Holistic Support for Refugees Arriving in Greece

The Youngest-Ever Arrival

Last week, IsraAID's medical team attended to the youngest-ever new arrival that we have seen on Lesvos. Her name is Aishagol and she was just two days old when her family arrived on the northern shore of Lesvos. Her parents are from Afghanistan, but she was born in Turkey on the way. She was welcomed to the island by IsraAID nurse Ioanna. During the week, IsraAID's medical staff treated over 95 of the 340 new arrivals who reached Lesvos' northern shore. 1015 new arrivals have reached Lesvos in 28 boats since the beginning of August, with over 600 in the last week alone. IsraAID is the only international NGO providing medical care to new arrivals on the northern shore of Lesvos.

The School of Peace

The School of Peace is the only educational framework on the island offering mother-tongue classes in Arabic, Congolese French, Farsi and Kurdish. The school serves 180 children daily, providing academic classes, physical education, and two hot meals. Classes are taught by refugees from the children's own communities.

The school is a partnership between IsraAID, Hashomer Hatzair and the Ajial Movement.

Mehdi, Farsi teacher at the School of Peace, wrote this poem about the school:

"What are you looking for? 
Here is the international school of peace. 
Which kind of values can bring safety and happiness to your life? 
Here is that place we could improve the communication of nations at the current time. 
Here is that place which colors will be combined, compositions are planting a present of the freshness sapling in our hands every day. 
Here is a little garden of peace which the round its flowers will hug all of the earth under its wings. 
Here is just a corner of the international school of peace. 
Thanks all."

Meet IsraAID's New Community Health Advocates

IsraAID's team in Lesvos has welcomed two new Community Health Advocates, refugees and medical professionals who will work with IsraAID to raise awareness of health issues and help ensure refugees can receive necessary care. 

Fareba

Fareba, 22, from Bamyan Province in Afghanistan has been on Lesvos for about 5 months. Fareba has 5 siblings, and is happily married. In Afghanistan she graduated from nursing school and worked in a self-help clinic for 2 years. She then went on to attend only one year of medical school, before she was compelled to leave Afghanistan for her own safety. She is currently one of IsraAID’s Community Health Advocates and works as a translator in the Kara Tepe medical clinic.

“I wanted to join the Community Health Advocates Program because my field is nursing and I love to work with medicine, whether that’s working with medical teams, meeting patients, or meeting different doctors. Also to refresh all of my skills and to constantly practice. As a refugee I know a lot of other refugees and I can use these skills to help the community and encourage and promote their health and wellbeing better as someone who comes from a similar background.”

“I have seen a lot of people who have psychological issues. I really want to help these people, relieve their stresses, make them happy and relaxed. This is the main concern on the island, more so than medical conditions. If our minds are good and healthy the rest of our body will be good and healthy. Many people here are suffering from psychosomatic issues, and I want to help in any way I can ease these psychological pains.”

“In the future I want to become a doctor. It is both my hope and my husband’s hope. My husband has been encouraging me for a very long time and it is a dream that we both share.” 

“I am very thankful for those who gave me this opportunity.”

Abdul

Abdul, a refugee from Chad, has been on the island of Lesvos for about 3 months now. In 2015 he completed his nursing degree. After his nursing degree he returned to school to study general biology with hopes of becoming a science teacher. However, in his last year of studying he had to leave Chad for Europe. “I left Chad because I spoke out against the government and joined a protest which caused me to become wanted by the government.”

Abdul moved to Lesvos alone, leaving behind three brothers and one sister back in Chad. He is currently one of the Community Health Advocates with IsraAID.

"I wanted to join this program because I am a nurse and I wanted to help others and feel like I was doing something for others. IsraAID also has different realms that I can work in in the health sector. Sometimes I can be a nurse and sometimes a teacher. There are a variety of things I can do, like different activities with the community where you really feel like you are a part of a team.”

"The majority of people who come here complain about gastro problems, and this stems from the food that people eat in the camps. Another problem is that people in the camps live in very close proximity to each other, which in turn affects how fast disease spreads. In addition, a lot of people suffer from psychological problems which affect the physical body and the symptoms of the body. I hope to find a solution to all these problems, and I believe that I can change the health condition on the island for refugees through education and awareness which are two important things.”

"In the future I want to become a person who other people can benefit from, a nurse, a general doctor, or even a teacher. I also love languages and the ability to learn languages to be able to communicate with a variety of different people from all different backgrounds and nationalities.”

Thank you for your support, which makes this work possible! More updates to follow ...