New Flyer New Energies

Got my new flyer laminated... and the letter from Brussels as that is good to show how much I am trying to get funding for the Family Link Up project.... and shows they praise the work but the funding is only for organisations not individual befriender/carers.... But the new flyer was put to work straight away - a lovely mother outside the print shop in Uxbridge took a iphone photo of it and promises to look at the blog.. Then called in our local maternity unit at Hillingdon... and got a bargain blanket and cardigan from their fundraising friends of the hospital shop...... I had a lovely talk with one of the matrons and she wants to link up and will put copies of my flyer up around the unit.... She also has a midwife that is a good fund raiser for a number of projects so will link me in with her..... So seems as if for the rest of the year I will get some support developing.... 

However, I really would like to get out to Eleonas Camp Athens ASAP for the new baby due of Boshra's so please I am very reliant on donations for this trip.... I need the airfare and some shopping funds to help her and the families around them in the camp....Please can you help me you can be part of the story... and a hand to hand link up with me.

Donate through gofundme thank you  

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Need your help please..

Please help me get back to Eleonas Camp for a new baby that is to arrive in March. I am an hand to hand link up and can evidence all I do for you to be part of the story.... 

Donate through gofundme thank you  

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Painful Missing

I am mega missing being with this little Princess of Smiles and all the residents in the camp.

Absolutely enjoy being around all the children too.... 

Princess looks good in that top with the lace - that was one of the tops from Amaya......
Those of you that are following the story will know the situation round the donation of clothes I took on the last trip out. (See blogposts from 2016)
I was talking with Amaya's mother yesterday... bless her she is going through a lot of grieving but is so so happy that her daughter is helping so many in the camp. I still sometimes feel we will go together one day.  

I have never ever felt so utterly grounded with no funds to get on the plane and go.

For someone that has been a good earner in the past and traveled back and forth to many places in the world this comes as a bitter pill to be without funds....


Something fascinating happened yesterday.... it started with me receiving a letter at midday... the post late.  But look a letter from Brussels.... 

At first I thought I had been shortlisted for salaried contract with the EU that I had applied for..... But it was a letter from the European Commission - The Directorate General Migration and Home Affairs....it was in response to the many emails and letters to find funding for this Family Link Up project....

It is the usual recognising my efforts but the funding is not accessible for individual carer/befrienders....

So I am incredibly reliant on donations to get me out.  I will continue to keep applying for grants, paid posts and look for sponsors.  But the day took another twist.  I rang the Doctors of World as we had been talking a couple of weeks ago about maternity services... and told them about this constant chase for funding leading to the same dead end.... Then I was told that the President of the Royal College of Midwives Prof Lesley Page was actually in Athens looking at the maternity services in the camps... Wow Lesley was the Director of Midwifery Services at St Thomas's Birth Centre when I was a midwife there.  I was so wishing I could have gone with her to Athens... I emailed her and tweeted her to see if she could go and see Boshra....

But the email was in the afternoon... I got a lovely warm and caring response from her... as that is what she is like a good kindly person.  She was in Athens airport on the way back to the UK..... and she was sadden as she actually had been in Eleonas Camp in the morning for a show round.  Had she known about Boshra she would have surely gone to see her and check she was OK.... ohhh for that moment I felt connected..... I hope we can meet to share on all we have observed and experienced... 

Wowee that was some day yesterday...

Readers, and I know I have many regular visitors to this blog when I look at my stats.... I am grateful for your interest.  But please can you help me... Be part of the story of help and care.... if you can donate on the gofundme link that would be wonderful.... and do let me know if there is any problem with this... and you can contact me on facebook Marjorie Bahhaj... and email me if you have any ideas on fundraising for me..... Many thanks

 ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ https://www.gofundme.com/2k34fes  ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Help to Return to Eleonas Camp

Please can you help me to return to Eleonas Camp Athens for the birth of Boshra's second baby in March. It will be good to see the other mothers and the children too... I am missing being with the amazing camp community. 

I am in need of funds to get me there and help with all that will be needed for her and the new baby.. Plus some food and goodies for the camp community. 

