Cyprus Girl Guides assist refugees from the Middle East

The Girl Guide Association of Cyprus continues to show their Guiding spirit by offering their services to the various agencies aiding those who have been displaced during the conflict in the Middle East. Currently they are helping French nationals waiting in Cyprus. 

Girl Guides in Nicosia are also assisting Medecins Sans Frontiers in the preparing of supplies. Prior to this, they helped at a centre for Canadians who were waiting for flights home.

Neda Luca, the Administrator of the Cypriot Guides, tell us more:  

“Since Wednesday we are helping people upon arrival at the centre, any time of the day or night, (mostly 3 to 4am).  Playing games with children in the morning and afternoon, helping mothers with many children to handle the situation, talking to people and finding out their needs, but especially offering children the chance to smile. In short, we are simply putting Guiding in action. 
Unfortunately we are not a big group but we can make a difference. We have collected toys for all ages and board games for older children. 

Some of our members are working in the food distribution, others in keeping the children busy at the play area which we set up accordingly. We got many thank you’s from mothers, especially those with four or five children. One of them said very specifically that this play area and the games were life savers for mothers and the best things set up at the camp because without them she would have died trying to keep quiet and busy five children two to eight years old in a crowded hall of more than 600 people.

It is very helpful to know that your thoughts are with us and with the people who are going through a very difficult part of their life and I am sure that all our members participating in Eurolife will deeply think about the Right to live in Peace and will try to identify ways that Guiding can do something about it.”