Ciara holidays 2022
Ciara’s 30th birthday fundraiser
After fleeing their home countries in search of safety, many of my students have spent years out of education while on the move.
Over the last year, their situation here in Greece got much worse. Many were moved from apartments in the city into an isolated refugee camp. A nine-foot-high concrete and iron barricade was built around the camp – making it look much more like a prison than a home.
No child, no person, should have to live like this.
That’s why this year, for Christmas & my 30th birthday, I’m fundraising for my students’ education! You can make sure their dreams for the future aren’t on hold while living in a refugee camp.
Below, you’ll find 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of the kiddos I work with. By purchasing one of the boxes as a present for a friend or family member this holiday season, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one, who will receive a memorable message from my students in their inbox, AND to my students, who will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
I’ve been volunteering at Second Tree, a grassroots organisation run by volunteers like me, for almost 3 years now. Based in the small city of Ioannina, Greece, we support refugee children with education and integration through our Scouts programme.
When I first arrived at Second Tree, I led Scouts workshops. During that time, I built really important friendships with the kids and their families. The most rewarding part of my job was seeing how much confidence the kids gained after being part of the Scouts programme, like siblings Ahmed, Ali, Banin and Jaber. If you believe people fleeing their countries should have a second chance and be treated as everyone else, Second Tree’s mission might interest you!
This Christmas, you can contribute by donating to my fundraiser as a part of Second Tree’s Campaign!
Below, you’ll find 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of the refugee children in our Scouts programme. By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one, who will receive a memorable surprise from our students, AND to refugees, who will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
As most of you know, I have been a part of the Second Tree family for more than 2 years now! Many people ask when I’ll come home or find a job that’s just a little less tiring, and the answer has always been, ‘I don’t know, I am really happy here!’ Yes, I rarely take a break. There is always more I can do that I have to say no to (which never feels good). I sometimes go to the bus station twice a week to say goodbye to students who are leaving Greece for a better life elsewhere in Europe. I often hear stories of a refugee’s experience that can be heartbreaking.
But, the people I meet are much more than the reasons they fled their homes – they can be selfless, funny, inquisitive, kind and often great cooks! The sheer number of good friends that I have made here, I would never have met if not for Second Tree and the way in which we work as a community. When a family enrols their (sometimes 6!) children into our Scouts Programme, I don’t just teach the children: I stay behind after class so we can play volleyball together; I bump into them in the street and am greeted with big warm hugs; I am enveloped by their parents and invited to their family homes for dinner. As a side note: my favourite dish is Afghan Bolani – if you don’t know it, give it a try.
The community that Second Tree has here in Ioannina is something special. I am sure that it doesn’t exist anywhere else, and I feel like I am contributing to change here.
By donating to my fundraiser as a part of Second Tree’s Christmas Campaign, you can contribute, too! Below, you’ll find 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of the refugee children in the Scouts Programme. By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one (who will receive a memorable surprise from our students) and to the refugee children, who will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
Go on, it’s Christmas!
Cheers, Slàinte and Santé
Juliette
As many of you know, I’ve been working with Second Tree for over a year and a half now, which is over a year longer than I expected to stay! Although there are times when the days here are long and tiring, and the weeks can be filled with goodbyes as students leave for a better life elsewhere, I wouldn’t change the time I’ve spent here for anything.
Seeing the smiling faces and wide eyes of children as they go to the beach for the first time; seeing students go from not being able to sit still in class to being one of the best behaved; seeing friendships form between people from completely different parts of the world; seeing Afghan teenage boys learning African dancing – these little moments, these little victories, make the hard times worthwhile.
I’m doing a fundraiser as part of Second Tree’s Christmas Campaign, inspired by the refugee children in our Scouts programme. By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one, who will receive a memorable surprise from our students, AND to refugees, who will continue to have opportunities to work towards their dreams and go on new adventures!
Hi there! As you may remember, in 2019 I volunteered for a small, grassroots organization in Northern Greece called Second Tree. I worked in the Scouts program, supporting refugee children through education and integration activities.
What I thought would be a one-time summer experience ended up changing my life. I returned to Second Tree last September and have been working here ever since! Although there are times when the days are long and tiring, and the weeks are filled with bittersweet goodbyes as students leave for a better life elsewhere in Europe, there aren’t words to describe how much being part of this community has meant to me. I don’t think a place like Second Tree exists anywhere else, and I know the people I’ve met here will be close to my heart for the rest of my life – such as kids like Nasreen!
In December I will be leaving Greece for good. Before I go, I’m holding a fundraiser as part of Second Tree’s Christmas Campaign, and I’d be grateful if you donated!
Below, you’ll find 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of children in our Scouts program. By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one, who will receive a memorable surprise from our students, AND to refugees, who will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
Thank you for contributing to something so important. I can’t wait to come home and see you soon!
Christmas is a time of giving, so let me tell you how to give the best gift of all!
