All Categories

Back in Bosnia: Snow and Ice with No Name Kitchen

15/1/2022

Fehtija Mosque in the centre of Bihać,

Less than a week back in Bosnia, here's how it's going and some stunning photos.

Staring into the darkness, the full-beam of the headlights lit up the falling snow, obscuring the winding road. We had no choice but to stop in the last Croatian town before the border with Bosnia Herzegovina. The bad weather was a stark reminder of the conditions that we were about to enter. Volunteering in Bihać, Bosnia, take three.

After a wonderful weekend hiking in the mountains around Lake Bled in Slovenia, we eventually arrived back in Bihać this week. The snow is worse than at any point last year. Daytime temperatures remain below freezing, pavements stay slippery all day and great snowdrifts line the busier roads where the snow ploughs have cleared.

The tower of St Anthony's Church, ruined during WWII.

The sight of mosques and the smell of woodsmoke in the air are so strange yet so familiar. For three months last year, our hair and clothes remained saturated with the not unpleasant smell and the call to prayer punctuated our day. The strangest thing by far is the absence of friends. Thankfully the people we met last year have made it to Western Europe now, and face different challenges with asylum processes. Without their help with translation and logistics, we couldn't have been nearly so effective.

No Name Kitchen is the same and different too. The same problems of failing vehicles and not enough pairs of shoes are faced by different volunteers.

But actually, there are so many improvements, especially since that first summer here. In August 2020 we arrived in a city in chaos, struggling to cope under the pressure of thousands of people in need (both native and non-native) and volatile politics. Publicity surrounding the fire at Lipa Camp has led to more international support.

The harsh winter conditions lead many people-on-the-move to return to Bosnian capital Sarajevo or neighbouring Serbia. The camps there are equipped if basic, but a brave few stay in the north, somehow surviving sub-zero conditions. Where last year most people lived in the broken buildings known as the Nursing Home and the Old Factory, now most live on the edge of the city. The big squats were closed by authorities, wanting to force the problem away from plain sight. Now, up to 100 people are in tents outside of the residential streets, with others staying in smaller buildings, out of the way of too much attention.

A friendly snowman in Bihać, Bosnia.

Our tasks remain providing food for cooking and clothes and shoes, but now include firewood and water provisions - both things that we weren’t able to do last year. The poor van has to manage the dirt roads with huge cans of water to refill the tanks installed by a partner organisation - not made any easier by the snow. I thought that border violence would be less of a problem right now, with few people attempting to cross mountains or sleep in the woods, yet within a week of being here, we learnt of one group, expelled from Slovenia to Croatia and then to Bosnia, in nothing but their underwear, having had their possessions stolen. Needless to say, their plea for asylum went unheeded.

Yes it’s cold and living conditions are harsh, but it’s so beautiful here.

Stunning sunset on the edge of Bihać, Bosnia..

Please leave comments or words of encouragement below. Plus, if you would like to donate towards our work here, visit this link. And stand by for more updates.

1 Comment

Bosnia and Back again, A roundup of 2021

22/12/2021

0 Comments

My trusty car Bob, in Bosnian winter.

In a year that has seen Coronavirus continue to disrupt our day-to-day routines, life has continued. I thought I’d offer a roundup of my year, including reflecting on the people I’ve met who face continued difficulties.

This time last year, Lipa Camp burnt down. The camp in the vicinity of Bihać in northern Bosnia was really just a collection of tents on a mountain top. The shocking news, which was shared by the mainstream, was added to by friends of mine who I had met in the previous summer who were sharing photos and updates of the chaos. The former residents camped in the snow before being held on buses, only to be returned to the ruins of the camp. The ‘new’ Lipa Camp has now been officially opened. The desolate site now houses unaccompanied minors and families as well as single men.

Before they had heard the news about Lipa Camp, the local residents of Steinfurt had already started helping. Stephanie and I returned to Bihać in February after coordinating half a truck of donations to be taken from northern Germany to Bosnia in our wake. Stef’s firm Uselab were extremely helpful and local Rotary Clubs had been particularly generous. Stef was happy to return to speak at the clubs in recent months about how we had put their donations to good use.

When we got back to Bosnia in February, we found a much less chaotic place. Winter meant that there were fewer people that needed help. As the weather warmed up, we were soon working harder to provide as many people as possible with food to cook, clothes and sleeping equipment.

We also met up with some friends from the summer. Friends from Afghanistan and Iran who were hoping to claim asylum in a safe Western European country. It was at once nice to see them again, but hard to see them in the same situation as before. The inequality bites the hardest. I am allowed to stay in whatever accommodation I like, shop where I want and wander across the border at my leisure. All of these things are denied to other people, simply because of the colour of their skin and of their passport.

