We are delighted to announce that our 12 day crowdfunding journey with Haji has come to a successful end! Not only did we exceed our financial goal but, importantly, we saw Haji successfully restart his life in Athens.
We aimed to raise awareness of issues affecting unaccompanied children and young adults in Athens…
Haji’s story was shared over 40 times on Instagram and Facebook, we increased our followers on social media, and in the last 12 days we have received multiple messages and emails from individuals and organisations keen to support our mission!
We aimed to raise £2,500…
We raised £3,105!
So a huge warm thank you to all our supporters – new and old!
Over the 12 days we followed 17 year old Haji as he arrived alone in Athens and began to rebuild his life with support from Velos Youth. We followed him as he experienced homelessness, navigated asylum processes, made decisions around his education, received police fines, faced cold temperatures and as he faced a global pandemic. Finally, we saw him safely inside a shelter and feeling hopeful about his future.
Over the 12 days we followed 17 year old Haji as he arrived alone in Athens and began to rebuild his life with support from Velos Youth. We followed him as he experienced homelessness, navigated asylum processes, made decisions around his education, received police fines, faced cold temperatures and as he faced a global pandemic. Finally, we saw him safely inside a shelter and feeling hopeful about his future.
Haji is not the only young person to face these obstacles, however, and many continue to face the difficulties he did.
The money raised means Velos Youth can continue to provide essential materials to unaccompanied children and young adults in Athens. Over the next weeks and months Velos Youth will make emergency distributions to unaccompanied children and young adults of:
- Sleeping bags,
- Warm winter jackets,
- Warm winter boots and thick socks,
- Mobile data,
- Headphones,
- Chargers, and
- Covid-19 hygiene packs,
to alleviate some of their immediate needs to stay warm, healthy and connected this winter.
A huge and heartfelt thank you goes out to all those who supported our campaign through donating, sharing the campaign, or simply following Haji’s journey.
We appreciate these are difficult financial and emotional times for everyone due to Covid-19 and lockdown restrictions, and therefore we want to take special care to acknowledge your efforts in making this vital work possible.
We look forward to your continued support, and wish you all a very good start to the New Year!
P.S. You can look back at Haji’s journey and share the campaign on Instagram and Facebook!
velosyouth.org 