Skype Baby...

Thank goodness for Skype these days... how lovely this afternoon was able to have some time again with Boshra in Belgium. Look who was awake and joining in today... Princess Celine... Skype baby... look at those chubby cheeks... she is coming on a treat.. bless her...

Boshra was updating me on events there in Belgium.  I was telling her about the programme where Syrian refugees can sign up with NaTakallam to earn with language sharing online.  So once she gets her English and French more fluent she could help with students wishing to practice conversational Arabic.. So become a teacher online.  I tell you all I will not rest till we have lives rebuilt.   Skype was good last night too as shared a walk home with Dante and his mother out in Turkey, also with his youngest sister and brother....But I am so ready to get out and see both the girls in Belgium and the family in Turkey. Today was searching for funding options. This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too.. and any ideas on fundraising let me know.. 

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Bespoke Thank you card

Been experimenting with the local photo shop store in Uxbridge to make a bespoke Thank You card for Family Link Up - it works well and pleased with this so will order more.  This one is going to an amazing friend that has been helping a lot with the Family Link Up... and I appreciate her so much for all she does and is doing.  It will be going in response to an order she has placed with Marjorie's Yard as if you remember I registered as an Independent Consultant for Neals Yard Remedies......The commission will help rebuild lives and with good business growth with help me in my now older years.  The NYR company will be great for Boshra to help with too.. Remember my refugee family are all graduates or just about to graduate in subjects before the war.  Boshra has Business admin skills and with her language development now in French and English with her Arabic, she is going to be useful in marketing. So I am sure I can get Princess Leen and Celine's mother earning soon.  In the meantime lets keep helping to rebuild lives. 

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Always on my mind

Tuesday I was zip zapping around London to appointments and was in High Street Kensington briefly but could not resist having a look in Trotters Childrens shop.  Always thinking of Princess Leen and the refugee children... This Ballet outfit was making me smile as Princess Leen loves dancing... the moment she hears music her body is off dancing... and was remembering the time in Athens when me and Boshra were shopping and we passed a boutique that had some loud music you could hear on the pavement.  There was an old Greek man looking at the pushchair and laughing when we looked it was Leen doing all the dance hand movements bless her.. But this is the way she is she makes everyone happy around her.  

I spotted this book that I ended up scraping some funds together for as I thought it was rather good for Princess Leen. The pictures are clear and the concepts good for Boshra to use to teach other languages too as well as the English.. so there are colours, shapes, numbers and opposites that we can use to build up the now three major languages she is using Arabic, French and English... These refugee children are going to have some top jobs in the UN when they grow up at this rate... 

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Remember her time in the school in Eleonas Camp lol so intent on her colouring!

Doctors Link Up

Had a lovely Tuesday evening meeting with Medact with group of doctors and researchers and students to assess the health needs of refugees... here in the UK and in the camps.  It was good to link up to a doctor in Holland that helps in Calais and Dunkirk with trips over to Brussels... Felt good to be able to tell him of my family unit that has now moved from Eleonas to Belgium... I would love to go out with the teams but as usual I need the funds... we all seem to be struggling with funds yet have hearts and care much bigger than our bank accounts and purses.  Here is the link to find out more about the work that Medact does.... https://www.medact.org/about/mission/

The evening was good for sharing all we know from the individual work we are doing and in my link up was able to give insights into Turkey and Eleonas. But also the APPG meetings that are relevant in Parliament.  One of the junior doctors was keen on the APPG meetings and not been aware you could go along and input on these groups... So good time sharing knowledge and experience. How much we can learn from the refugees too from the social work they are doing in their communities.  We all picked up on the need for language skills so was able to cross link them to all I had learnt over the last weeks meetings in the Arab British Centre and the British Council.... I am feeling that being retired and able to put as much time as I can in this project I am able to cross link and feed into those that are working in full time contracts and trying to follow their desire to help refugees too.... Readers of my blog I just need some funding to do all I want to do with this link up project.  

The evening meeting made me aware of the conference to come in York in September 4th-6th  looking at Health through Peace. 

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Parcel arrived

Boshra just sent me some photos of Leen with one of the dolls I got her from Uxbridge market. So now I know that the parcel has arrived safely.  The link up sealed.  I am waiting for more photos now of the clothes sent too when Celine and Leen are ready to do their fashion show lol.... This shows how I can get things directly to my Syrian refugee family. I would like to go and visit them. The area looks really nice.  I need to keep helping them rebuild with lots more toys, clothes and educational materials.  I have been experimenting with setting up Flipgrid the educational online tool to set up classroom learning with topic tutorials for others to join in with.   This will be good to link up Leen with her young Uncle in Turkey, that is Dante's youngest brother and other school kids in the world too...... Rebuild lives is the key to this project and its success with linking one another up. I need fundraisers, grants and donations to really get this project to its full potential. Together we can do a lot of good work with this family link up and help so many others along the way too. 

