in Western Europe we live in one of the wealthiest corners of this world and yet
wealthiest corners of this world and yet
wealthiest corners of this world and yet we forced refugees to live in appalling
we forced refugees to live in appalling
we forced refugees to live in appalling conditions in camps that look like this
conditions in camps that look like this
conditions in camps that look like this for example in 2015 when thousands of
for example in 2015 when thousands of
for example in 2015 when thousands of people started to arrive at the borders
people started to arrive at the borders
people started to arrive at the borders of Europe I became part of the
of Europe I became part of the
of Europe I became part of the grassroots response to this so-called
grassroots response to this so-called
grassroots response to this so-called European refugee crisis because like
European refugee crisis because like
European refugee crisis because like many others I just couldn’t quite
many others I just couldn’t quite
many others I just couldn’t quite comprehend that scenes like in these
comprehend that scenes like in these
comprehend that scenes like in these pictures are really unfolding in our own
pictures are really unfolding in our own
pictures are really unfolding in our own backyard over the next couple of years
backyard over the next couple of years
backyard over the next couple of years eyes are many things I never expected to
eyes are many things I never expected to
eyes are many things I never expected to ever see in Europe I saw thousands of
ever see in Europe I saw thousands of
ever see in Europe I saw thousands of people sleeping on dirt without access
people sleeping on dirt without access
people sleeping on dirt without access to water shelter foods and toilets I met
to water shelter foods and toilets I met
to water shelter foods and toilets I met a woman who had been gang-raped by six
a woman who had been gang-raped by six
a woman who had been gang-raped by six men repeatedly and she was forced to
men repeatedly and she was forced to
men repeatedly and she was forced to live in a tent next to them for several
live in a tent next to them for several
live in a tent next to them for several months at one point I worked in a camp
months at one point I worked in a camp
months at one point I worked in a camp where up to 6,000 people had to share 8
where up to 6,000 people had to share 8
where up to 6,000 people had to share 8 hours I have a background in development
hours I have a background in development
hours I have a background in development and humanitarian aid and I’m quite
and humanitarian aid and I’m quite
and humanitarian aid and I’m quite familiar with the typical excuses of why
familiar with the typical excuses of why
familiar with the typical excuses of why it takes three months to build a toilet
it takes three months to build a toilet
it takes three months to build a toilet in a camp somewhere in Afghanistan or
in a camp somewhere in Afghanistan or
in a camp somewhere in Afghanistan or why refugees still live without proper
why refugees still live without proper
why refugees still live without proper shelter five years after the disaster in
shelter five years after the disaster in
shelter five years after the disaster in Haiti happened but none of these excuses
Haiti happened but none of these excuses
Haiti happened but none of these excuses really worked in Europe in Europe no aid
really worked in Europe in Europe no aid
really worked in Europe in Europe no aid worker has to be afraid of being killed
worker has to be afraid of being killed
worker has to be afraid of being killed by a sniper it’s a lot easier to ship a
by a sniper it’s a lot easier to ship a
by a sniper it’s a lot easier to ship a few containers away to Greece than to a
few containers away to Greece than to a
few containers away to Greece than to a war zone somewhere in Syria we also have
war zone somewhere in Syria we also have
war zone somewhere in Syria we also have more than sufficient funding
more than sufficient funding
more than sufficient funding considering the number of people we are
considering the number of people we are
considering the number of people we are dealing with in Greece for example less
dealing with in Greece for example less
dealing with in Greece for example less than 1% of the entire population are
than 1% of the entire population are
than 1% of the entire population are refugees or people seeking asylum in
refugees or people seeking asylum in
refugees or people seeking asylum in Lebanon it’s more than 25% I think it
Lebanon it’s more than 25% I think it
Lebanon it’s more than 25% I think it quite obvious the humanitarian system
quite obvious the humanitarian system
quite obvious the humanitarian system has become unfit to deal with today’s
has become unfit to deal with today’s
has become unfit to deal with today’s crisis it’s also no secret that it has
crisis it’s also no secret that it has
crisis it’s also no secret that it has been struggling and been held hostage by
been struggling and been held hostage by
been struggling and been held hostage by politics and by bureaucracy for quite a
politics and by bureaucracy for quite a
politics and by bureaucracy for quite a while now but what is the point of
while now but what is the point of
