Posted on 12/11/2016 9:37:05 PM PST by nickcarraway
Hotelier Andreas Vasileiou had watched with despair as refugees were shown living in wretched conditions across his country Greece.
Vasileiou headed the family-run, seaside Hotel Rovies on Greece’s second-largest island of Evia.
This spring he decided to act and opened the hotel’s doors to 88 asylum-seekers from Syria, Iraq, Eritrea and other countries, half of them children.
The move was initiated by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the plan was for hotels in Greece to host refugees - part of an accommodation program funded by the European Commission, and Vasileiou’s heart-warming gesture is featured on the UNHCR website.
Vasileiou not only responded to the call but took upon himself to create a welcoming and learning environment by roping in his staff and the village neighbors to join the refugees eating, working and living together – and learn from each other.
Teaching skills, languages As a result of this solidarity, a sense of community prevails. Inside Hotel Rovies, instructors made available through the accommodation program teach refugees theatre skills and swimming at the beach outside, while the refugee women cook traditional meals in the collective kitchen, and Arabic channels are eagerly followed on the TV in the reception area.
Manar, a Syrian refugee who fled home with her three children, teaches English to a group of young children. (Courtesy: UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis)
Classes in German, English and French are taught to the children by Greek teachers as well as fellow refugees. The community they have built is an example of solidarity in action.
Vasileiou says that together they “make them feel that this is their home and that they are part of a family.”
The UNHCR program to accommodate refugees has facilitated 18,200 stays for asylum-seekers in apartments, hotels or with host families.
Ten-year-old Salam, from outside Damascus, is a good example of someone who is vulnerable and deserves international assistance. She is at present sharing a room at Hotel Rovies with her two older siblings: her brother, 24-year-old Ashraf, who is partially blind, and her sister, 22-year-old Ghufran, who has developmental disabilities.
Salam admits that it is not ideal. “It’s not home, but it’s the closest we could have right now,” she says.
Under the EU’s Dublin Regulation, Salam and her siblings, have a legal right to family reunion. Her mother and 19-year-old brother are already in Sweden. But there is a lengthy wait times of up to 12 months or longer for both relocation and family.
The UNHCR accommodation program has resulted in 18,200 stays for refugees in apartments, hotels or with host families.
Community interaction Refugees staying at Hotel Rovies are not confined to the hotel but step out and interact with the local community, thus helping to dispel prejudice or mistrust. This June, during Ramadan, they provided Syrian food to local residents and refugee children decorated a school in Rovies village by painting a mural on the wall.
Now the village locals frequently visit the hotel to say hello, and bring cooked food and also to drop off donations.
Syrian refugees and Solidarity Now staff, a Greek non-profit, oversees the refugees’ day-to-day care, prepare lunch in the hotel's communal kitchen. (Courtesy: UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis)
The success of Hotel Rovies’ refugee initiative have made an impression other Greek hoteliers who have become curious enough to enquire about joining the refugee accommodation program.
Even though the refugees are naturally eager to leave the hotel to their new countries, it is emotionally difficult to bid goodbye when the time comes.
Vasileiou admits that, “We cry a lot. The bonds between the refugees, the staff and the villagers are very strong. They all promise to come back.”
It will be torched and or made uninhabitable.
This creep is a 21st century Quisling.
Just my opinion, of course.
The only possible solution to this obama/hillary created nightmare is safe zone and humanitarian relief when they are sent back home
This will not end well.
I don't want to agree with you. But I do. Germany, Sweden, Denmark and England have been object lessons for me.
They are not like the immigrants that came to this country 100 years ago that wanted to make a better life and become American. They are bringing their toxic culture with them and want to dominate and change America.
No thanks.
I have been seeing so many commercials for this organization. smh
some people are dangerously naïve.
He’ll be sor-ry...
Sigh..some people must learn the hard way.
It will be torched and or made uninhabitable
—
It may have already been uninhabitable. It may be that the clown found UN money to fill up a dump hotel. UN money usually means we’re paying for it.
Also, is this guy a Turkish? A lot the story doesn’t tell.
Nice piece of UN propaganda.
So this guy went from an empty hotel to a 100% occupancy rate, paid for by some obscure UN program. They’ll probably pay for the renovation of the place after the “guests” leave, as well.
Ah, you pretty much had the same idea. Should’ve read through the thread before posting...
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