I am happy to report on my two-week visit to our two Day Centres on Lesvos and in Athens. This time, however, I would like to focus less on the hustle and bustle and more on the work of our staff.
I can say in advance that I am extremely impressed by the work of both teams. In both Centres, work is done with remarkable care, and what runs invisibly and smoothly is the transfer of information when a woman leaves Bashira and Amina continues to look after her.
At the Amina Centre, I was particularly impressed by the naturalness and attentiveness with which our female staff ensure smooth operations. Let me give you an example: a client who speaks Farsi comes in and reports to the reception desk, where either the psychologist or a social worker is sitting. Since she wants to have a conversation, our Farsi translator, who was previously in charge of the shop in the back, comes in and sits down and translates, while at the same time, another staff member in the back steps in, loads the washing machine and washes a coffee cup, and another plays with the client's child in the courtyard. The whole thing runs so automatically, fluently that even when the conversation takes place upstairs in the meeting room for reasons of privacy - the position at the reception is immediately occupied again.
The team is well-rehearsed, and the tone is calm, friendly and very professional.
At the Bashira Centre, I attended a team meeting that will resonate with me for a long time. The team is currently busy with many transfers, as many boats have arrived, and many displaced people are being transferred to the mainland so that the camp does not become overcrowded (something they have been trying to prevent by all means since the fire in Moria). Some women find out at very short notice that they are being transferred and have no time to say goodbye or report to the Bashira Centre. So our staff go through all the names of the clients, exchange information, discuss when the last contact was and that they will be called and their needs clarified. Women who inform us that they are being transferred to the mainland receive the Amina Centre contact, internet credit, any vital prescribed medication, hygiene products and other supplies for the first few days.
It is impressive how all the staff know the women by name (despite the high turnover). They know whose child had the stomach flu, who has an interview appointment, who was left off the food lists in the camp and therefore needs food coupons from us. All this testifies to the immense trust that the women have in our staff.
These visits motivate me to promote our two Centres here in Switzerland with more than a clear conscience.