while now but what is the point of having a massive aid industry if the
having a massive aid industry if the
having a massive aid industry if the needs of affected people can’t be met
needs of affected people can’t be met
needs of affected people can’t be met not even in Europe and I think this
not even in Europe and I think this
not even in Europe and I think this question becomes even more relevant when
question becomes even more relevant when
question becomes even more relevant when you compared the official response to
you compared the official response to
you compared the official response to the unofficial response of organized
the unofficial response of organized
the unofficial response of organized groups of volunteers who work with less
groups of volunteers who work with less
groups of volunteers who work with less and often achieve more and the response
and often achieve more and the response
and often achieve more and the response is often also quicker more flexible and
is often also quicker more flexible and
is often also quicker more flexible and more humane than the traditional
more humane than the traditional
more humane than the traditional response and just to be clear I’m not
response and just to be clear I’m not
response and just to be clear I’m not just talking about small projects I’m
just talking about small projects I’m
just talking about small projects I’m talking about big scalable solutions
talking about big scalable solutions
talking about big scalable solutions that have managed to offer food shelter
that have managed to offer food shelter
that have managed to offer food shelter medical support and many other things
medical support and many other things
medical support and many other things for tens of thousands of people so far
for tens of thousands of people so far
for tens of thousands of people so far so I started asking myself what do
so I started asking myself what do
so I started asking myself what do grassroots groups – differently and I
grassroots groups – differently and I
grassroots groups – differently and I want to suggest three takeaway lessons
want to suggest three takeaway lessons
want to suggest three takeaway lessons we can learn from their efforts less
we can learn from their efforts less
we can learn from their efforts less number one we need to put solidarity
number one we need to put solidarity
number one we need to put solidarity above charity you see the traditional
above charity you see the traditional
above charity you see the traditional humanitarian system is based on a
humanitarian system is based on a
humanitarian system is based on a charity approach and this means that it
charity approach and this means that it
charity approach and this means that it looks at people who are affected by
looks at people who are affected by
looks at people who are affected by crisis as a beneficiary and not as a
crisis as a beneficiary and not as a
crisis as a beneficiary and not as a partner the grassroots response on the
partner the grassroots response on the
partner the grassroots response on the other hand grew out of solidarity with
other hand grew out of solidarity with
other hand grew out of solidarity with fellow humans and solidarity is based on
fellow humans and solidarity is based on
fellow humans and solidarity is based on a principle of shared ownership it
a principle of shared ownership it
a principle of shared ownership it to work together rather than for someone
to work together rather than for someone
to work together rather than for someone to give you a few examples of what this
to give you a few examples of what this
to give you a few examples of what this difference looks like in reality here
difference looks like in reality here
difference looks like in reality here are some scenes I observed in Greece
are some scenes I observed in Greece
are some scenes I observed in Greece first I want to show you some examples
first I want to show you some examples
first I want to show you some examples of food distributions based on the
of food distributions based on the
of food distributions based on the logics of charity in this picture you
logics of charity in this picture you
logics of charity in this picture you can see how bright is thrown out of the
can see how bright is thrown out of the
can see how bright is thrown out of the back of a truck whoever catches it can
back of a truck whoever catches it can
back of a truck whoever catches it can keep it or here you can see a very
keep it or here you can see a very
keep it or here you can see a very common image of refugees standing in
common image of refugees standing in
common image of refugees standing in lines for hours and hours every single
lines for hours and hours every single
lines for hours and hours every single day in order to get their meals and here
day in order to get their meals and here
day in order to get their meals and here you can see the actual meals let you
you can see the actual meals let you
you can see the actual meals let you touch if it’s worth the wait
touch if it’s worth the wait
touch if it’s worth the wait food distributions based on a logic of
food distributions based on a logic of
food distributions based on a logic of solidarity looked different for example
solidarity looked different for example
