Couple take action for refugees
comfort, looking at the TV all the time. It almost becomes normalised.
‘‘People will sit with it okay, because it’s so far away. ‘‘We’re going no matter what. Since deciding to help, they had been in touch with and plan to join missionary society Hellenic Ministries, who called for volunteers to help in the refugee crisis.
‘‘There’s 3000 refugees arriving a day, there’s nowhere for them to go. We don’t know what it’s like to suffer from chemical warfare’’
While some New Zealanders argue that the Syrians ‘‘should fight their own battles’’ or that the country should stay out of it, they just want to help, no matter how big their impact on the crisis is.
‘‘We’re leaving political view out of our own motivation. Surely something in the human heart can recognise that there is [a problem].’’
An ESOL teacher at Awatapu College, Lynn Gill has worked in orphanages around Eastern Europe and said the support they had received was encouraging.
‘‘I think a lot of people would support us and what we are doing,’’ she said. ‘‘We’re kind of wanting to go out representing the Manawatu.’’
They decided they would go to Greece because of its economic unrest.
The couple have started a bank account, to gather donations, reordered some of the equity in their home and taken a month off work to head to the Mediterranean.
He said whatever aid they gave to the refugees would inevitably help the local economy.
‘‘Twenty-thousand dollars spent in a small town in a poor country can change a lot of lives.’’
Having already received a ‘‘serious amount’’ from one donor, all money donated into their account will go straight to the refugees.
Donations can be transferred to Steve and Lynn/Greece 060746-03855-250.