Early this year, I took a sabbatical from work after 15 years, to travel. Although I have been to Greece earlier and come to love everything about it, this time Greece warmed my heart a little more by the way it has opened its arms to refugees of one of the largest humanitarian crises, despite its own ongoing economic crunch. The ongoing refugee crisis has been making me very uneasy for a while. Thus began an all-out research on how I could be of help while in Greece. I did not have anything to donate except time. A Norwegian NGO, Dråpen I Havet (A Drop in the Ocean) that works solely on volunteer-participation and donations and focuses more on women and children accepted my application and I set out on my first solo international travel; a bundle of nerves.

Skaramagas hosts the largest, long-term refugee camp in Greece with approximately 3500 residents largely from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes, those very people who fled their war-torn countries in search of a better life. The very people who got on to rubber dinghies with remains of their homes in bags and families in their arms, and braved the rough seas, knowing their shot at life itself was a mere fifty-fifty. People who had lives and jobs like ours back in their home countries until a show of political bravado by those who wield power with vested interests, got their homes bombed and dear ones killed. People who have seen life and death like not many of us have… Yet.

There are around 1300 children under the age of 12 at the camp and over 90 unaccompanied minors. Take a moment to let that sink in. These children have had their childhood taken away. Their schools, friends, families, homes… They have seen death, gore, war. They have survived a precarious journey to reach here. Like all children, they are bundles of energy and curiosity, many on the verge of adolescence; confused, bored, angry, sad and what is beyond my comprehension… numb to pain. Let us understand and acknowledge the fact that the conscious decisions of fellow human beings are responsible for creating an entire generation of bewildered, directionless youth.

The above is only a small representative of the absolute number of refugee and internally displaced children the wars have created. Not to take anything away from children born into dire circumstances, the mighty difference in children displaced by war is the element of shock and disbelief. The refusal to reconcile with the situation. The constant angst. The height of hopelessness I witnessed at the camp was when children, who upon arriving on European shores had started to dream again, are told by their parents that they will be returning home. So dejected are these people living the refugee-life; with the lack of improvement in their situation that they would rather return home hoping the war kills them!

I do not speak for everyone here, but what do many of us privileged lot do? Cushion up our cozy little bubbles further with our limited definitions of security and view the refugee crisis as a very distant problem someone else is facing? Mark our boundaries further and revel in nationalistic pride thinking that is what defines our identity, our existence? Run down any argument of inclusion and acceptance with isolationist, xenophobic theories? Not considering that we are one step away from a few egotistic, insatiable politicians, drunk on power making a decision that would put us in the exact same position, regardless of how cushioned we are hitherto. We entrust our nations in the hands of people who we believe will bring us good. Sadly we want ONLY that. Our, immediate good. Perhaps that is why our leaders are only reflections of us in some form or other.

Life does not give us all the time and space to think of and do something for others. We somehow get too consumed with making our own lives better. But amidst their own daily ordeals, many people work for causes dear to them. Some actively, some passively. Some work for several at a time and some for one primary cause. Some believe in charity and some just try to make a difference in the lives of those around who need a helping hand. The important thing I feel, is to be compassionate and discerning of the needs of others.

I am lucky to have met some of the most magnanimous human beings working as volunteers at Skaramagas. A young French woman who went to work in Lebanon to learn Arabic so she could communicate better with the refugees at Skaramagas. A woman who left her high-profile, lucrative job in an advertising agency in Portugal to work as long-term volunteer. She takes up random babysitting/waitressing jobs to make the money she needs to survive, while running an organisation back in her home country with her friends, that collects clothes, toys and donations for refugees. And she is all of 23! An Irish gentleman whose aunt left him some money when she passed and all he used that for is to fund his long-term volunteering in Skaramagas! Two very compassionate women from Spain whose interaction with babies and toddlers would melt the toughest of hearts! Two nurses from Norway who took a week off from their very long and hectic schedules at the hospital, to do even more hectic and stressful work at the camp. Oh! Their idea of a holiday! I have newfound respect for everyone who spares a thought for the less privileged and powerless, thanks to these beautiful people!

“The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one.”

And all this diligence of the volunteers is well acknowledged and rewarded by the refugees as well. “My friend” is how they address us and it’s a phrase that now holds a world of meaning for me. Most respectful, loving and protective at all times, they would invite us for ‘chai’ or dinner in their containers and feed us to THEIR hearts’ content; which is a LOT! I was happiest being the only Indian they have ever met in their lives. Letting them know that our part of the world also feels for them and sends their best wishes. And may be even charming them with half-Bollywood dance moves as they looked up to me thoroughly star-struck, as if I was Shahrukh/Salman/Katrina/Kareena incarnate!