Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (22): a story from the Galatsi Olympic Centre in Athens, Greece

With a number of friends from Ελληνικός Προσκοπισμός (the Scouts of Greece, member of WOSM, the World Organization of the Scout Movement), Scout Leader Dimitris spent the weekend at the newly-opened Refugee Centre at the Galatsi Olympic Centre in Athens:

“As Scouts we have promised to help every person in every circumstance! So this is our story from this weekend in Galatsi:
Carrying hundreds of boxes, bags and sacks… Separating soaps from toys and blankets, clothes for children, women and men from canned food and medicines…. Sorting everything into piles and helping those in need to find the necessary supplies until they reach a new place they can call home!
Sometimes it reminds me of the Lord: “If I washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” And here are we, helping those caught in a difficult situation, not alone but among brothers and sisters. Thanks a lot to you Rika, Thoma, George, Helen, Myrto, Paraskeva, Teri, Sofia, Alex and all the other Scouts whose names I forget. We will continue our efforts, this afternoon, this evening, tomorrow and the following days.
To help. Because we made a promise. On our honour.”

So, how can you help? The answer is: we need your big smiles and strong hands, to give out food and drinks, to help in the distribution of clothes, shoes, toys, and to support all kinds of tasks at the Galatsi Refugee Centre: every day, from 7.30 in the morning to 22.00 at night. Our storage rooms are full and the generous donations from citizens continue to come in. This is an invitation not only to Scouts but also to the general public!

If you are involved in a similar refugee support activity in your local community, let us know and we will share it, too: just complete this form!