My Goal: $2000

My Progress: $1010

This will be my second Trek for Kids and I am looking forward to it. Last year's work at the Russian special needs orphanage was very moving and the sheer joy the kids had has stayed with me all year. On this trip, we are going to the Konic refugee camp in Montenegro (the oldest refugee camp in Europe) to build bus stops for the kids, now that they've got buses to take them to school. Check out the short documentary on getting the kids into school at https://www.youtube.com/v/IQZma0zMr80&feature=youtu.be

Helping kids in the oldest refugee camp in Europe really spoke to me. I hadn't really any interactions or thoughts about refugees beyond what is in the news until my team provided unmanned marine vehicles for the Syrian Boat Refugee crisis in Greece. When I was there in 2016, I discovered that the Syrian refugees were generally well-educated, middle class families who had the savings and savvy to flee. I guess I had assumed it was poor starving people who were moving from one dire situation to the other. Which seemed terribly sad but, well, a bit distant. Something I couldn't quite relate to. Then I went to Greece. Now I know that the Konic camp could be where my family and neighbors would end up if a huge earthquake or hurricane happened and we were evacuated- permanently. And FEMA dropped the ball and couldn't make any decisions and was deferring to the state we had fled to. Meeting the Syrians made the refugee crisis more real. I remember the Greek family who ran the hotel we stayed at and were heavily involved in the response. They were "ok, what are we doing about bathrooms for 8,000 extra people?" and "what are the kids doing during the day? Is there any place to play? Any lessons?" If it weren't for the people of Lesvos trying to figure this out on their own, not a lot would have been done. The UN was helping with paperwork, showers, medicine, and some food but didn't have much authority or room to work. "Let's set up a tent camp!" Great idea, except on whose property? Whose property on a vacation resort island? Hmmm, that gets tricky. Anyway, the Greek residents of Lesvos were admirable, especially in getting toys and classes for the kids, but they couldn't do it alone. And I am sure that is the same with the Konic camp. Everyone needs helps to put in the infrastructure for the kids to go to school for this "temporary" camp.

Please donate to cover the costs of materials! And as with last year there will be photos and stories- as well as the good things your donations will enable. I don't know if I can top my tale of being a Game of Thrones snow zombie in Russia last year, but imagine me as Heidi in lederhosen, braids, and freckles. Heck, I will send my donors a picture of me as a child with braids.

Last year for the amazing orphanage in Russia for special needs kids, you generously contributed and I was the largest fundraiser. I hope you will help me make this happen again.

Thank you for your support!