Last summer, I volunteered for three months at Second Tree in the Scouts department (AKA the most fun department), which focuses on educating refugee children aged eight to sixteen. They do this through lessons, workshops, and excursions! The Scouts programme is key for these children to develop new skills, spend time away from camp, and meet new people.
The most rewarding part of the job was watching the children have fun, laugh, and make new friends. They didn’t always understand my Geordie accent, but we bonded and grew close over TikTok dances – who’d have guessed?
So, this Christmas, why not support these programmes by giving to Second Tree? By donating, you will be providing these children with the gift of education, which seems pretty awesome to me, and allowing them to continue with exciting and fun opportunities.
Both the children and Second Tree will have a special place in my heart forever, and I can’t wait to return!
You can help by donating to my fundraiser as part of Second Tree’s Christmas Campaign! Below, there are 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of the refugee children in our Scouts programme. But there’s a catch: each digital Gift Box purchase provides twice! By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, they will receive a memorable surprise from our students, AND refugees will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
As Christmas approaches, I wanted to tell you about one of the most impactful gifts you can give this holiday season! I worked as an English teacher for 6 months with Second Tree – a grassroots organisation led completely by volunteers. Second Tree offers opportunities for education and integration to refugees across Northern Greece!
Being part of such a strong, caring community was the most rewarding part my job. The lasting friendships I made with the team and the students is something I count myself lucky to have. I know this is an organisation and a cause that I will always hold dear to my heart.
If you believe in providing opportunities for education and integration to refugees, Second Tree’s mission may interest you!
This Christmas, you can contribute by donating to my fundraiser as a part of Second Tree’s Campaign!
Below, you’ll find 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of the refugee children in our Scouts programme. By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one, who will receive a memorable surprise from our students, AND to refugees, who will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
Heya! For almost a year now, I’ve been working in the Communications and Community Engagement departments of Second Tree – a grassroots organisation led entirely by volunteers. We offer opportunities for education and integration to refugees across Northern Greece! From community sports days and beach trips with the Scouts who make up our youth programme, to self-advocacy training for adults, our mission is simple: to treat refugees as people. This means shedding the romanticized and victimized refugee narratives that are useless–and harmful–for people trying to move on with their lives. It means treating refugees like you would anyone else.
One of my favourite Scouts here in Ioannina is Shabnam. She is an incredibly precocious girl who has eagle-eyed attention for nuance. Whenever I see Shabnam, I ask her the same question: “How’s school?” Often, Greek school for refugees is, simply put, disappointing. Sometimes they get lucky, and a teacher or a few students take the time to acknowledge their presence. However, many are met with complete indifference–to the point where they sit in empty, teacherless classrooms waiting for the bell to end their isolated school day. However, Shabnam knows what’s up. She studies hard, seeks things that engage her, and knows deep down that her future will be bright because she has the drive to make it so.
Shabnam and I have a pact: “Let’s have more good days than bad ones.” This determination to strive for good makes her a shrewd and inspiring Scout leader, taking her responsibility to lead seriously because she knows what an impact it has.
Shabnam is but one of the many individuals in our community who has likes (math), dislikes (me trying to get a selfie with her), and dreams (passing her English exam this winter)–just like anyone else. If you believe that all people deserve to be treated as people rather than the arbitrary labels others assign, Second Tree’s mission might interest you!
By donating to my fundraiser as part of Second Tree’s Christmas Campaign, you can support people like Shabnam to access basic opportunities that all humans deserve. Below, you’ll find 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of the refugee children in our Scouts programme. By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one, who will receive a memorable surprise from our students, and to refugees, who will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
If you have any questions or want to learn more about what we do at Second tree, please feel free to reach out!
All the best,
Caroline xx
This holiday season, I’d like to tell you about Second Tree, a grassroots organisation helping refugees in Northern Greece. I came to Second Tree for three months in 2021, but I was so inspired by the people working there that I went back in 2022! From training decision makers about how to include refugees in policy that affects them, to providing English classes and activities for children, people at Second Tree work tirelessly to make a change in the lives of refugees.
I worked as a teacher in the Scouts programme, where we gave English and Maths lessons, ran activity sessions and went on weekend trips. It was a privilege to help the kids learn key skills, make friends and have fun, especially in a situation where kids don’t always get the chance to “just be kids”. The Second Tree team was supportive and professional, making sure that every class was as good as it could be.
You can contribute by donating to my fundraiser as a part of Second Tree’s Christmas Campaign!
Below, you’ll find 5 digital Gift Boxes inspired by the dreams of the refugee children in the Scouts programme. By purchasing a digital Gift Box as a surprise for a friend or family member, you’ll be giving twice: to your loved one, who will receive a memorable surprise from our students, AND to refugees, who will continue to have opportunities to work toward their dreams!
If you want to donate via bank transfer or if you face issues while donating, send us an email at admin@secondtreeus.org.