A swelling group of supporters struggled through the fog to Rehoboth to listen to 4 professionals who rehomed refugees based at Montauban. The first hour had me "mind boggled" with facts and figures which may or may not have been useful. Sarah said "it might have been better to hand out leaflets with that info. on for us to look at later." When we discussed hands-on work it got more interesting. Maggie Barlas asked " what do you envisage our role as benevoles will be?" The answer: to make the refugees welcome, support them where you can and be kind and smiley. It was explained that it would be hard to understand what our guests had been through. Many left their homes 3 or 4 months ago, most are professional people who had the money to pay smugglers. Along the way many have been robbed by smugglers at gunpoint. Dangerous boat journeys followed by walking for weeks with little food, often abused as they walked, cold and wet. Then weeks living in tents in a wind swept, smelly hell hole. Then they arrive to us.
Many will be very quiet and traumatised, some with tummy and teeth problems, sore feet.
The first few weeks they will not want to do anything but recover, so we must not worry if they do not throw themselves into activities planned for them.
The French organisers will help them register at the prefecture in Toulouse if they wish to do this. Our role is also to introduce them to the French way of life and help them with the language.
I checked that there would be no problems with our guests leaving on their own for walks and bike rides and it was confirmed that of course "our guests are not coming to a prison" they can do whatever they felt like.
I then suggested we all tried to find some bikes for them and felt as the English speakers group, we have all sent bikes off already to Calais asking the French might be a useful source of new bikes.
Finally it was felt important when our guests arrive to arrange a get together with people who live on the Bosc, to allay any fears.
We know the refugees are definitely coming, probably next week now, and the centre is ready to welcome them.
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