In a break from the day-to-day routine of answering messages, organising distributions, sorting the warehouse and collecting border violence reports, we took a break. I was eager to visit Sarajevo again - I’d been there for about 24 hours - but covid restrictions shut the city down just at the wrong moment. Instead we went to Banja Luka.

It was Ramadan when we left Bosnia and returned to Germany. I wrote something about fasting alongside my friends.

It took a little while to adjust to life after two months in Bosnia. Yet, I kept in touch with a lot of people. I now have friends from all over the place, living in various Western European countries. It’s great that they are no longer trapped at the border with the EU, but there are new challenges that face them. I’ve changed everyone’s names for the sake of privacy.

Photo: Stephen F. Evans

Abdul is in France now. He called me from Paris where he was sleeping on the floor of a friend’s room. He was agonising about whether to claim asylum in France or to continue to Germany as the asylum rules are different in every country. Germany is notoriously slow to give passports to those whose claims are granted - we’re talking 10 or more years - but are faster to allow people to work. Abdul stayed in France and claimed asylum. He was transferred to accommodation in the south of France, where he knows nobody, and has since waited 6 months without news of when his interview will be. He has no right to work.

Abdullah is in a similar position. He’s from Sudan and I was delighted that Adventure Uncovered published this article that I wrote about him, despite it being very hard to have the interview.

I’m sometimes asked why people don’t claim asylum sooner in their journeys. This is especially true of people who risk crossing the Channel to reach the UK. You’ve got to have a good reason to risk your life. Family connections and language skills are often reasons, but my friend Zac’s story shows how difficult it is to claim asylum in Bosnia.

Waiting is a common theme for everyone in the asylum process. A family that we met in Bosnia, who are from Afghanistan, found their way to a camp quite near Steinfurt, but due to the Dublin agreement - which originally aimed to share the burden of refugees between all EU member nations - they face deportation to Croatia. Fatima, 15 years old and with a fiery temper and a quick wit, has health problems. More moving isn’t going to help her. They came here to be near an older brother who has been in Germany a while, who can help and support them while they find their feet. They need to wait until the Dublin ‘runs out’, hoping that they don’t get a knock on the door in the meantime.

Training for our 100 km cycle ride in aid of The Afghan Women's Association.

I’ve learnt so much during the last year. About the Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla, about the situation for women in Afghanistan since the Taliban take-over, what it feels like to cycle 100 km in a day, the process of contributing to a book and what it’s like working on a small farm.

And I’ve got more political. I am appalled by UK politics. I’m shocked by EU policy. I wrote this letter to Priti Patel which was shared by the solidarity group Are You Syrious. I’m a volunteer editor with AYS now, we share news relating to refugees and people-on-the-move including EU policy. COP26 got me thinking about how everything is connected and allowed me to share my love of carrots.

As Christmas approached, I shared some gift ideas (evouchers still available!).

December 2021 also marks a year since the publication of the Black Book of Pushbacks. This time last year I spent hours re-reading the tormenting stories to proof-read the texts before it was presented to the European Parliament. Despite the overwhelming evidence, pushbacks continue.

Looking ahead, January 2022 in the Balkans will be cold. Stef and I are returning to Bihac in January to continue working with No Name Kitchen. We’ll be there for two months, helping with food, clothing, health and reporting border violence. But actually we’re mostly going to hang out. To make new friends, drink tea and chat with people from different parts of the world about whatever comes up. We’ll get to see the beautiful Bosnian countryside, eat delicious, accidentally vegan baked goods, catch up with old friends and adventure across Europe once again. It won’t be easy, but it’s going to be great.

Please consider donating to the work of No Name Kitchen.

As a grassroots organisation, I can assure you that the maximum possible amount of money is spent on the field - not on fancy offices as is the case with some larger organisations. Scrupulously fair, the donations are shared between the bases in Serbia, Greece, Ceuta and two in Bosnia based on the needs at that moment.

As people on the ground with the most immediate knowledge of what is happening, we can respond to changing situations and work in a way that we feel is the most effective and with the help of the people we are supporting, I’m utterly convinced of the impact we have. The victory of providing one person with new glasses in an atmosphere where getting an appointment at the optician is a challenge, is shared by the whole team.

I'm always happy to answer any questions about asylum processes, how you can help, why I keep going back and anything else. Just comment below or use the Contact Form.

Wish us luck!

