In Greece girls began by raising awareness, delivering clothes, food, organising activities for refugee children and integrating them into Guiding events. Now the association runs a programme called A World in a Suitcase.
Girl Guides have prided themselves on their community service for over a century. When refugees began arriving on European shores the Greek Guiding Association stepped up to lend a hand.
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the voice of 10 million girls in 150 countries. A number of these countries are working at national or local levels to support refugee populations, from providing localised practical supplies to national education programmes.
In Greece girls began by raising awareness, delivering clothes, food, organising activities for refugee children and integrating them into Guiding events. Now the association runs a programme called A World in a Suitcase. This is taught in schools to help children understand refugee flows and human rights.
The aim is to boost integration outside of refugee camps by preparing local communities to support refugees. So far it has reached 20 cities and 5000 students.
Guides represent the principles of peaceful coexistence and acceptance, so this is why we should not only cultivate these ideas to our teams, but also in the wider society.
Charitini lives in a suburb of Athens near the sea called Voula. She leads a Guiding group and since early 2017 she has also volunteered as part of A World in a Suitcase.
“I believe it’s very important for Guides to be active in their communities,” she said. “Guides represent the principles of peaceful coexistence and acceptance, so this is why we should not only cultivate these ideas to our teams, but also in the wider society.”
Through games children understand what it would be like to leave their homes and move to a totally new society. These cultivate principles like respect, understanding and acceptance.
“Children really amaze you with their answers and how they describe their feelings. They can really understand the big picture.”
WAGGGS wants to see protection, support, education, livelihoods and skills to be made available to all refugees.
WAGGGS wants to encourage all people to reach out to organisations working with refugees in their communities, by listening and asking what you can do to help.
WAGGGS is not only asking the public to welcome refugees, by rejecting hate and recognising our shared humanity, but calling on governments to ensure response to refugee crisis takes into account and prioritises the needs of refugee girls and women.
The journey to safety for all can be harrowing, but it can be particularly difficult for women and girls who are exposed to a constant threat of gender-based violence. WAGGGS is calling on governments to prevent and respond to this violence, while creating safe spaces for women and girls to ensure they have an environment with privacy and dignity.
WAGGGS wants to see protection, support, education, livelihoods and skills to be made available to all refugees.