I am an hand to hand link up and can evidence all I do for you to be part of the story.... Donate through gofundme thank you - Shukran 

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ https://www.gofundme.com/2k34fes  ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Grateful

So grateful of the Greek army, the Athens Police and the UNHCR teams for keeping all the refugees safe in the camp.  Good that the UNHCR team here in London link up with the teams in Athens... and also the teams out in Turkey.... my reports are useful for them all too.  If I can solve this funding issue to get back out to the camp next month I will look forward to time with the teams too. 

Donate through gofundme thank you - Shukran 

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Grandmas

I am still a novice with my Arabic - but somehow the Grandma in me gets through with fun... I love learning with Leen and she loves time with me too.. My Arabic is enhanced by being around her .... and her Yorkshire is coming on a real treat..... :-) That day we were counting together.. in English and then in Arabic and giggling... Love this book I found at the King George VI mosque in Regents park... brilliant for learning the meemie jeemies and the Arabic words... 

From my first time seeing Leen on Skype learning to stand and steadying herself with the central pole of the UN tent she has inspired me with her happy character... We have so many lives to rebuild.. and so much to do to help the young generation of the refugees to have a life with all the chance to develop and have a future of hope. 

So so difficult for families that are scattered that cannot be together because of politics and borders.  We have such a beautiful Earth if only we can learn to be a Global Family and care for one another on this amazing planet. 

Be part of the story and can you help with donations until I solve this funding problem for the project... Many thanks Marjorie x

Donate through gofundme thank you - Shukran 

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Omonia Square

I will never forget this evening in Omonia Square, Athens on the first visit to see the family. Little Leen had been given a ball to play with by a couple of American tourists...... and it was a really close time as a global family. For when the Texan father found out that Boshra. Mohammend and little Leen were refugees... he hugged Mohammed and it was a father to father - man to man time of sharing. Caring for the pain of having to flee for safety. 

Look at her little hands and arms in shear excitement at throwing the ball.  
She loves it in the camp too when the older boys play football she is off like a shot to join in... 

Love the crown green bowling stance in the photo below ... My father would have been impressed.. You can donate through the gofundme link and be part of the story! Thanks

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London Love

oh my old professional home of the birth centre in St Thomas's Hospital. Yes this is the view from one of the windows on the unit... in the lovely garden room... It was good to visit yesterday and see some of my midwifery colleagues again and Ben, the anaesthetist I would work with and helped when one of my grand daughters came in the world. Some good hugs too... The board was busy busy with lots of Valentine babies coming in the world... could have just thrown some scrubs on and got whizzing around helping.  

Yesterday had a good atmosphere in London Valentine's Day with men carrying round bunches of flowers lol.  So I was busy spreading the love on the hoof to get some support for my family link up project.  The day started with some time in my MPs office talking with Helen the hardworking local PA for our MP & Shadow Chancellor.  She has been trying to get a solution to finding funds for the project... Was shocking to hear of more poverty reports here in our town. money is tight for many.    

Managed to talk with some brothers coming  out of prayers at the local mosque and they took photos for my flyer to see how they could help. Pray they get some donations for me or some ideas on fund raising... 

Then off to London to the Royal College of Midwives.. apparently this over 60 could apply to do a Return to Practice course.... I just need a couple of night shifts a week to help fund this project.... I then hot footed round to the NMC and the RCN to see how to get some funding.... but I am going round in circles with this as there is no clear pathway for some £££ in my hand...  I reckon I would need £1000 for the trip to Athens to help Boshra... the flight, some funds for maternity things she will need and for the new baby and some food and clothing for her and the neighbours in the camp.. The community will want to celebrate the new baby with a feast and welcoming.

Called in the Women's Health Academic Unit where I had worked in a research post during my years as a midwife.... there was a lot of interest in the project.. and I have backed up my visit with an email to one of the professors too... You see readers there is an amazing opportunity to link up hospital research teams too.   So hope that my blog and my marketing will eventually see this... 


