Helen Zahos won’t be sharing selfies on Greek island beaches with friends back home on her social media. Instead of an idyllic vacation this year, she’s heading to a Greek Island for a complete different reason— to offer her services as a volunteer for the humanitarian crisis impacting the island of Lesvos where an estimated 1,000 Syrian refugees are arriving daily.
This isn’t the first time Zahos, a Queensland native, has gone on such a mission.
Last year she spent time in Thessaloniki volunteering for Medicines du Monde, where she saw first hand the effects on local people that had suffered due to strict austerity measures placed upon them. Zahos met and assisted pensioners who were left homeless and unable to buy their medication, children unable to access vaccinations and mothers with no money for baby formula and the basics to ensure their children were properly fed.
“Greece is currently in political and financial turmoil, its own people are dealing with a crisis. The influx of Asylum seekers and refugees arriving from neighboring countries, into a country already struggling, has meant that the humanitarian crisis has now extended to include this additional population, Zahos said on her fundraising page.“There is a desperate need for medical equipment, supplies and volunteers. The situation on Lesvos and surrounding islands is dire.”
Zahos set up a fundraising page to raise money for her trip. Click here to support her efforts.
Zahos has already raised more than $4,000 towards the purchase of medical supplies and other expenses related to her volunteer project with Medecine du Monde on Lesvos.
2 comments
So proud of my beautiful friend Helen. I met this amazing woman when I was sick with cancer in hospital and she became one of my good friends. She would always come see me in the hospital, spend time with me, come do my nails and make me feel pretty when I looked and felt the worst due to chemo, bring me food and movies, cheer me up. She still continues to do amazing things helping people in need everywhere.