0 Comments

Christmas Gifts with Meaning

9/12/2021

1 Comment

Snowy Bihac, Bosnia. April 2021

I’m really trying not to be Scrooge this year. My heart sinks when I see the wasteful, commercialism that Christmas instills in so many people. Yet, I know many people make efforts to give waste-free gifts and donate to charity as well as making wonderful vegan festive meals with loved ones. So I can’t be too grumpy about it!

If you too are fighting your inner Scrooge and want to give gifts with meaning, then I’ve got a couple of ideas.

As last year, I’ve got e-vouchers for No Name Kitchen. Stef and I are returning to Bosnia in January. The situation for people there remains extremely difficult. The cold weather, violent authorities and struggling local community mean that we can contribute again to easing some of the hardship.

Last year, we were able to arrive with loads of donations of money, clothes and medical supplies. Thank you! We’d love to do so again. Full details and how to buy the vouchers - from a hot meal, to an entire outfit - are here.

It's been great to keep in touch with people that we met there. We've got friends originally from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq who are now settling into life in Western European countries. Struggles still await them, the asylum process, learning a new language, studying or finding a job. But at least they're not in mortal peril as they frequently were in Bosnia.

Refugees from Eden - Wild Goose Publications.

There’s a general consensus that you can’t care about something you don’t know about. And that the more you know about it, the more you care and more likely you are to act if change is needed.

So if you’d rather give a physical gift and want to inform your friends about the plight of people in Bosnia as well as elsewhere, why not give them this anthology. I wrote two of the stories that are in there. You can buy it directly from the publisher here, and profits are going to a refugee charity.

Do you want a signed copy?! Contact me here and we can sort that out.

Have you read the anthology already? What do you think? I need to write a squeal to Aziz and Wahid actually...!

1 Comment

World Vegan Day, Climate Change and the Refugee Crisis

29/10/2021

1 Comment

World Vegan Day 2021

Today is World Vegan Day! I am celebrating by eating carrots - my favourite food.

I have been on-off vegan for years. I stopped buying milk in my early 20s (I get to say that now, I'm so old) and gradually cut out all dairy. Quitting eggs came a bit later. I was less aware of the harm caused to animals and the world in their production. I've not always been perfect but I'm very motivated to eat a plant-based diet.

When I started, animal welfare was the driving force. As a veggie from my teens, I hated the idea of animals suffering. It was learning that male chicks are disposed of in a heartless and gruesome way as a by-product of the industry that finally made me give up eggs.

But involvement in the vegan world soon shows you the other reasons to avoid animal products. The Netflix film Gamechangers focused on the health benefits of a plant based diet. And other films such as What the Health have demonstrated terrible truths about the meat industry. Animals injected with hormones and steroids, which canâ€™t fail to pass along the food chain to humans.

Today, however, it is not the personal health benefits, or the animal welfare arguments that I want to focus on. It is climate change.

Photo by Gabriel Gurrola on Unsplash

It has been reported that reducing meat consumption is good for the environment. But it's easy to consider the effects of one person's actions as too small to count. Some reports suggest that replacing beef burgers with tofu ones will only have a 3% reduction in carbon emissions. It doesn't really seem worth it, especially if that individual is replacing meat with avocados from Peru and other exotic delicacies which have been flown thousands of miles.

As the COP26 Summit begins, I truly believe that it is through government action that real change can be made. Frank Mitloehner, professor and air quality extension specialist at the University of California and Davis, goes so far as to suggest that putting responsibility on the individual is a distraction from causing bigger changes:

"f we really want to make a difference in carbon emissions we need to change policy. We need to have a cost for carbon that is appropriate. We need to incentivise those who can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to do so,".

Governments must act on behalf of all of us. And it works when they do. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has managed to successfully implement the Ultra Low Emission Zone - cutting the number of cars in the centre of London by 13,500 per day when it was first introduced in 2019. So successful, today also marks the extension of the Zone, with the ambitious and headline catching stat of saving 600 deaths from pollution each year.

So what's the point in eating more plants and fewer animals if it is only through policy change that significant improvements will be made? Well, consumer power can be pretty powerful. By buying plant-based products, we are voting with our money, creating demand for products that are better for the planet. All of us have to eat everyday. Thatâ€™s a lot of voting power!

And also, have you heard of climate anxiety? It's that feeling of impending doom, that the world is f**k*d and thereâ€™s nothing we can do. I have climate anxiety when I think about the refugee crisis. There are enough reasons for people to have to leave their homes and migrate to different countries. War and persecution affect people in countries too numerous to mention, but when climate change is also causing your town to disappear, devastating weather events mean that food supplies are destroyed and the irresponsible practices of the West are affecting your daily life - then you have to think about finding a new life somewhere else.

