I’m usually not one to volunteer. In fact, while other people in high school were busy helping handing out sandwiches to the homeless, I was working.The notion of volunteering, meaning, not getting paid, was a hard one for me to conform to. Let’s get something straight, I wasn’t a complete asshole. I would donate food, clothes and toys where it was needed in both Canada and Serbia, I just didn’t want to invest my time in helping. Ok, nevermind. I’m an asshole. However, two days ago my mother strongly hinted that I should perhaps go attend a meeting about the Syrian refugees. I had seen the thousands of refugees sleeping in the local parks, waiting for the next bus to come so they can head to their new homes, but I had adapted to seeing that and it had minimal effect on me. So, I sluggishly put on my pants and sneakers and went to the meeting that I was somewhat emotionally flat about.
I went. I listened. They suggested we volunteer 4 hours a day, which I cringed at. Four hours, hmmm, that seems like a lot. At the end of the meeting, they showed us the facility where they were providing food, water, clothes, shoes and cell phone chargers. I was slightly intrigued but not enough to start working that very minute. My emotional status was of no need to the coordinators, and they placed me on the food line within the following minutes.
I put my gloves on, grabbed a cart of canned fish. And then the people came.
It wasn’t just two or three refugees meandering around checking the local architecture. There were groups of them. Men, teenagers, women, children, babies. These aren’t just Syrian refugees. I’ve met many from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and the list goes on. Though I had seen them in the parks, I was never in verbal contact or close enough to even really see them. They’re exhausted. They’re hungry. They’re homeless. I asked how long it takes them to come here, they say, over one month. Coming from Canada, I have never seen anything like this in my entire life.
It’s been two days of volunteering and I am trying to figure out what my volunteer group can do to become a more efficient for the refugees. Though I am helping them, I’m truly humbled and grateful to be involved. My volunteer group started with two women who just wanted to help. We now have over 20 volunteers and rely on private donations from individuals. Not one act of violence has been carried out the refugees in Serbia, which makes me extremely proud to say.
Today, I learned how to say the words car, apple and water in Arabic. I helped a baby stop crying and gave juice to some little kids. And this makes me happy.
thelonelyserb 