A message from the CTF Board of Directors.

A Message from the Carry the Future Board of Directors

Refugees are facing deplorable conditions at closed borders throughout the European Union, and now the recently implemented EU-Turkey Agreement has called for the forcible return of refugees from Greece to Turkey. This agreement has led to tens of thousands of refugees being detained within refugee camps in Greece. As a result, many volunteer aid organizations are either being forced out of camps or withdrawing their aid workers in protest of the inhumane treatment of refugees. This leaves the refugees’ care and safety in the hands not of humanitarian workers but soldiers and police.

Since Carry the Future began operations in Athens, the Port of Piraeus has evolved from a point of transit for refugees heading to Macedonia to a makeshift camp housing over 4,000 refugees in tents and passenger terminals. In Frankfurt, we have volunteers distributing baby carriers and aid in overcrowded refugee camps. On the Greek island of Lesvos, we provided baby carriers to families at the same camps that are suffering from the absence of volunteer aid and humanitarian support. In truth, today these camps have become makeshift detention camps for predominantly women and children.

We are deeply concerned for the safety, health and welfare of all refugees, and our hearts are breaking for the families who are being denied their internationally recognized right to seek asylum.

However, Carry the Future is a global force of volunteers called to action to bring baby carriers and hope to refugee families. We will not be deterred by closed borders and this EU-Turkey Agreement. As we closely monitor the global politics that affect this devastating situation, we are committed to remaining politically neutral and have made the decision to continue our work in the field, in those areas where we can be most useful to refugee families. We will also expand our efforts as the effects of the current situation reveal the need for our volunteer response.

If you would like to join us in helping refugee families on their journey to safety, please visit our website to learn more about how you can support Carry the Future with your time, talents or donations.

In Solidarity,
Carry the Future Board of Directors