solidarity looked different for example in a community center we built in Athens
in a community center we built in Athens
in a community center we built in Athens together with many refugees themselves
together with many refugees themselves
together with many refugees themselves we built a big kitchen where refugees
we built a big kitchen where refugees
we built a big kitchen where refugees now cook food for up to a thousand
now cook food for up to a thousand
now cook food for up to a thousand people each day and they decide what
people each day and they decide what
people each day and they decide what meals they want to cook and they decided
meals they want to cook and they decided
meals they want to cook and they decided to serve it restaurant style simply
to serve it restaurant style simply
to serve it restaurant style simply because that’s more dignified than
because that’s more dignified than
because that’s more dignified than having to stand in lines for everything
having to stand in lines for everything
having to stand in lines for everything or here you can see a community kitchen
or here you can see a community kitchen
or here you can see a community kitchen set up by another grassroots group in
set up by another grassroots group in
set up by another grassroots group in one of the camps and in this camp every
one of the camps and in this camp every
one of the camps and in this camp every family can just cook for themselves so
family can just cook for themselves so
family can just cook for themselves so the point is there is a lot more pride
the point is there is a lot more pride
the point is there is a lot more pride and dignity in doing things and deciding
and dignity in doing things and deciding
and dignity in doing things and deciding things for yourself and in taking
things for yourself and in taking
things for yourself and in taking responsibility over your own life then
responsibility over your own life then
responsibility over your own life then in being given things without having any
in being given things without having any
in being given things without having any say over what you’re given and how
say over what you’re given and how
say over what you’re given and how you’re giving it less number two we need
you’re giving it less number two we need
you’re giving it less number two we need flexible funding so big and Chios are
flexible funding so big and Chios are
flexible funding so big and Chios are often very donor driven and their
often very donor driven and their
often very donor driven and their response can become dependent on the
response can become dependent on the
response can become dependent on the priorities and interests of their donors
priorities and interests of their donors
priorities and interests of their donors which can be both private and public
which can be both private and public
which can be both private and public institutions and on one hand this can
institutions and on one hand this can
institutions and on one hand this can obviously lead to and problematic
obviously lead to and problematic
obviously lead to and problematic conflicts of interests and on the other
conflicts of interests and on the other
conflicts of interests and on the other hand until sometimes forget
hand until sometimes forget
hand until sometimes forget to engage with real people’s problems in
to engage with real people’s problems in
to engage with real people’s problems in the process of writing report after
the process of writing report after
the process of writing report after report for their donors grassroots
report for their donors grassroots
report for their donors grassroots groups mostly opt for crowd funding
groups mostly opt for crowd funding
groups mostly opt for crowd funding money for specific projects or to give
money for specific projects or to give
money for specific projects or to give directly to refugees in one form or
directly to refugees in one form or
directly to refugees in one form or another and of course transparency is
another and of course transparency is
another and of course transparency is still important but I think this may
still important but I think this may
still important but I think this may actually work better because it allows
actually work better because it allows
actually work better because it allows to use the funds to cover the actual
to use the funds to cover the actual
to use the funds to cover the actual needs of people in real time and there
needs of people in real time and there
needs of people in real time and there are more and more examples that show
are more and more examples that show
are more and more examples that show that this strategy is also possible on a
that this strategy is also possible on a
that this strategy is also possible on a larger scale lesson number three we need
larger scale lesson number three we need
larger scale lesson number three we need innovation and the more up-to-date
innovation and the more up-to-date
innovation and the more up-to-date responds very slow and bureaucratic
responds very slow and bureaucratic
responds very slow and bureaucratic organizations they often look a bit like
organizations they often look a bit like
organizations they often look a bit like inefficient dinosaurs to a new
inefficient dinosaurs to a new
inefficient dinosaurs to a new generation of tech-savvy and
