“My sister-in-law encouraged me to look into the RefYouMe scheme after her positive experience with them. At that time refugee volunteering was not on my radar. I knew little about the situation or volunteering opportunities in Calais and, initially, I was quite hesitant and felt there could be a big element of risk.
I think many new volunteers may feel like this so I thought it would be good to tell you more about this angle and what I learned over the weekend in Calais.
During our car journey across the channel, with a team of new and experienced volunteers, I had the opportunity to ask lots of questions about the refugee situation and how we would operate within this. Being nervous and apprehensive about what lay ahead is very common and to be expected considering the reasons why we are going to help out. Also, before we even met up we have a Whats App group for our team where we could virtually meet and ask any questions.
I did not have to plan too much about the journey, accommodation or finding my way to the NGO charities as the RefYouMe team had organised all of this and accompanied us throughout the weekend.
We first met Missy -a really friendly and energetic team leader at Refugee Community Kitchen. She helped us find our way around the kitchen areas and gave us a full health & safety briefing along with the tasks we could work on to get the hot meals ready. Missy was on hand to help us all day along with other kitchen staff and chefs. There was a lot to do but we were given lots of choice and encouraged to take any breaks we needed.
In the evening we popped to a local supermarket then all walked the 15 mins into town to a café.
For the next 2 days we checked into the Care4Calais warehouse and were the responsibility of team leader Imogen. She started the day with a welcome briefing plus health & safety rules and then gave us lots of detail about the tasks we could choose from. These were jobs like preparing hot drinks, quality checking sleeping bag & tent donations and doing a big annual stock take of items. Each task was done by a mix of new and experienced volunteers, and we had a chance to chat and make friends during this time.
When briefing us about how to keep safe Imogen talked not just about things like warehouse work but also about how to conduct ourselves when meeting and greeting the displaced people we met in the town. Of course, if you have a large group of people needing your services and help, there is chance for situations to become anxious or fraught. This is clearly acknowledged and planned for by the volunteer team with the aim of every encounter being as friendly, dignified and calm as possible. We were given charity vests to wear to identify us and given instructions for a range of scenarios should they arise. Also, we were offered the opportunity to stay at the warehouse if we didn’t want to visit the distribution sites. Care for Calais did their best to accommodate our wishes, whilst keeping to their carefully planned schedules.
My task for the afternoon was to offer conversational English to any displaced people who wanted to join in. I was sat in a car park providing some basic English lessons to a group of keen, friendly young Sudanese lads. Meeting them and hearing their stories and hopes for the future and feeling their gratitude for the kindness shown them soon dispelled any worries I had about volunteering here. I’m so pleased I came to see this situation for myself.
As I sit reflecting on this experience I would encourage anyone who is interested in helping but anxious about risk to find out more. The team at Refyoume are very knowledgeable and experienced and always willing to answer any questions.
The days are long and can be very busy but you are well informed and you are never on your own. At the end of each day you will have met inspiring volunteers, all seeking to make a difference and you would have helped to offer hope to real people who, through desperate situations find themselves displaced and alone.”
Alison
Thank you, Alison, for making a difference in Calais and for sharing your experience. We are so grateful.
If, like Alison, you feel nervous about the thought of volunteering in Calais, please do check out 5 questions about volunteering with RefYouMe – answered by a volunteer. Sometimes, hearing from other volunteers can be what it takes to boost your confidence.
We’re also here to answer your questions. Simply email us if you’d like to chat.
If you can spare a weekend and the cost of the trip then we will organise everything else to get you to Calais, so you can see for yourself the importance of direct support and giving and the difference you can make.
All donated funds are directed to the grassroots charities on the ground helping refugees in Calais and used for the most urgent requirements and those most desperately in need. If you would rather purchase an item of need please go to our shop and see exactly where you money goes.