My friend Chiara Fabbro is a photographer. She met Ricardo Ortega in Gran Canaria, he is from a generation of fishermen, but there are no fish left.

"The ever-intensifying effects of industrial fishing have been suffocating the local fishing communities over the course of the last 20 years. "European industrial fishing fleets claim to fish sustainably, but they don't""

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chiara Fabbro (@chi.fabb)

With an estimated 82.4 million people already 'forcibly displaced', and the West unwilling to show hospitality and compassion towards those forced to move, it seems only logical that we would work to prevent this from happening.

We must be aware of the interconnectedness of everything. Our consumer choices have an impact on the world.

So, whilst my carrot-eating habits aren't going to change everything, perhaps if all of us ate fewer meat burgers and more carrots, we're showing the government that we want to change. Maybe by discussing our eating-habits and listening to the opinions of others, we can open a dialogue for change. And perhaps by demonstrating the need for change with our shopping habits, governments will realise that the people they represent will support them in policy changes that will see a reduction in the speed of climate-change.

What do you think? Would you swap meaty meals a couple of times a week as a gesture towards change? â€‹Do you think it's too late and we might as well give up? Or do you think that promoting discussion with people who have different opinions can lead to ripples in a pond? Comment below and continue the dialogue.

1 Comment

Finding Narnia: A secret hike in Hawaii - follow up

15/10/2021

0 Comments

Narnia Falls, Hilo, Hawaii. Photo Credit: Jason

Three and a half years ago I visited my friend Charlotte on the Big Island of Hawaii. I had incredible adventures!

I visited the Volcanoes National Park and walked in moon-like craters. I also paddled with the local canoe club and had a wonderful experience swimming with dolphins.

But it is my blog post about hiking to the secret waterfalls of Narnia that has consistently had the most visitors since it was published.

On the day that I visited, Hilo was grey and rainy - not unusual for that part of the Hawaii. The tropical climate is in contrast to the sunny side of the island, where the town of Kona is and where the tourists flock. Unsurprisingly, I had the place to myself. I didn’t see a single other person at the falls or on the trail. And I wanted it to stay that way. I had previously been running to a different waterfall known as Boiling Pots. Much easier to access than Narnia, it was busy with visitors. A bus-load of people had just disembarked with their selfie sticks, and I left quickly without taking any photos.

The original post about Narnia gets over 100 views a week. Imagine if that many people actually visited! I realise that many people may be planning or dreaming, but still, I didn’t want to be responsible for changing a secret and secluded hike into a self-stick situation.

So instead, I offer to send some clues to people who want to find the route for themselves. This has led to a steady trickle of emails from random strangers who live all over the world. Messages have to be nice, or I don’t reply. I like it when people say why they will be visiting or something about themselves.

One person who requested some clues was Jason. He went a few weeks ago, using the information I gave him, and found Narnia!

“Thanks so much for the info! We ended up finding it, and it was a great time.”

Jason’s update will allow me to give future seekers some additional information. Plus he kindly shared his photos. It looks like a lovely sunny day, maybe one day I'll go back...

Do you want to find Narnia Falls for yourself? Send me a message using the Contact Form and check out the original post here.

Narnia Falls, Hawaii. Photo Credit: Jason

Photo Credit: Jason

0 Comments

Dear Priti Patel: The Home Office is Failing My Friend

12/10/2021

2 Comments

Photo by Niklas Weiss on Unsplash

Here is a copy of the letter I have sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel. If you feel moved by what you read, please sign the petition against the Nationality and Borders Bill which seeks to criminalise and dehumanise those who seek help in the UK.

Dear Priti Patel,

I am writing to you about my friend Mohammed*. He is an asylum seeker from Sudan and is currently experiencing the indignity of the British asylum system.

I first met Mohammed in France. I was a volunteer in Calais, so I saw first-hand what you described in your recent Conservative Party Conference speech as:

“vast camps outside Calais, mainly of male economic migrants”.

There are no “vast camps”, the French police branch Compagnies républicaines de sécurité (CRS) perform regular and complete evictions of all the places that people try to sleep.

Roots - an organisation working on the ground - reported a mass eviction on 23rd September this year, stating that evictions are an “almost daily occurrence”.

To describe most of the people there as “economic migrants” is also incorrect. Everyone I met in the 12 weeks that I was there would qualify for asylum.

One of my friends is from Afghanistan. The Taliban tried to recruit him so that he could put his business and finance skills in their hands. He fled to save his life.

Another of my friends is from Iraqi Kurdistan. Decades of conflict and continuing discrimination mean that it is no place to have a future.

