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An appeal has been launched for books in Arabic and Farsi to be donated to help tackle the boredom endured by refugees herded into a camp in Cyprus, as their status and future is slowly determined by the authorities.
A group representing the Bahrain Anglican Church Council and senior clergy will shortly be travelling to the Mediterranean island for a meeting and hope to fill up their suitcases with supplies of reading material.
David Axtell, the council’s chairman, said: “In Bahrain we hear so much about the refugee crisis and yet are rarely able to help directly. It is easy to give money although it is difficult to know how this exactly helps.
“Once I was given the opportunity to visit a refugee camp in person and establish exactly how I could help I felt an immediate urge to assist. The opportunity to deliver books and games directly to adults and children who have suffered so terribly was one that I could not pass. My aim is to take as many as possible.
“I also value the education of children highly and so – knowing that there are more than 100 children in this camp alone having no access to books in their own language – I ask readers to be as supportive as possible.”
The book plea has come from the Rev Christine Goldsmith, curate at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Limassol, who makes regular visits to a camp which is located 20 minutes away in the countryside in an area called Kofinou.
She explained: “I go to just show that someone cares, someone is willing to listen to them and help where I can. For me this is about faith in action. I receive more from every visit than I ever give!
“This is not about numbers but human beings who have fled their home countries through fear or desperation. They are just like us – mothers, fathers, teachers – who would rather be able to live in their homeland than risk everything to leave it. All they ask for is understanding, respect and a safe place to raise their families.
“Together we will be able to give them something to relieve the boredom of sitting in the camp all day. They are unable to work, although they would love to until they receive their papers so there is very little to do.
“They are trying to learn Greek and English but at present there are no books available in their mother tongue for them just to sit and read. The children would use any books for education and learning so they can maintain their mother tongues for a day when they may be able to return.”
There are approximately 300 men and women staying in the camp, a mixture of nationalities, some Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Lebanese, Sudanese and Afghani, with around 100 children, ranging from newborn to the age of 16.
The refugees are housed in temporary buildings which are fairly well equipped. “None of them were initially happy to be in Cyprus as they were heading for other European countries, but recognise they are safe,” explained Christine, “but are frustrated in the time it takes to process them, although the authorities are trying to do what they can as they are overloaded.
“Their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing are met, but boredom is a big issue, which is why I came up with the idea of a library for the adults in Farsi and Arabic. Most of the adults want to work, but with poor employment opportunities in Cyprus feel they will probably move on once they have been given their papers.
“The children are attending Cypriot schools but are then receiving lessons back in the camp in their own language, led by one of the refugees, a Syrian schoolteacher. Books for them are always needed… our real need is books for both children and adults in Arabic and Farsi.”
David will be travelling to Cyprus accompanying three members of the clergy – The Very Reverend Christopher Butt, Dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral, The Reverend Stephen Thanapaul, Mission to Seafarer’s Chaplain and assistant chaplain at the Cathedral, The Reverend Jon Lavelle, Curate, and their spouses – along with other church council officials, Angela Murray, the council’s deputy chairman and lay reader Elizabeth George.
Bahrain has the only cathedral in the Gulf, and one of only two in the diocese – the other being in Nicosia. They will be attending the annual Diocesan Synod – a gathering of representatives from all Anglican churches in Cyprus and the Gulf from Monday until February 5.
* Books can be dropped at the St Christopher’s Cathedral offices in Manama and Words Bookstore Café on Palm Square, Budaiya Highway. It is hoped that big-hearted GulfWeekly readers will respond alongside readers of our sister newspaper, Akhbar Al Khaleej who for added reading delight, have GulfWeekly delivered each week too.
