I will be volunteering with Offene Arme, an organization that runs a free shop on the Greek island of Chios for refugees and asylum seekers at the Vial camp. They are the only remaining volunteer group that provides a free shop for people in the Vial CCAC. I learned about this organization through some Laidlaw Scholars, and thanks to this network, I have the opportunity to work with this amazing group. I am really looking forward to it.

As someone born and raised in Asia, I have never been to Europe, let alone volunteered there for one and a half months. I also do not speak Greek or Arabic (which most people in the Vial camp speak). I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity for personal growth. I will also be helping with the operations, organization, and social media of the free shop during one of its busiest times of the year, given the current situation.

I hope that, although my individual contribution may be small, together with the other volunteers at Offene Arme, we will be able to improve the shop’s operations by reorganizing necessary items and promoting Offene Arme more widely so that more people become aware of the organization and can provide the support it needs.