There are news that make our day, week, month…
Like when we hear about the completion of the family reunification process for unaccompanied children that we support through the Guardianship Network for Unaccompanied Minors and we host in our shelters.
In 13-year-old Naweed*’s case, our joy is doubled, since the child has not only been waiting for months to be transferred to the UK in order to live near his relatives, but moreover, in that country he will be provided with comprehensive medical care which he absolutely needs because of a serious chronic respiratory illness.
Despite the United Kingdom’s commitment, since July 2015, through the Dubs Scheme, to relocate 100 vulnerable children from Greece, so far very few children have been received. After one and a half year of struggles and intensive efforts by METAdrasi’s team, Naweed* finally traveled today to England!
Zoe, the member of METAdrasi’s Guardianship Network for Unaccompanied Minors, who has undertaken his personalized support since July 2016, escorted him to the Athens’ airport and bid him farewell in great emotion.
A few days before his departure, we visited Naweed at the hospital where he was treated, the fifth in Athens we addressed for his health care. He welcomed us with a broad smile and hugs, despite the discomfort due to his health, telling us how happy he feels with the good news.
Zoe, steadily by his side, along with METAdrasi’s president Lora Pappa, showed him in Google Earth the city he is going to live in and provided him with information.
A new road has opened for this child, who has impressed us with the inexhaustible patience and soul power that he has demonstrated for so many months. These will be his assetts in his new life. We all wish, wholeheartedly, all the best to our young friend!
We are very grateful to Attiko Hospital for offering to treat Naweed, as well as to our volunteers that stood beside him, taking care of him during the days and nights of his hospitalization.
* The child’s name has been changed in order to protect his personal data. Naweed in farsi means “good news”.
UNHCR GREECE UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency UNICEF Greece UNICEF Embassy of Switzerland in Greece / Πρεσβεία της Ελβετίας στην Ελλάδα