Helping Refugees Daily by Getting S**t Done

$6,444 donated

Given by 73 generous donors in around 9 months

Aiding to improve and enhance refugees lives in Greece by providing fast practical solutions, infrastructure projects and direct services.

International

Jenni is a Kiwi and the founder and driving force behind The Get S**t Done Team in Greece. Working with a team of amazing and wonderful independent volunteers from all over the world and alongside larger organisations to get immediate aid and care to where it's needed. We are a driving force in Emergency and long term work on the ground. We build, we deliver, we source, we fix, all from a workshop run by volunteers.

The team started with a mobile workshop building shelter, sun shades, snake and mosquito protection, drainage, flood prevention and community spaces in refugee tent camps situated in fields, abandoned factories and warehouses.

With the demand of projects and calls of assistance from refugees, NGOs, charities and other volunteers, the need resulted in the setup of a large workshop as well as the continuation of the mobile workshop vans in Thessaloniki. Emergency support includes food and clothing distribution, flooring and insulation for tents, electricity for camps, stoves made from old car rims, hot water bottles and sanitation.

Now that the borders are closed in Northern Greece the majority of refugees are stuck and waiting for asylum to other counties. This can take many months or even years, so it's important that we help vulnerable refugee people while they wait. Requirements change constantly which has led us to broaden our aid in providing bikes which increase mobility and freedom, washing machines so women don’t have to hand wash for families in buckets of freezing water; helping to build learning centres for children and adults; community centres, playgrounds, workshops, free clothing and food shops that go towards providing a little dignity and choice. These are just a few projects we help with. Many times alongside skilled refugees keen to help initiate projects with us.

Jennifer James' involvement (page creator)

I am the founder and leader of The Get S**t Done Team

This will be my 3rd mission to Greece. First arriving in 2015, where I helped on the shores of the Aegean Sea saving lives of refugees from over crowded rubber boats as they fled their war torn home lands, crossing the treacherous waters in search of safety. When I arrived on Lesbos there were only 250 people landing a day but within 4 months that rose to 6,000! With no infrastructure in place that could handle such numbers, I worked alongside other independent volunteers and NGO’s and set about providing food, water, basic first aid, transportation, shelter, sleeping bags and other emergency provisions and aid.

I continue this work because I want to help people that have lost everything, that have battled to be where they are today, who fight to survive and I want to try and help give back some dignity and pride.

Use of funds

Dedicated volunteers make up The Get S**t Done Team. The projects they provide are made possible by donations. Money raised will be a small proportion to funding long term volunteers’ essential living costs while the majority of it will go toward achieving projects mentioned above.