I realize that last week’s stories were different from the regular Humans of Amsterdam stories. I also understand it’s hard to “like” a story that is so emotionally charged. I really appreciate you all for sticking around and taking the time to read these charged stories. For those who missed it, since October, 300 kilometers from Amsterdam about 3000 refugees have settled in to an illegal camp in Dunkirk, known as “The forgotten Jungle”. The fact that these kinds of camps even exist in Europe is madness to me. Besides Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) there are no humanitarian organizations or governments involved. Conditions in the camp are inhumane. Due to the weather conditions the entire camp side has turned into one big mud bath. Access to drinking water and proper sanitary provisions are scarce. Refugees in the camp are fully depending on the goodwill of volunteers who operate individually. To me these volunteers are a ray of hope within these circumstances. Again thank you all for supporting and spreading the word.
– Debra Barraud

“My dad brought me to a refugee shelter to drop off the clothes I collected for them. Because my mum is from Syria and my dad is from Iraq I could talk to the children in the shelter. In the beginning they didn’t trust me. When I asked them why they said it’s because they have been lied to too many times. I’m going to the shelter more often to play with the children and I told my friends in school about the kids. My classmates were so touched by my stories that they helped me set up a fundraiser. When I grow up and have a real job I want to give half of my salary to refugees or people who need it because the world is not just mine. It’s from all of us.”

A few months ago I interviewed Toby together with his sister Kyra and Father Joaquin about their voluntary work. Almost every night they are waiting at the Central Station to welcome refugees, handing out food and helping them to a shelter. After I posted their story here on Humans of Amsterdam I received an email from someone of the “Amsterdammertje van het Jaar” comitee asking me if I could connect them with Toby. “Amsterdammertje van het Jaar” is a prestigious award for children in Amsterdam who contribute to the city. Last night Toby won the award. I could not be more proud of him and all the other volunteers in Amsterdam who contribute day after day!

Toby doesn’t know I’m posting this so let’s surprise him by congratulating him!

“Amsterdammertje van het jaar” translated to English would be something like “Little Amsterdammer of the year”. If you have a better translation feel free to share.

“Not having kids is probably the best decision I have ever made. It’s just not for me. Don’t get me wrong though, I love kids. I’m probably the coolest auntie in town.”

“My parents divorced when I was only two years old. Until this day I have no idea why they broke up. We were a family with seven kids. When my parents split up we all got separated. Part of us went to live with our mum, and the other half with our dad. The separation damaged all of us and we had a lot of problems growing up. When puberty hit some of my brothers started using hard drugs. It was very difficult to see them go through addiction like that. I remember one time, a friend of mine was staying over and my brother came home at 6am. I’m not sure what kind of drugs he had been using but he was extremely aggressive. He got violent for no reason and I didn’t know what to do. Now when we talk about it, I can laugh because it’s in the past but back then, it was so fucking hard.”
Part ½ of this story.