On March 4th, the Madrid For Refugees team became intrepid explorers as they took on some of the biggest peaks in Spain, that’s to say they went on a fun-filled hike to the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. This blog narrates the experiences of two new volunteers of the MFR team, Daisy and Laura, as they took part in their first adventure with MFR. Daisy: On the day of the hike, we all met at Nuevos …
I am enough of a scholar of history to be troubled by the present. I was born roughly fifty years after the holocaust; less than twenty years after the Khmer Rouge’s killing fields in Cambodia; the very same month that the genocide began in Rwanda. Perhaps you, like me, have been critical of the generation that came before, the generation that sat still, turning a blind eye and letting it happen. I’ve visited “Never Forget” …
Maybe you’ve heard of Chefugee or attended one of the dinners, either ways you’ve liked the idea, and for that we say thank you! I’m here to tell you that Chefugee is an open project and that you or anyone else can start their own dinners. I come from the programming world and I know that what makes a great open source project is great documentation. But enough about programming over here, I’m going to …
On Thursday November 17th, Madrid for Refugees co-sponsored an event at Impact Hub, along with MakeSense and MKS Rooms, two social entrepreneurship organizations in Madrid. The name of the evening was The MKS Room for Refugees: Waynak. It focused on the artistic and entrepreneurial solutions that are being deployed in Spain and across Europe to promote awareness and rehabilitation with regard to refugees in those territories. Being an art aficionado myself, I was immediately drawn …
It’s very easy to forget what’s behind the crisis that many refugees are currently facing. Despite the fleeting flood of news on the internet and other sources, we don’t usually have the opportunity of meeting the people facing this crisis, the ones that are actually suffering each day. I say fleeting because one day it seems like it’s the only problem in the world but after weeks of mourning, it’s as if the problem has …
I haven’t been volunteering for MFR for a long time – it’s been what, two, three weeks maybe? But ever since I started, I liked the spirit and dedication of its members. I don’t remember exactly how I got to know about MFR – I think it was just by browsing the Internet, trying to find a cool NGO or Association where Spanish was not required (my Spanish being dramatically insufficient after 3 months of …
We often forget that every individual we come across carries with them a profound history we have yet to find out. As the refugee crisis becomes a topic in everyday conversations around the world, it can become just that for those of us not immediately affected- a daily, mundane situation. But it is far from mundane and it lies closer to home than we realize. Chefugee’s third pop-up dinner once again shattered taboos and crossed …
Fall is officially here, and as the air turns crisp and the Madrileños stock up on scarves, Madrid for Refugees needs your help! The refugees at the reception center in Vallecas are in serious need of winter clothes, especially men’s clothing. We request that all items be clean, gently used, and free of holes and stains. See below for details and send a PM to Dirdam Seegufer or email donations@madridforrefugees.org to arrange a drop off. Thanks in advance …
By Christina Samson, President of Madrid For Refugees En español aquí It’s been a year since the big launch meeting for Madrid For Refugees (MFR). Over 80 people filled up a hall in Sol, eager with enthusiasm and big hearts. We’ve come a long way from that moment until now. From an idea that started when I met a remarkable Syrian refugee woman at a meeting, who opened my eyes to the local and global dimensions …
By Padraig O’Connor On Saturday, June 18th, Madrid Artist & Songwriter Showcase (MASS) teamed up with Madrid for Refugees (MFR) to put on a night of music featuring local acts to raise money for several MFR projects, in collaboration with MFR’s partner organisations Lighthouse Relief and Dirty Girls of Lesvos Island. I had the pleasure of playing in the event, both with my own material, and later with Kester Jones’ and Tommy Goodall’s bands. The …