Good chats on the train going in to London and out with a couple of amazing young women. On the way into London an art student on her way to Wimbledon College we swapped details and hope we meet up again for coffee. her work was interesting too.  Then met a kindred spirit on the circle line on the way back home..... Holly who has lived and traveled in India and now looking for some work adventure in Europe... Hope Holly gets back to me..... would be great if we could get this project so zappy with funds that I can get further team mates helping me.... and we can help link up other families too. 

So great day yesterday just need some response in donations, signposts to grants that will be definite for me and some sponsors coming forward.... 

My readers how was your Valentine Day... hope the oxytocin looooove hormone was pulsating for you all.... :-) 

Donate through gofundme Thank you 

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Every Day a Day of Love

Wishing everyone a day of love and happiness on Valentine's Day... May all your days be filled with love and care and compassion... with this much happiness too..... Princess Leen... 

Donate through gofundme Thank you 

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City Hall recognise but..... no funds for me

EMAIL received today from the Mayor of London's office 

RE: MGLA030217-1532 Rtd RN RM helping Syrian refugee family in Eleonas Camp

Inbox

 Mayor of London

15:25 (22 hours ago)

Dear Marjorie

Thank you for your email to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, which has been passed to me to reply.

Your continued determination to support Boshra and her family is testament to London's proud history of supporting refugees. I am sorry you are finding it difficult to source the funding to enable you to continue to support Boshra and her family in the Eleonas Camp. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer any funding to support your work in the camps.

You clearly have lots of ideas about how to help those currently living in the camps. Those with responsibility for the camps would be best placed to consider whether they could be taken forward.

In the meantime, we are working with the Government to look at the role London could play in supporting the resettlement of refugees.

Kind regards

Shanthi Gunesekera

Senior Policy Officer

Readers of my blog and I know I have many frequent returning readers on this story.  Please can you see I am trying so so much to get funding for my project. Emails, letters phone calls to all from MP MEP Mayor EU parliament.

It is heartwarming to see the care, compassion and my commitment to this family and project recognised.  My love and concern is indeed vast to rebuild lives that are on hold in the present climate in many host countries.  There is no doubt many countries are trying so hard to cope with all the demands... For this I have witnessed all the socio-economic problems.. it is with care and compassion for the host countries that I am trying to get it seen that through this link up project we can help to link up traders, business, universities and other teams to turn the situation around to help one another.  We have some great ideas, skills and expertise among the refugees too that can enhance communities.  

But you can see how I am now totally reliant on kind souls coming forward with donations or sponsorship to help me get back to Eleonas Camp to help with Boshra and her new baby due in March.

My personal funds exhausted but where never great due to personal circumstances of loss and trauma in my life.  One of the reasons why I feel we all to mind link and soul link and most of all heart link.... as we all have had life  journeys that have challenged us to the core with loss and abuse and trauma.

Please I still have the gofundme link - if you are using this and experiencing problems let me know... .

If you have fundraising ideas or wish to make a donation in another way then let me know  familylinkuptogetherATgmail.com  I evidence all I do and report to the UNHCR in London.

Be part of the story with your help! 

Donate through gofundme Thank you 

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Many Thanks, Marjorie

Jumper Fits

This is nice to see a jumper we bought in one of the department stores in Athens with some money donation from an artist friend.  We got this and some warm trousers and another friend gave me a cheque to get her some winter boots.  I will always be a hand to hand link up with my family that I befriend. She looks so cute in this jumper too. Great to give local traders some business - I will always do this as i can with funds out of respect for the host country that is trying so hard to help the refugees. 

this little lady shopped till she dropped hhhh we had to finish off shopping while she was asleep and then back at the camp she had a surprise at the bags.  That day we got some goodies from the lovely irresistible bakery in Omonia Square to share with the community around us... This is the fun thing of having some cash to spend - to simply have a family day shopping in the city and take off the label of refugee and be a family out and about as any other family. 

Donate through gofundme Thank you 

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Shining Star

Photos in from the camp
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Plea for me to be there

I am desperate to be with Boshra for the birth of her second baby - to be there as a carer/befriender and as a retired practitioner RM... just to give her support.  This family are my life now and feel very much part of my family.  

