A background of the project we are involved in

Love without borders for Refugees in Need

This is the programme we have linked up with the amazing Kayra Martinez who is the founder of Love without Borders for Refugees in Need.


As an American citizen, working in Germany for the last 16 years, Kayra's life has been a dream come true. She's always wanted a way to give back in some small way. She has volunteered for 5 years for the CAUSE foundation helping Flight attendants, and in the last one and a half years in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia there has been a big need. There are thousands of refugees fleeing from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Due to many volunteer groups set up locally, they are getting basic items to get them through this difficult time. Many grass roots efforts have started up to help support where other big NGO's cannot. We have helped bring aid, start schools, art classes and helped one on one with support to help the people fleeing their homes.

One of the most amazing things Kayra does is to provide art material for refugees. Not only does her organisation do this: creating art therapy sessions for traumatised children and young adults, she also has a programme where refugee artists have the chance to sell their paintings to her; all the money goes directly to them for food. Below is an art therapy session with young refugees.


Kayra has arranged exhibitions where the best art is exhibited and many pieces of art are sold. The money goes directly to the artist. Each piece of art has a biography of the artist on the back. It would be great to arrange an exhibition here in the United Kingdom to support Kayra's work.

We became involved in the project when my husband Neil Simon pitched the idea of creating music activities for the children. Living in the camps is mundane with little going on to stimulate the mind. Music is a great way to create connection between people; bring great joy, laughter and fun into people's lives. It also acts as a catharsis for people who have been traumatised as I know first hand. There are volunteers who go into the camps; they are wonderful. We wanted to bring the volunteers and musicians who are refugees together and collaborate. To share music and see what works. We have already put together a library of music and hope this will be shared.

if you want to know more about these projects and support them, here are the facebook pages.

Main group -Love Without Borders-For Refugees In Need: https://www.facebook.com/groups/478293189015540/ Nea Kavala Art Without Borders and traveling exhibitions: https://www.facebook.com/groups/307016992976229/ Designs Without Borders Jewelry project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/981189408660375/ https://www.gofundme.com/3f3h4qqw My NeedsList: http://app.needslist.co/lists/school-supplies-2/http://app.needslist.co/lists/school-supplies-2/ Care for pregnant women/families in Greece: https://www.facebook.com/CRIBSInternational/

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