Sudan is a country haunted by the end of British colonial rule, which resulted in a North/South divide, with violent militias fighting for power. Normal people are displaced from their towns and villages to avoid being caught up in the fighting. Mohammed lived in a refugee camp from the age of 5 years old. With virtually no education, no employment opportunities and even limited access to nutritious food, he had no choice but to leave. His early life and the circumstances of his country undoubtedly fit the description of an asylum seeker.

Mohammed arrived in the UK in August 2020. He came via a small, flimsy boat. His life in France had become so unbearable that he knew he was risking his life, but dying in the Channel was a better option than staying where he was.

On arriving in the UK, he was placed into a hotel. We both understood the need for compliance to COVID restrictions, and of course a hotel room is better than a tent on some wasteland, but the conditions were poor. The GP practice nearest the hotel made a complaint to the Home Office on behalf of the residents. The standard of the food was below an acceptable level, and the treatment of residents was often rude and demeaning.

Whilst these conditions would have had little long-term effect had they been endured for a brief time, Mohammed was there for more than 9 months. 9 months of being fed the same food, 9 months of being isolated from other people without the ability to do anything for himself, 9 months of wondering if tomorrow would be the day to move somewhere better. He couldn’t cook, go shopping, or buy clothes or toiletries.

We rejoiced on the day he was notified of leaving. He was one of the last people to be moved from the hotel. Again, we could both appreciate that families with children were prioritised, but plenty of single people who arrived after him were moved before him. With only a day’s notice, he was sent to a shared house in a northern city. Mohammed was disappointed not to be in London, but excited to get to know a new city. The city where his future could finally begin. The disappointment at the state of this shared house fell especially heavily after such optimism. It was unclean, there were no curtains at the window, no table or chairs. Just a bed in a room that didn’t lock.

Thanks to volunteers and organisations, he now has curtains and more furniture, but three weeks ago he called Migrant Help (the charity assigned to handle accommodation logistics on behalf of the Home Office) to report a problem. There were biting insects (probably bed bugs) in the furniture. He spent some of his own weekly allowance on attempting to treat this problem, but his request went unanswered for more than three weeks. He’s still waiting.

The effects on Mohammad’s mental and physical health are visible. He is depressed by his living circumstances, he looks tired from lack of sleep and thinner than I’ve seen him. He goes days without eating in order to save some of his £39.63 weekly allowance. The perpetual waiting for a date for his asylum interview is interminable. Whilst he has all but given up hope, he feels like he can’t travel to visit friends in case a letter arrives while he is absent.

Whilst I have no doubt about the economic benefit to the UK of “welcoming brilliant scientists, the finest academics and leading people in their fields,” as you mention in your speech, the current petrol crisis and problems with the food supply-chain could be eased by allowing asylum seekers to work. This would allow people like Mohammed to pay tax and contribute to society. It would also save the government £39.63 each week for each person plus housing costs. Healthcare costs would also be reduced. Mental and physical health would be improved by being active and useful in a job which is essential to the life of all people in Britain.

Besides the clear monetary gain of allowing asylum seekers to work, don’t we value dignity and kindness in this country? Giving opportunities to vulnerable people shouldn’t solely be motivated by greed and profit-margins. Mohammed has faced unspeakably awful events in his life during his search for a safe place. Yet despite that, his bright smile welcomes me when I visit, he extends his hospitality to me in whatever form he is able to at that moment. He cooks delicious meals, we discuss football results and important religious questions. I only wish that my country would extend the same hospitality to him.

I strongly request that you change the rules to allow asylum seekers to work, that you reduce the time the people have to wait, and that you help to enable British people to extend a hand of hospitality and friendship to those who are here. For the sake of my friend, for the sake of all those who are waiting and for the sake of our country.

Yours Sincerely
Hannah Parry

*For the sake of privacy, Mohammed’s name has been changed.

2 Comments

A change is as good as a rest, And don’t forget to feed the goat… Workaway in Germany

23/9/2021

2 Comments

Workaway life, on the Dutch border, of course there are clogs.

The last 18 months have been unexpected for all of us. Yet I still wonder how I end up where. One thing led to another, and I found myself arriving at the farm on the German/Dutch border in my noisy British car. Living with strangers, helping with goats, it’s just the sort of thing that happens to me apparently.

I had decided to do a Workaway. I was stuck in a rut, bored and needing adventure. I’d been spending a lot of time in front of a computer, writing, doing courses and had put pressure on myself to achieve goals and keep working hard. There had been a time when a week was the longest I’d spend in one place. So I needed a change of scene.

