After fleeing war and poverty, countless refugee children are facing another problem: a lack of quality education. Due to the uncertainty in their lives as they live in refugee camps, waiting to be moved to permanent residences, many children are unable to attend regular schooling.
With the help of our supporters, Greater Good Charities is providing backpacks filled with essential school supplies to refugee children to encourage their education.
Our team recently visited two refugee camps to distribute backpacks, and we were inspired by the bravery of the children we met. These young learners, eager to start their lessons, came from diverse backgrounds, including Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Senegal, among others. Their courage and determination remind us of the importance of supporting their journey toward a brighter future.
There are few things more rewarding than seeing a child smile. This little girl was so excited about her new backpack that she gave her Education Coordinator the biggest hug. She’s from Afghanistan and new to the camp. This year she will be attending school for the very first time.
Our team visited two of the six refugee camps where we provided school supplies for the upcoming school year, which begins in mid-September. These supplies will support children at refugee camps in Corinth, Thiva, Ritsona, Thermopylae, Schistos, and Malakasa.
This donation is significant for the Education Camp Coordinators, who not only manage kindergartens at the camps but also encourage older children to attend school regularly, promote education, and conduct workshops for children of various ages.
As refugees, these children have very little, and the simple gift of school supplies does even more than empower them to learn — it brightens their day. Many of the kids were so excited about the backpacks, supplies, and getting to go to school that they didn’t want to take their backpacks off after they tried them on.
Every day, thousands of refugees fleeing war and poverty attempt to enter Greece and seek asylum. There are currently around 50,000 refugees in Greece, including many children who have been forced to leave behind their homes and friends in search of safety.
Many of these refugee children have already experienced violence and trauma, and living in a refugee camp means they also risk missing out on essential early education.
In total, Greater Good Charities has provided materials for over 1,200 school kits that will be distributed to children in need. We're also meeting with refugees within camps and other humanitarian partners on the ground to determine what is most needed, from emergency supplies to food and hygiene products.
Greater Good Charities has ultimate authority and discretion with regard to the distribution of its funds. All expenditures made are consistent with the exempt purposes of Greater Good Charities.