My name is Aimee Skelton, I am 23 years old and I’m from Scotland. I had decided to leave my job in Scotland to help in the refugee crisis long-term, but I wasn’t sure who to contact or which organisation would be best for me.
I heard about indiGO Volunteers and decided to apply through them as they find you a role suited for your skills, and find you a place where you can be truly useful. They were wonderful with me – so communicative, warm, encouraging and understanding. They quickly found me a place at Northern Lights Aid, a small organisation based outside the refugee camp in Kavala. NLA runs a free shop, English classes, children’s classes, a mother and baby store, a community garden and a workshop for the residents of the camp, to improve their quality of life and encourage integration. I moved to Kavala three weeks after Indigo introduced me to NLA.
I have been here for over two months and truly feel that this is becoming my home. I am now the teaching coordinator of the charity, as well as the teacher for the women’s English classes. I teach literacy and beginners level English to women aged 13- 50, predominantly from Kurdistan, Syria, and Afghanistan. They are all intelligent, funny, beautiful women who I feel incredibly lucky to work with everyday. All of the people that I work with–refugees, volunteers and coordinators- inspire me with their kindness, resourcefulness, strength, humour and dedication.
I am grateful to indiGO Volunteers for introducing me to this special place, and for finding me a role where I can use my skills and also feel fulfilled. I would recommend anyone looking for a volunteer position to go through them.
Want to become an indiGO Volunteer? Apply now.