Restrictions in Germany were still quite strict which made travel problematic, but it was only an hour’s drive to my new home. The deal with Workaway is that you work in exchange for bed and board. Hosts can set their own parameters but something like 4 or 5 hours work per day seems common.

Farm is perhaps a grand word for where I was. Joris and Leonie have around 10 goats, 5 or so chickens, a couple of geese, dozens of cats (ok only about 10 at the time…), and an elderly dog. That first evening I was welcomed incredibly warmly. We had a drink and a lovely dinner and got to know each other.

My first full day, and it was raining. Joris and Leonie both went off to work, leaving me with a choice of several jobs. It was liberating to be told what to do and not be self-motivating.

Tiny kittens!

First I checked on the tiny, week-old kittens before being watched by several pairs of goat’s eyes as I dashed to the shed. I say shed. The house was pretty confusing, only part of it was modern and liveable - like a concrete box inside the shell of the older structure. The enormous, long building that was the shed, actually attached to the rest of the house and somehow led to the roof space and other more solid rooms. I put on a podcast and settled to my task. I was sorting and tidying the numerous, somewhat lethal looking tools and cleaning up. It was satisfying to see chaos turned to order.

I spent the drier part of the day weeding the potato patch - under the watchful eye of both goat and cat. It was great to be outside in the fresh air, and watching the potato plants appear as the weeds were cleared away.

By the end of the day I was tired, but in the good way of feeling physically spent. So much better than sitting at a computer all day! I also had plenty of time for yoga and reading.

Over another delicious dinner, with vegetables from the garden, I got to know more about the motivations for the farm. Of course, veganism was brought up quite early on, but we agreed that the most important thing was for people to know where their food came from. Would you really eat the chicken if you had seen it’s living conditions? Or if you knew what cocktail of drugs and hormones were fed to mother cows to get the milk you drink? Joris and Leonie are working towards self-sufficiency. Already they produce a healthy crop of vegetables to keep them going throughout the year.

A selection of goats on a sunny day.

I raised the window blind on my second morning to rain pouring from the sky! The goats normally get let into their paddock during the day, but the weather meant that they were staying in the stable for now. Leonie left me a note to ask me to check the water, give more hay and bottle-feed the smallest baby. So around lunchtime, after chopping wood all morning (not with an axe like a badass woodswoman but using a machine), I ventured into the goat stable. Taking the little boy outside for his bottle seemed to go as planned. The sour smell of the goat’s milk had already become quite familiar and goats all have their own, unique personalities which I was beginning to learn. It was only when I opened one of the inner pens that I had a few issues.

Goats are strong and heavy. So when a mother and her babies are wandering around the wrong part of the stable, there’s not really that much you can do about it. Chief goat Selma went to have a look through the doors of the other pens, tried to steal their hay, attempted to break into the feed shed and trod on my foot. Obviously these goats only understood Dutch, none of my pleas for cooperation were listened to.

Eventually I convinced her that her hay was just as good as everyone else’s and the babies followed her in, with the gate slamming quickly behind!

Joris and Leonie both had taken holidays from their regular work for the second week that I was there. It was really fun to be part of a team (and not take full responsibility for goat escapes…) The weather shared our enthusiasm and we had beautiful sunshine to inspire us to work harder.

Our first team project was to dig holes for the fence posts of the new paddock. The goats needed more space and a change of scene. The experts (not me!) measured and marked out the new fence line while I dug 70 cm deep holes where I was told. I really enjoyed the physicality of using my muscles, sweating in the sun and chatting to my friends.

Work in progress, new fencing.

When we had had our fill of holes and fence posts, I borrowed a bike and went exploring. As an islander, it still blows my mind that you can just step into another country so easily. It's not quite as flat as expected in this part of the country and Joris directed me to a viewing tower on a hill. There were fantastic views in all directions, over the Netherlands and back across Germany, on the beautifully clear day.

It’s amazing how a shift in thinking can cause a physical change. I had given my time to the farm and therefore released myself from the pressures of writing pitches, learning German and cramming each day full.

I haven’t mentioned the puppy! Olla joined the family during my stay. I think he’s the absolute best.

Olla the puppy! He's so good.

On my last evening, we had a barbeque. Marinated giant mushrooms, veggie kebabs, garden grown salad and Dutch beer led to some deep conversations. Leonie asked me what they could do to make it better for Workawayers. They’re keen to create a place that is as inspiring as some of the Workaways that Leonie had done several years ago. I had been so warmly welcomed, they had given me the right amount of instructions about the tasks and I’d worked hard but not too hard. I had time to write a bit and explore. It was the perfect refreshment that I needed.