generation of tech-savvy and
generation of tech-savvy and entrepreneurial minds most members of
entrepreneurial minds most members of
entrepreneurial minds most members of the grassroots response grew up in a
the grassroots response grew up in a
the grassroots response grew up in a digital era and I think they know better
digital era and I think they know better
digital era and I think they know better how to leverage the speed and the
how to leverage the speed and the
how to leverage the speed and the flexibility of our time and because most
flexibility of our time and because most
flexibility of our time and because most of them don’t have a background in the
of them don’t have a background in the
of them don’t have a background in the traditional aid sector they often come
traditional aid sector they often come
traditional aid sector they often come up with methods and solutions that might
up with methods and solutions that might
up with methods and solutions that might seem quite unconventional for the
seem quite unconventional for the
seem quite unconventional for the traditional aid system a system that
traditional aid system a system that
traditional aid system a system that almost hasn’t changed since it was
almost hasn’t changed since it was
almost hasn’t changed since it was established after the Second World War
established after the Second World War
established after the Second World War to give you an example of this remember
to give you an example of this remember
to give you an example of this remember the picture I showed you in the
the picture I showed you in the
the picture I showed you in the beginning this is actually a picture of
beginning this is actually a picture of
beginning this is actually a picture of the official camp Maria on des Vosges it
the official camp Maria on des Vosges it
the official camp Maria on des Vosges it was taken in January of this year when I
was taken in January of this year when I
was taken in January of this year when I arrived there two years ago the camp was
arrived there two years ago the camp was
arrived there two years ago the camp was already completely overcrowded and
already completely overcrowded and
already completely overcrowded and hundreds of people are sleeping outside
hundreds of people are sleeping outside
hundreds of people are sleeping outside of this camp in the moat they didn’t
of this camp in the moat they didn’t
of this camp in the moat they didn’t have anything and no NGOs were present
have anything and no NGOs were present
have anything and no NGOs were present within only a couple of weeks we managed
within only a couple of weeks we managed
within only a couple of weeks we managed to build up and actually quite
to build up and actually quite
to build up and actually quite well-functioning informal camp for about
well-functioning informal camp for about
well-functioning informal camp for about 800 people just outside of this official
800 people just outside of this official
800 people just outside of this official camp this is what our camp looked like
camp this is what our camp looked like
camp this is what our camp looked like and though we were on
and though we were on
and though we were on a few people with literally no money we
a few people with literally no money we
a few people with literally no money we had technology and we had social media
had technology and we had social media
had technology and we had social media so some of us set up crowdfunding
so some of us set up crowdfunding
so some of us set up crowdfunding campaigns and then we used Facebook and
campaigns and then we used Facebook and
campaigns and then we used Facebook and other social media channels to get other
other social media channels to get other
other social media channels to get other teams of volunteers with relevant skills
teams of volunteers with relevant skills
teams of volunteers with relevant skills to come help us there was for example a
to come help us there was for example a
to come help us there was for example a group from Holland that usually works in
group from Holland that usually works in
group from Holland that usually works in the festival industry and they use their
the festival industry and they use their
the festival industry and they use their networks to get festival infrastructure
networks to get festival infrastructure
networks to get festival infrastructure shipped to the island so suddenly we had
shipped to the island so suddenly we had
shipped to the island so suddenly we had really expensive high quality tents we
really expensive high quality tents we
really expensive high quality tents we could use and some of them also had very
could use and some of them also had very
could use and some of them also had very useful knowledge and skills regarding
useful knowledge and skills regarding
useful knowledge and skills regarding things like waste management or sanitary
things like waste management or sanitary
things like waste management or sanitary provision but also things like power
provision but also things like power
provision but also things like power will recite lightning for safety and
will recite lightning for safety and
will recite lightning for safety and crowd control I know it sounds a bit
crowd control I know it sounds a bit
crowd control I know it sounds a bit ironic but building a festival and