Family Link Up - be part of the story

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Skype with Leen

After a difficult couple of appointments today I came home feeling down and wishing so much I could be with my Syrian family.  Then on facebook there was a Skype call from Boshra with Leen awake and full of energy and Celine was asleep.  They have made friends with another Syrian family that have been settled in Belgium some time back.  So this is good. But wowee was brilliant to have some fun and play with Leen on Skype... Lulu Blanche joined in one of my cats.. and this got her giggling.. Then we did peek a boo with the House of Lords Teddy... actually I can now send this to Leen & Celine as remember I got it for baby Sham but her father has taken her back to Syria so we have lost contact with that little one. 

But guess what ... Leen is talking some French now ... so now we have Arabic, English and French to communicate in ...and she has Greek and Turkish words from the crossing... I think the refugees kids will end up being in good UN jobs when they are adults... love this language learning.  

I was showing her the book I got in the Goodie bag from the British Council Arabic conference and that got her giggling... 

https://collins.co.uk/category/Primary/English/Collins+Big+Cat+Arabic+Readers/
The Collins Big Cat Arabic readers selection is brilliant!  I hope to be able to get some funds to buy some stock for the two sites to provide for Belgium and Turkey. Dante can help teach the kids in Turkey and Boshra in Belgium. I need to look at them too - to improve my Arabic learning... 

I think from the pictures this young crocodile has toothache.  lool usually the patient runs away from the dentist but I think in this case the Dentist would run away... 

also fits in with the day I taught her to clean her teeth. Remember in Eleonas Camp when I was there lol 

Help me to get some teaching tools and other needs for the family.

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Leen settling in Belgium

Bedankt België - Merci Belgique

Looks like the locals are treating the kids to have some fun.  So ready to get to see Princess Leen and Celine again.  The parcel I sent should be arriving soon. Have you noticed Princess Leen is growing. Missing her so much and her fun to be around. But so are her Uncles in Turkey... We have been sharing photos online to keep in touch. Thank you to Belgium for caring for all the refugees. Hope I can get over to visit soon.  

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Arabic day for me In London

I am always learning with this Family Link Up project.  I need to become fluent in Arabic as I am more and more intrigued with the language.  I love language learning too.  So jumped at the opportunity to attend the British Council here in London on an Arabic conference. It was for Arabic teachers and students. There is a brilliant opportunity for refugees to develop as teachers too in sharing their native language.

Great classroom location near Admiralty Arch the Mall.  

lool was wondering whose WIFI I was sharing when it was called Prince of Wales...thought I had tapped into Clarence House ..hhhh but the classroom suite was called Prince of Wales...

Loved the artistic way of learning the script, reading and understanding how to use it. The artist also is very powerful with his work for us to see the flow of the script as if musical notes to express feelings and emotions. 

Ali Omar Ermes is the artist.

There is a chance for the refugees to become teachers and earn from sharing their native language to students eager to learn conversational Arabic... They will need to get work permits in host countries. 

Please can you help me build this Family Link Up as there is so much I can do with the family to help them rebuild their lives. This project is my life now. Today felt I was there as much for Dante and Boshra as me ... always looking for a way for them to rebuild. They are well educated and have a lot to offer. The rest of the family too have dreams and ambitions and it would be so good to give them opportunity. We cannot expect lives to be held on hold when there is a richness of skills and expertise to share.  

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Creative Share

Last night put these photo collages together with Dante's youngest brother Cesar in Turkey. Love facebook for being able to keep in contact with the family. We were having fun sharing photos of Princess Leen and Princess Celine now in Belgium. In this was having fun google chats in Arabic, English and Turkish. In this sharing I was learning links to help him with his languages.  The British Council site has a good English for Teenagers app for him to download. Dante's youngest brother is twelve and loves being a proud Uncle to Leen and Celine but he has never seen them and held them and played with them. So wish (and it will happen) that one day this family will have the right and freedom to travel to one another.  Till that can happen - I can help connect them as their befriender/carer.  I can cross borders but I too need the freedom of funding to be able to help this Family Link Up reach full potential and help provide them with the resources they need to rebuild their lives.  In this as the retired BSc RN RM I can write up reports for the UNHCR and my MP to update on the situation.  You can help me help them with donations to the gofundme, help me with fundraising ideas, find me sponsors and of course I registered with Neals Yard as an Independent Consultant so you can register as my valued customer then order through the personalised link, Neals Yard handles the order, notifies me of the order and I get the commission which I can put into the project.  I can look after my customers with extra goodies and I can generate extra goodies to put a Pamper Hamper together to raffle for this project... But I can also help other charities and causes too!  The power in the business is great to help all and the products are made with love and care. So my driving power too Love and Care. Check it out with me lets work together as a team to help this Family and others rebuild their lives. 

