Fundraising by Caterina Casadei

Hi, I'm Caterina and in February I decided to come to Athens as a volunteer of Operation Dove - Nonviolent Peace Corps of the Pope John XXIII Community.

People from all over the world pass through Greece, traveling along the infamous Balkan route, all wanting a better future for them and their families. The lives of these people are made up of waiting, long, heavy waits, in heavily militarized camps and physically isolated from the rest of society, in borderline living conditions. None of us would ever accept living in these conditions but this is the welcome we give them in democratic Europe.

Operation Dove stands by their side, visits the refugee camps near Athens every week, offers solidarity proximity, small moments of daily life spent together, made of listening, sharing, humanity.

It is difficult to explain the Dove project in a few words because our activity is intangible, we are with people, simply, we are there. You fully understand the meaning of our project only when you are here because you find it in the smiles of the people who welcome you at the camp, in the numerous messages that just ask us, "When are you coming this week?"

Here I understood that language is not a barrier when you share, that communication is not just about words, and that children should only be children, not refugees.

The refugee reception system in Greece has immense gaps, and even the most fragile situations go unanswered.

Operation Dove volunteers try to offer these people the humane welcome that the system denies them.

That is why I feel like asking those who are able to do so for a little support, so that we can continue to ensure our presence outside the camps.

Because, now that I am here, I realize how important it is to continue to be there, exactly in this way.