ironic but building a festival and
ironic but building a festival and building a temporary refugee camp
building a temporary refugee camp
building a temporary refugee camp actually has quite a few similarities
actually has quite a few similarities
actually has quite a few similarities another team that usually runs a food
another team that usually runs a food
another team that usually runs a food waste catering business in England
waste catering business in England
waste catering business in England showed up shortly after and will table
showed up shortly after and will table
showed up shortly after and will table the food tent and within only a few days
the food tent and within only a few days
the food tent and within only a few days they managed to establish links with
they managed to establish links with
they managed to establish links with local supermarkets where they could pick
local supermarkets where they could pick
local supermarkets where they could pick up the food waste each evening and make
up the food waste each evening and make
up the food waste each evening and make it into nice meals and one team even
it into nice meals and one team even
it into nice meals and one team even established a delivery system to bring
established a delivery system to bring
established a delivery system to bring the items from the different warehouses
the items from the different warehouses
the items from the different warehouses on the island to the camps and this is
on the island to the camps and this is
on the island to the camps and this is the merked a bit like ubirr except that
the merked a bit like ubirr except that
the merked a bit like ubirr except that it was free and that we used what’s up
it was free and that we used what’s up
it was free and that we used what’s up to ask for the deliveries of the items
to ask for the deliveries of the items
to ask for the deliveries of the items we needed so you see a lot of new ideas
we needed so you see a lot of new ideas
we needed so you see a lot of new ideas and solutions were developed and not
and solutions were developed and not
and solutions were developed and not just in Greece I mean across all
just in Greece I mean across all
just in Greece I mean across all European countries people started
European countries people started
European countries people started countless of initiatives to help
countless of initiatives to help
countless of initiatives to help newcomers find jobs and flats and
newcomers find jobs and flats and
newcomers find jobs and flats and bicycles and Friends and all of the
bicycles and Friends and all of the
bicycles and Friends and all of the other things we need in order to live a
other things we need in order to live a
other things we need in order to live a more or less normal life what we are
more or less normal life what we are
more or less normal life what we are seeing in Europe these days will stay
seeing in Europe these days will stay
seeing in Europe these days will stay with us for a long time migration is not
with us for a long time migration is not
with us for a long time migration is not going to go away
going to go away
going to go away and people will continue to be displaced
and people will continue to be displaced
and people will continue to be displaced so rather than building walls and
so rather than building walls and
so rather than building walls and looking back to a time when things were
looking back to a time when things were
looking back to a time when things were better we should look forward and come
better we should look forward and come
better we should look forward and come up with realistic solutions that work in
up with realistic solutions that work in
up with realistic solutions that work in today’s world solutions that are not
today’s world solutions that are not
today’s world solutions that are not based on old logics of humanitarian
based on old logics of humanitarian
based on old logics of humanitarian assistance and charity but on new
assistance and charity but on new
assistance and charity but on new practices of solidarity and autonomy we
practices of solidarity and autonomy we
practices of solidarity and autonomy we need flexible funding and we need
need flexible funding and we need
need flexible funding and we need innovative new ideas because it’s 2017
innovative new ideas because it’s 2017
innovative new ideas because it’s 2017 and no refugee in Europe should be
and no refugee in Europe should be
and no refugee in Europe should be forced to live in camps that look like
forced to live in camps that look like
forced to live in camps that look like this in camps where human rights are
this in camps where human rights are
this in camps where human rights are being abused and their inhumane living
being abused and their inhumane living
being abused and their inhumane living conditions regularly lead to deaths if
conditions regularly lead to deaths if
conditions regularly lead to deaths if we want to stop failing refugees we need
we want to stop failing refugees we need
we want to stop failing refugees we need to act now and have the courage to keep
to act now and have the courage to keep
to act now and have the courage to keep fighting for new solutions thank you
”
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