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Caption: A glimpse into our weekend volunteering trip. The refugee camp in Calais
Caption: In December my friend and i arranged a trip to take aid to Calais, joining the efforts of those helping the refugees in the Calais 'jungle' camp.
We were joined by 3 more students and another needing a lift!
This is our journey.
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Caption: It begins with updating the passport. I was surprised how easy the journey was to Calais. Afew hours drive, a quick trip through the tunnel and we were there!
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Caption: Then we went about gathering very generous donations.
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Caption: Food parcels, all sorted with the help of friends :)
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Caption: My four boys helped on sorting day
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Caption: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly" This is Erika, who's idea it was to make the trip. She is one of my Heroes in life!
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Caption: Alice - unloading the van on the other side, at the warehouse in Calais
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Caption: Horia - unpacking socks inside the warehouse, where all the contributions are sorted!
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Caption: Some contributions that are sent cannot be used, which wastes many volunteer hours and space. We saw how important it is to follow the provided lists carefully and only collect and bring what is requested.
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Caption: Unusable contributions mountain!
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Caption: Warehouse view
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Caption: We visited just before Christmas!
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Caption: In the jungle, handing out food parcels.
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Caption: Stopping to help with some construction.
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Caption: Cooking. A man and his kitchen.
He is one of the fortunate ones to have a pan to cook in!
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Caption: "Living" conditions . This is the view all around! People living so desperately. At the time of our visit, we did not take pictures of the refugees themselves as requested, except for a couple of pics with permission.
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Caption: This is somebodies home.
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Caption: Inside the camp church
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Caption: Tea with two local human beings.
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Caption: Chris and Luisa -
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Caption: Make shift shops in the main part of camp.
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Caption: A meal we ate there.
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Caption: We were introduced to a cat that has made his home here.
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Caption: This place - The theatre. A place for the people to come and express themselves through various mediums:- including painting, poetry, photography and music.
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Caption: There are thousands of people living this way...waiting.
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Caption: This picture was taken by my friend Erika. At that moment we were inside a caravan, helping long term volunteer Johnny, whilst he had the difficult job of distributing sleeping bags and tents to new arrivals at the camp.
Caption: It is impossible to come away unchanged after seeing with your own eyes what is happening.
It is easy to go and help. The long term volunteers need people to keep being able to give their time and help with collecting what is needed.
The long term volunteers need support to keep doing what they are doing.
Your fellow human beings in camp need the rest of us to look with our hearts and take action!
We all need to stand up for what is right. It is not complicated.
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Caption: Our group x
Why not organise your own trip?
Caption: If you would like to know more then visit on Facebook: Calais-people to people solidarity - action from UK
We can make a difference, each one of us, that's what it takes.
#stellerstories #calais #thejungle #refugeeswelcome #refugees #humantee #human #humanity #istand #calaiskitchen
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