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Monday 24 October 2016

I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN: Kate McAllister

What's on my mind? 

A year ago today (thank you timehop) I returned from my first visit to the Jungle. Something happened while I was there. My heart changed. It broke and it was healed and in that process it learned to hear. It, and I, will never be the same again.

 I met Ammer Maki and his friend Gadoora that day. They were the first people that I met there. They gave us "Christmas tea" and biscuits and told us about their hopes and dreams. 

Later that evening they saved me. Literally, not figuratively. I got lost returning from an emergency run to the A&E maternity with Nahid TinaRiaz Ahmad & Dr Hassan. Baby Rosie wasn't born that night, but she came soon after. I watched Nahid Tina's eyes in the mirror all the way there to see if the baby was coming. I can't imagine what she was going through as she watched me right back. 

When I returned to the Jungle it was dark, I was lost and had become separated from the rest of the team (half had stayed in the hospital, half in the Jungle). As I walked through the dark, muddy slum trying to find my team I began to panic. I was lost, it was dark, I knew no-one and my phone was dead. Suddenly I recognised where I was and began to call out to Ammer and Gadoora. They heard me & quickly wound their way through the little gaps between tents and shelters and they came and rescued me. I could not be more grateful to them. They took me to their shelter and fed me Aseeda. It would have taken them hours to create that meal I later learned. It was my first taste of Aseeda and the first time I had been looked after by a stranger as well as I would have been looked after by my own mother. I was frightened and cold and lost and they saved me.

 As I sat with them and began to relax I could feel my heart vibrating. It actually hummed in my chest. I was in the presence of true kindness, the kind that gives and expects to receive nothing in return. These young men, the same age as my own son had crossed half the world to save themselves from a fate worse that death, to create a future that would keep them and their future children safe and they had saved me. They gave me their food, sat me by their tiny fire and held my hand until I stopped shaking. 

Now, one year on, two of them are beginning university in Lille with other friends I have come to know and love over this past year. I could not be more proud. I never got to see Gadoora again after that first visit. He had moved on. I hope that he is happy and that he knows that his kindness has never been forgotten. It has driven me to continue to seek out the kindness in the world. To give without expecting anything in return and to hope that one day, everyone will get to meet an Ammer or Gadoora or Riaz. These young men are exceptional human beings. I am privileged to have met them. 

Today the jungle is being dismantled. I am feeling very sad today.

Tuesday 4 October 2016

EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED BUT NOTHING IS DIFFERENT: By Kirsty Bimble, 4th October 2016

A year ago today I found myself heading to Calais Refugee camp with a car load of aid. I had no idea what to expect, I was completely unprepared for the realities of what I was going to witness. One year on, things snowballed and we have formed a charity. There are days when the distress, frustration and rage I feel nearly breaks my soul. I sometimes secretly wish I had never volunteered so that I could have remained ignorant and naive about the world and how we treat our fellow humans. Some days it makes me cry, some days I despair, others days I feel shame.

Then I think about all of the amazing people that I have had the pleasure of meeting, who have shone a light into my darkest places to show me hope. I have been taught so much about the world and about myself by connecting with people who would have remained strangers had I not dived blind into trying to do something, anything to try and make a difference in someway. All I know is I can't sit back and do nothing.

This past year has changed me more than I could have ever imagined. I have now witnessed how cruel and evil actions are done to others by humans. I have felt the true kindness of people sharing the nothing that they have - it almost floors you. I have felt the deafening silence of friends who just don't want to know. I have been in awe of communities coming together to be the change they want to see. I have encountered people who have such spirt and resilience, it makes my heart sing.

But nothing is different.
We are still living in an idiotic small minded "look after our own" society that promotes segregation and hate and tries to deny solidarity, generosity and compassion. We are all humans, why people can't understand this simple fact, I will never know. Maybe it's people's selfishness and greed that stops them realising we are all the same.

There are days when I want to scream at people's selfishness and days when I cry with pure happiness at people's kindness and generosity of heart.
In the next few weeks, the Calais camp will be torn down, forcing people to flee once more. There are 65 million displaced people in our world; this is not ok when we all have the power to act. I want to know that I have done everything that I can to be the world I want to see.

The enormity of the situation can feel intimidating, but small acts make a big difference- never forget that.
I want to thank everyone who has supported me in so many ways. I am truly grateful to live such a privileged life, I am so lucky. We all have something to be thankful for.