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Mary Biles raised £985 from 20 supporters
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Closed 24/05/2018
Iʼve raised £985 to buy Syrian Refugee Mohammad an electric wheelchair so he can live more independently.
- Seville, Spain
- Funded on Thursday, 24th May 2018
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Story
Mohammad is a disabled Syrian refugee living in Camp Eleonas in Athens, but to me he is much more than that - he is a friend and an inspiration.
I will never forget the day I met Mohammad. I was volunteering for Project Elea on the camp and Mohammad had just arrived from another camp on Lesvos. He came literally with the clothes on his back - and a very heavy, manual wheelchair.
We soon got talking and little by little he told me his story. Back in Syria he was a loving father, husband, teacher, and respected member of his community.
![](https://images.justgiving.com/image/4a6df003-e2fc-4c1d-b7a9-2e568945ce48.jpg?template=CrowdfundingStoryImage)
Unfortunately Mohammad’s anti-regime stance meant that his life was in danger. And so he made the heartbreaking decision to leave his wife and two daughters in Syria to make the treacherous journey to Turkey and then Europe.
The journey was more perilous and traumatic than he could ever have imagined. People smugglers drained him of any savings he had, he was beaten up by Turkish police, but eventually on the 10th attempt he safely made it Europe.
Already robbed of his dignity, it was at the first refugee camp in Lesvos where Mohammad lost his name, becoming nothing more than a case number - 84511.
And this was the Mohammad I met back then in October last year - but it soon became apparent that he was much, much more than a number.
![](https://images.justgiving.com/image/a6857b8e-f71a-4017-8e74-f1416b8b0e99.jpg?template=CrowdfundingStoryImage)
(Mohammad with Project Elea Volunteers)
With the support of Project Elea , whose modus operandi is to restore the dignity and improve quality of life of Camp Eleonas residents, Mohammad has little by little rediscovered the man he’d always been in Syria - generous, community minded, and someone to look up to.
He quickly became a valued member of the Project Elea Volunteer team, teaching his fellow camp residents English and is loved a cherished by everyone he meets.
BUT - his life would be dramatically improved if he had an electric wheelchair. Back in Syria Mohammad was not defined by his disability - in fact I’ll never forget when he told me, “you don’t need legs to stand up tall.” But in Greece, a heavy manual wheelchair means that he relies on others to move around camp or if he has to attend appointments in Athens.
![](https://images.justgiving.com/image/51d87fe1-ff7c-487b-aab0-af7e03389b92.jpg?template=CrowdfundingStoryImage)
(Mohammad teaching residents at Eleonas Refugee Camp)
So let’s get Mohammad an electric wheelchair and help him to be one step closer to the future he dreams of; living safely in Europe with his wife and children.
Estamos recaudando 4000 Euros para comprar a Mohammad una silla de ruedas eléctrica para que pueda vivir de una manera más independiente
Mohammad es un refugiado sirio discapacitado que vive en el campo de refugiados de Eleonas en Atenas, pero para mí es mucho más que eso: es un amigo y una gran inspiración.
Nunca olvidaré el día que conocí a Mohammad. Estaba trabajando como voluntaria para Proyecto Elea en el campo y Mohammad acababa de llegar de otro campo en Lesbos. Vino literalmente con la ropa que llevaba puesta, y una silla de ruedas manual muy pesada.
Pronto hablamos y poco a poco me contó su historia. En Siria, era un padre cariñoso, esposo, maestro y miembro respetado de su comunidad.
Desafortunadamente, la postura contraria al régimen de Mohammad, significaba que su vida estaba en peligro. Fue entonces cuando tuvo que tomar la desgarradora decisión de dejar a su esposa y sus dos hijas en Siria para hacer el peligroso viaje a Turquía y luego a Europa.
El viaje fue más peligroso y traumático de lo que jamás hubiera imaginado. Los traficantes de personas agotaron todos los ahorros que tenía, e incluso fue golpeado por la policía turca. Pero, finalmente, en el décimo intento, consiguió llegar a Europa.
Con toda la dignidad perdida, fue en el primer campo de refugiados en Lesbos donde Mohammad perdió su nombre, convirtiéndose en nada más que un número, el de su caso: 84511.
Este fue el Mohammad que conocí en octubre del año pasado, pero muy pronto se hizo evidente que era mucho más que un número.
Con el apoyo del Proyecto Elea , cuyo objetivo es restaurar la dignidad y mejorar la calidad de vida de los residentes del campo de Eleonas, Mohammad ha redescubierto poco a poco al hombre que siempre ha sido en Siria: generoso, con mentalidad comunitaria y alguien a quien admirar.
Así que, ¿quieres ayudarnos a conseguir una silla de ruedas eléctrica para Mohammad? Esto le acercará un paso más al futuro con el que sueña: vivir de manera segura y digna en Europa junto con su esposa e hijos.
Updates
4
6 years ago
Mary Biles
6 years agoGreat news - MOHAMMAD HAS HIS ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR - We did it! You did it! Now he can be completely independent not only on the refugee camp, but around Athens where fingers crossed, he may be about to start work as an English teacher to other refugees. Here are a few words of thanks from Mohammad: "I'm so grateful for everyone has helped me to achieving my aim and having my own wheelchair. Thank you my friends."
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7 years ago
Mary Biles
7 years agoHi everyone, today is a big day for Mohammad as his first hand account of fleeing Syria is being published this week in the Huffington Post. There are six posts in total, each and everyone worth reading, but I'm gonna share the first one here. Thanks to the huff post for their support. https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/i-am-a-syrian-refugee-this-is-how-i-made-it-to-greece_uk_5aab996ee4b0337adf82d8b3?oh
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7 years ago
Mary Biles
7 years agoShare this update to help us raise more
Mary Biles started crowdfunding
Leave a message of support
Supporters
20
Anonymous
May 13, 2018
£100.00
Anonymous
Mar 27, 2018
Best wishes on the wheelchair.
£70.00
Anonymous
Mar 25, 2018
£20.00
Sam
Mar 23, 2018
Keep up the great work teaching Mohammad. Your students need you!
£10.00
Lucy Carrington
Mar 23, 2018
Keep going Mary. Here’s to motorised wheels for Mohammed
£20.00
Nancy Schepers
Mar 22, 2018
Mary, thank you for your compassion. I hope my modest donation will help.
£20.00
Anonymous
Mar 20, 2018
£10.00
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![Mary Biles](https://images.justgiving.com/image/6f82943d-54c7-4947-9133-86eec947d313.jpg?template=CrowdfundingOwnerAvatar)
Mary Biles
Seville, Spain
I am a writer and volunteer at Project Elea, a grassroots organisation improving quality of life and restoring dignity to residents at Eleonas Refugee Camp in Athens, Greece.