The pandemic has caused us all to rethink our interactions and priorities. I found rejuvenation and renewal so close to home, by changing my mindset. I was reminded how important exploring and meeting new people is to me, and how simple living is rewarding in a different way to being productive at a computer. And it was certainly the case that my fresh mindset allowed me to focus on projects better when I got back.

Thank you Joris and Leonie for us a wonderful break. I already know that we'll meet again, especially because the puppy is soo cute!

Have you done a workaway? Would you consider it? Tell me why in the comments below.

Relaxing by the fire. Workaway life.

2 Comments

Book Launch: Refugees from Eden, boys from Afghanistan

10/9/2021

3 Comments

Book Cover: Refugees from Eden, Voices of lament, courage and justice.

Everyone is creeped-out by spiders.

My theory is that people who study them or have massive pet tarantulas, who are fascinated by their too-numerous legs and eyes, do so because they are super creepy.

But I must have read something about spider webs, I can’t remember what it was exactly, but it was something along the lines of:

“Personal connections are like spiderwebs.
You might meet someone for one moment and share an experience together.
Now you’re bound by a near-invisible thread,
like the fine, silk chord of a spider’s web.

When you meet that person again, share more time, experiences and conversations,
the thread is reinforced, until you’re bound strongly to that person, with unbreakable strength.”

That’s what happened for this book to be produced. I met Rosemary Power in Calais, France - a fellow brave volunteer during a pandemic. We spent time together at the beach with the other volunteers, and she lent me a copy of one of her books.

In Serbia, I met Aziz and Wahid. Stef and I saw them most days when we’d take hot food and re-charged powerbanks to their group who slept in tents in the woods. The threads of silk, already connecting us, bound us more strongly when we saw them again in Bosnia.

I am extremely proud to share their story in this book. Rosemary Power has collected stories for this anthology of stories from refugees and those from the communities that support them. Each person has a sad, uplifting, devastating and hopeful story to tell.

Aziz and Wahid are my friends - two teenage boys that I care about. But now more than ever, there are thousands of teenage boys like them who have fled Afghanistan, not to mention the other countries with equally harsh realities. There are thousands of families, struggling to keep hope, stuck at borders, their lives on hold.

Aziz and Wahid, along with their friends from Afghanistan meeting us in the rain. Sid, Serbia. Photo credit: Helen Tennyson

The other piece I wrote for the anthology is about the Old Factory in Bihać, Northern Bosnia. Hundreds of people live there. I use the word ‘live’ simply as the opposite of ‘die’, it’s awful.

These people, who are mostly from Afghanistan, have fled the Taliban in the hope of a future. The European Union blocks that future by illegally denying them the opportunity to claim asylum. Time and again people like my friend Romal are pushed back from Croatia - belongings destroyed, hopes dashed.

Romal (not his real name) was in the Afghan Army, he fought against the Taliban before walking most of the way from Kabul to Bihać. A journey of 6,000 km which included danger, smugglers, fear, injury and years of his life. He is stuck in Bosnia despite having reached the European Union on multiple occasions, only for the Croatian authorities to illegally remove him back to Bosnia. A clear and documented violation of Human Rights. You can read more about the complex web of illegal pushbacks at borderviolence.eu

I would love it if you bought the book! Read the stories from around the world, and share what you have read with others. The profits from the book will go to an organisation helping displaced people, and the more we talk and stay informed, the more likely it is that something positive will come out of it.

Buy the book from Wild Goose Publications here.

Let me know what you think of the book, comment below.

Oooooh! I could sign it for you!! If you want a signed copy then send me a message and I’ll start practicing my best hand-writing.

3 Comments

Riding for women: Sponsored 100km Bike Ride

19/8/2021

1 Comment

Afghanischer Frauenverein - Afghan Women's Association.

The events in Afghanistan, and the implications that the Taliban rule will have on women and girls, are extremely worrying. Access to education and employment opportunities are just the start of the problems.

***** UPDATE! We did it! Here's the instagram post to prove it.

So we thought we'd try to do something about it. Stephanie and I are going to do a 100 km bike ride in aid of Afghanischer Frauenverein (Afghan Women's Association).

About the Ride - Saturday 28th August

The Radbahn Münsterland is a cycle path in Northern Germany. It follows an old railway line, from Coesfeld to Rheine - with Steinfurt (where we live) right in the middle. So we plan to cycle the whole thing twice - from the middle to one end and home again, and then to the other end and home again. This will be a total of 100 km, and we get to have lunch at home!

100 km on the Radbahn Münsterland will be a challenge - we're just 25 km in in this photo.

