Have you ever looked at a mother and thought, ‘How does she do it?’ It’s almost like they have 10 hands instead of two and the brain capacity of probably the entire family! And refugee mothers? They are in a different league altogether.
Their days in refugee settlements begin and end with a fight for food, clothes, medicine, and dignity for their children. Some are separated from their families, while others have lost children. Yet, somehow, they keep getting back up. Exhausted but refusing to quit.
As Mother’s Day approaches, we wanted to share one mother’s story that really touched our hearts 🧡
When CRIBS, a team who work with refugees mothers and babies in Athens, met Marielle*, she was 9 months pregnant, and it was clear her baby could be born any minute. She was living in a shared, smoky room with 7 strangers; incredibly tough as an adult but absolutely unsuitable for a newborn. Marielle was determined to find something better for her baby, and nothing was going to stop her.
She was so adamant that her baby deserved better that she actually went into active labour but refused to go to a hospital until she held the keys to a safe space in her hand.
The CRIBS team came through for her. They found her safe accommodation, prepared clean bedding, stocked the kitchen with food and provided baby clothes. Because of this mother’s strength and the incredible work of the CRIBS team, baby Jonah (who was born just 4 hours later!) came home to a clean, safe and private space.
That’s what the support of our donors makes possible: real impact and on-the-ground action for refugees who just want to rebuild their lives with dignity and provide for their kids.
It takes a village to raise a child, so this Mother’s Day let's come together to become the village for refugee mothers across Europe. We believe every child deserves to be born into safety and every mother deserves support. Please join us in holding these women in our hearts and supporting our grassroots partners' efforts to ease their struggles.