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Parcel on the way

 So grateful to a friend that gave me a donation to cover the cost of a parcel going to the Boshra and the girls in Belgium.  I have the address now which is the local Red Cross office to send parcels too... I have a cover sheet to track the parcel and it should get there by Mardi ou Mercredi Tuesday or Wednesday. This parcel has the bargain clothes I have spotted including the unworn children's clothes in the local AGE UK charity shop.  I have not put any chocolate in as they are in Belgium the famous place for chocolates.  I could do with going over and seeing the place where they are to make a report and show you my follower readers of this blog.  I would like to do, as I have done in the other host countries, show local traders and help to promote them too.  This is why is it is useful to have a money budget to take to spend with local traders to help them too.  They have their families to feed and I am a firm believer in that we help the host countries traders to soften the edge between refugee camps and turn perceived burden into benefit..out of respect for all they do too!    I will get Boshra to take some photos of the goods when they arrive to show you I am always a hand to hand link up with the Family Link Up project.  So that is Boshra in Belgium and we still have Dante and his mother to sort out with some better accommodation in Turkey too.  You know we have an amazing family to help as they help others. I really would like them to get back on track with rebuilding their lives.  To continue their academic studies too would be wonderful.  I hope you can see I am truly committed to this family and project and would value your help.  If there are any sponsors out there that want to help me let me know.  You can chat with me on facebook too. 

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Summer Sales

Been spotting Summer sale bargains for my two Princesses Leen & Celine . Now is the time to look out for bargains and in bigger sizes to grow into.  If you can help let me know if you wish to buy things and let me have them to send to Boshra in Belgium.Contact me on marjoriebahhaj@gmail.com   Ideally would love to get over and visit them to check on the situation there and take them shopping.  I have been busy too writing about them for this years literary festival.  This has helped me as I am missing them so much.  You can donated to the gofundme too remember it takes 7 days to clear.  The figure on the display now was used in the March trip to Athens post delivery of Celine, when Boshra was in Eleonas Camp. 

Family Link Up - be part of the story

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Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

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Beautiful girls in Belgium

Mooie meiden in België - Les Belle Filles en Belgique - Beautiful girls in Belgium 

We have to expand our languages skills now with so many European languages spoken around. Of course also expand on Arabic too... Love the Arabic word for beautiful "Jamila" and can be a girls name as well.  I hope I can get to visit Boshra and the girls soon to check on them and do some necessary shopping for clothes and food as the girls are getting bigger each day. The Sainsbury's dress I got Leen last year still fits as it was rather big for her when I got it. Do you remember my dear readers and followers.  The first visit to the ice cream parlour in Athens last year wearing her pretty dress.. so so sweet.   

I hope they get housed soon. But I need to follow them through with a visit to see and to help with the Belgium volunteers and NGOs to see what they also need. As you know I always write up a report for the UNHCR and copy to my MP whenever I have been out in the field caring and befriending. 

Update from Turkey:

Yesterday was talking to Dante and his mother on skype in Turkey and they are needing housing too as the room they use is too small now for them all.  Dante continues to submit his CV for work as the refugees can get work permits.. But was looking at the rental for a 3 bed apartment where he is and it is possible for 900TL a month.  I wish I could get some funding to help with this... need a group of devoted carers and followers to be helping me bring in a regular amount each month for living expenses for them. This is till they can become independent with work and earnings.  If anyone has any ideas please contact me.  All the family are hard workers have a lot of knowledge skills to offer the world - I cannot rest till I have their lives rebuilt.  Even Dante's youngest brother has ambition to become a doctor. They need dreams, ambitions and a future to look forward too. As they all had before the war but their world got turned upside down. 

I feel so privileged to know this family and they are my life now for the rest of my life. 

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Link Up

Got a photo through this morning from Dante's younger brother in Turkey as we chatted on Facebook.  This is Princess Leen in Belgium.  

I had an email from the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons

WTC II

Boulevard Albert II 26 A

1000 Brussels

They confirm they are caring for the family and for this I thanked them for all they are doing. I have offered to help them too. I do speak French and a little Dutch and of course learning Arabic.  I told the commissioner  I hope to find funds to visit the family soon. I have even asked Eurostar if they can help. They do help charities and projects you can enter a monthly draw to win free tickets. So each month I must put Family Link Up name forward to be in the draw.  

I am so frustrated without the necessary funds to do all the link up I would like. For example the younger brother of Dante and his mother I would like to visit in Turkey too to check on their circumstance ensure all the help is in place.  His younger brother needs to continue his education as he has a long term career plan to become a doctor.  So I would like to help him on this journey of ambition. 

Here is Princess Celine looking happy bless her as lot happier than on the flight if you remember my photos that Boshra sent me. 

I continue to reach out to other groups and people that are helping refugees.  Lord Dubs PA Jenny has emailed me today that Lord Dubs is busy now till October but can meet up then to update on my project and his projects.

None of us can rest till we have these refugees lives rebuilt.  We cannot forget them and the amazing potential they have to offer any community they settle in.  With linking up we can help them reach their full potential and achieve their goals to rebuild their lives.

Family Link Up - be part of the story

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