About the Organisation

The Afghan Women's Association have been working in Afghanistan since 1992. They work in remote areas to provide life necessities like clean water to drink, as well as providing education opportunities. All whilst ensuring local people are involved, the projects are run by 190 local people. They are a registered organisation in Germany.

Right now they are focusing on emergency response.

We're aiming to raise €/£500 to support people who are now displaced. You can read more about this fund-raising project here, but here is an extract:

"244,000 people, most of them women with small children, have been fleeing the escalating violence in the country since the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan in May 2021 and are desperately seeking protection between the fronts. On August 10th alone, 20,000 refugees from the disputed areas of Kunduz, Baglan, Tachar and Badachschan reached the city of Kabul. Most of them have been able to save nothing but the clothes they wear. Everything is missing: drinking water, food, shelter, hygiene options, protection and medical care."

Stephanie and I are both feeling devastated by the news footage.

We have met people who fled exactly for the reasons we are now seeing. And our friends from Afghanistan have shared with us how scared they are for remaining friends and family members, as well as how sad they are for their country.

But we are both excited to be doing something, as well as having an adventure. I've never cycled that far in one day. And our longest training ride was just over 50 km, so it will certainly be a challenge.

Please donate to this excellent organisation.

You can do so via THIS LINK. And then we'd love it if you posted a comment here to let us know and wish us luck. We aren't able to track the donations directly, so if you fancied letting us know how much you donated so that we can feel smug, that would be great too.

If you are in the UK, you can also sigh THIS PETITION to call for the UK government to show compassion to asylum seekers.

We're ready! Hannah and Stephanie kitted out for their 100 km bike ride.

1 Comment

Afghanistan: The women left behind

16/8/2021

1 Comment

Artwork by Afghan Street Artist Shamsia Hassani

Waking up to the news that Kabul had fallen and the Taliban were in full control was shocking but not surprising. Of the many people from Afghanistan that I have met, it was the Taliban that caused them to flee their homes.

I met translators for European forces, NATO, USA and UK troops relied on their skills, but left them vulnerable. Anyone helping troops was an enemy of the Taliban.

I met the brothers of those killed by the Taliban, in the opposition army or because they refused to join the extremists.

I met human rights campaigners who want the rights for women to be equal, who want education for everyone and an end to corruption.

And it is the women who will be most affected.

From A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The artist Shamsia Hassani sums up the feelings of many in her art work.

"Born April 1988, is the first female graffiti artist of Afghanistan. Through her artworks, Shamsia portrays Afghan women in a male dominant society.

Her art gives Afghan women a different face, a face with power, ambitions, and willingness to achieve goals. The woman character used in her artworks portrays a human being who is proud, loud, and can bring positive changes to people’s lives. During the last decade of post-war era in Afghanistan, Shamsia’s works have brought in a huge wave of color and appreciation to all the women in the country.

Her artworks have inspired thousands of women around the world and has given a new hope to female Afghan artists in the country. She has motivated hundreds of Afghans to bring in their creativity through her graffiti festival, art classes, and exhibitions in different countries around the world."

Artist Shamsia Hassani. Tap to buy a print.

This picture speaks to me directly. What would I do if suddenly I wasn’t allowed to be a musician? If I weren’t allowed to work at my art, or express myself? Not to mention if I had been denied the education to have that art in the first place.

And just to be clear. This isn’t about religion. Islam does not teach the oppression of women. Many Muslim people - men and women - support and campaign for equality and freedom.

What can we do?

It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of the devastation. But there are some moves we can make.

Sign this petition

Refugee Action are asking for the UK government to show compassion on those that need to seek shelter and safety by granting asylum.

Donate

Women for Afghan Women is a US based grassroots NGO. It “provides life changing, community based programs to thousands of women, children and families throughout Afghanistan. Our services include family counseling, education, and vocational training.” Donate here

Or Rukhsana Media - a woman-led media company reporting on the issues that affect women in Afghanistan.

And you can follow Shamsia Hassani on Instagram and buy her work.
https://www.shamsiahassani.net/

1 Comment

<<Previous

Back in Bosnia: Snow and Ice with No Name Kitchen

Bosnia and Back again, A roundup of 2021

Christmas Gifts with Meaning

World Vegan Day, Climate Change and the Refugee Crisis

Finding Narnia: A secret hike in Hawaii - follow up

Dear Priti Patel: The Home Office is Failing My Friend

A change is as good as a rest, And don’t forget to feed the goat… Workaway in Germany

Book Launch: Refugees from Eden, boys from Afghanistan

Riding for women: Sponsored 100km Bike Ride

Did you donate? Anonymously tell us how much.

Afghanistan: The women left behind

Hannah the traveller

Categories

Archives