Faezeh - Afghanistan

» Alex Mununu Mayele

For three days, on December 16, 17 and 18, 2018, the Yumbi massacre took place in the province of Maï-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the cause that pushed us to flee our country.

All the members of my family had died in the massacre. In fact, we first fled to Brazzaville where we stayed for three months and then we passed through Turkey to reach Greece.

In Brazzaville we spent three months and nine days following our trip to Turkey and in Turkey we stayed for about a year and two months; but the whole time we were in Turkey we were in prison because we didn't have a passport.

And then, we got out of prison just after a year and two months thanks to the Covid-19 outbreak. It was the Turkish government which made us leave the prison. With luck, we met some Syrians who helped us coming to Greece. And now we are living in the new camp in Lesvos called Kara Tepe. If there is any way for you to help us, please do it.

//

In his time, God is faithful and good.

After three years of waiting, having hard trials, joys and prayers, there is still praises and thanksgivings for Jesus-Christ for who he is and that he made us as biological parents of Dana Rose Bombay. 

This is our testimony to encourage those who still wait for true God’s faithfulness and he will surprise them nicely. 

Hold on.  

Jesus-Christ is Lord. «

Alex, Delfi, Dana Rose - Democratic Republic of Congo

Hello

I am Ebrima from the Gambia, Living in Moria Camp. It gives me a Pleasure to write these few lines of words to whom It really concerns, Anyway. Am much Glad to express a feeling of my self about the place, Due it’s not really easy with us but Thanking God through The help of Other Organisations including Euro Relief and some NGO’s around Who are really Giving much Concentration and Support in providing Housing and Accomadation for us here It steabling the System at any level.

We thank you so much for the Wonderful work done.

Also we promises to full fill Our Little promises in joining hand to puss Up The Continent to any level.

Honestly we can do it, in Collaboration with the European Union.

This is because there are a lot of young men and feature children Who are willing to learn and Study at least a field, for the beneficial of the world. Meaning It’s a seed Plantation.

We represent the world at large, and in this, We asking for help in any level so as to move Europe and the world.

One Refugee One Volunteer, to lift the pressure from. So that we can have Circulation which to the world made of.

I thank you all

Ebrima - Gambia