But I do not have any funds to get me to Eleonas Camp to be with her.  If I had funds I would have been able to have gone to her over Christmas to check on her and would be with her now.... and absolutely be there for the birth and early days to help with her newborn...as her mother would do if she was not trapped in Syria.  Families that usually are extended family networks of support and help one another are now scattered. This is where the carer/befrienders can step in and fill the gap with love, care and compassion. 

It is mega frustrating living on the doorstep to Heathrow Airport with flights so easy to get to Athens.. Once in Athens Airport the Metro link is direct to Eleonas and then a short walk to the camp. 

It feels easy to nip there but the nip there is impossible from lack of funds...

Please visitors to this blog could you click to the gofundme link and help with donations... You can be part of the story with your help.. 

Donate through gofundme 

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Many thanks Marjorie  

Art Class

Princess Leen enjoys drawing in the camp art class.. If we can get some funds will be good to get more art materials for them all.... Remember our local art shop in Uxbridge will do a special deal on funds available to augment the order.

Donate through gofundme Thank you 

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The camp message

Eleonas camp in Athens have been protesting against the trump fella and his ban on refugees and my Princess was holding a banner saying we are refugees not terrorists... it upset me that t word near my beauty... so we put the real message out for the world to see....

# We are Precious & to be Valued in the World..... 

yes all life is precious as a midwife that has seen new life in the world I can say with authority.. and Children deserve to be treated with love and respect... They above all should be PROTECTED and most certainly true leaders of the world should lead with heart not ego and distorted prejudice..... and respect those that have fled for safety from despotic tyrants ... and certainly doors to safety should not be closed but opened with heart... 

The World needs Love Care and Compassion..... 

Trudeau amazing

Justin Trudeau is an amazing model of a world leader I have just seen in my facebook newsfeed his video address to John McCallum for service to Canada and he makes me realise how much that Canada has done to open the doors to the Syrian refugees.  Admirable and inspiring.

John, you fulfilled one of our most important commitments: to bring nearly 40,000 Syrians to Canada. Thank you. Stéphane, you’ve served our country with courage and conviction – thanks for your leadership, advice, and friendship.

My comment post to him: 
"you are an amazing role model to the world of leaders... thank you shukran for bringing Syrian refugees home to help them heal from their horrendous trauma of the war, I counsel refugees and see so much pain layers upon layers of grief from losing their loved ones, some whole branches of families from illegal to Article 51 airstrikes upon them. I see grief at losing their country a place they loved to be ransack and savagely destroyed by a leader that was supposed to protect them and their country, but values his corrupted regime over their lives.... I see the loss of dreams and aspirations as many were just about to graduate from university. Many are graduates and have expertise and skills to help enhance any community that welcomes them. I link up a Syrian Refugee family that like many are scattered between Turkey Greece and Germany ... I have visited family members in both Turkey and Greece and am fond of them all they inspire me with their tenancy to hold on to life and their dreams to rebuild against adversity. I spent time in Eleonas Camp with Boshra and her family she a business studies graduate and she took me to Scaramangas camp to meet friends where I was introduced to a Veterinary Surgeon of 20yrs and his wife a qualified infant school teacher. So many rich assets that Assad has thrown away for other countries now to value. I am desperate to get back to Eleonas camp to help Boshra with the birth of her second baby.. as a rtd midwife a carer/befriender but i have no more personal funds to do this alone. I have written around to UK parliament and EU parliament and the answer is the same wonderful what you doing Marjorie we can see your commitment and passion and yes there is a pot of billions of euros to help refugees BUT it is only for organisations not individual carer/befrienders... I am not alone in this role many nationals have become carer/befrienders and we need to be recognised for all we are doing. I evidence my work and write reports to the UNHCR in London I educate myself on the wider political arena with attendance in parliamentary meetings. I am studying International law with Leiden university thankfully a free online course with coursera.org. This project is my life for the rest of my life and I will not R.I.P. until this family have their lives rebuilt and are together or have the freedom to be together to travel to one another to have a home and dreams restored.. 

Note: Justin I am in dialogue with the RCM to see if we could get a project of training Syrian women in midwifery to help their community and host countries?! 

Sage Femmes rebuilding their lives helping new life in the world...would be wonderful...!