Greece Trip Information

Dates – To Be Announced

Our partner in Greece is Voice of Truth in Athens. We will be serving the refugees from Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in Athens. Join us as we provide medical and mental health care as well as “care packages” for those seeking a better life after being uprooted from their homelands. We will be staying in the heart of Athens providing consultations, medications, vision testing and reading glasses, counseling and hope.  The trip is open to both medical and non-medical participants. Medical and dental students are encouraged. This destination is very popular – it will fill fast. There are only 20 spaces available.

Group Leaders

Dr. Stan Grogg and Barbara Grogg will be your group leaders. If you have questions, please contact Barbara at [email protected].

Unlike most of the other trips, each team member will be responsible for bringing some of the items that we use to make “care bags” for men, women and children to be given to the refugees.  As we can not obtain (or can obtain for a huge price) most of the 15-18 items in each bag in Greece – they must be toted from the US.  Please plan accordingly if you plan to tour prior to the mission trip.  You certainly can take “one-way” bags – those that you just leave in Athens if you plan to tour after the mission.  Items will be drop-shipped to your home or location of choice in May. Last year we had 18 pieces of luggage filled with items for the care bags. What a joy it was for our hosts and us to be able to give these care bags to those in need.If you plan to tour on your own while there, please do this at the end of the mission trip. As part of the team, each member is responsible to bring some of the items for the “care bags” and if you are touring prior to arriving in Athens, this makes it very difficult.Our Greece mission trip is always exciting and we see many different conditions. Helpers… you are really important to the work as well… you will be kept busy!

Goals

  • Build lasting relationships with partners working with refugees.
  • Provide competent, appropriate medical care to an extremely underserved population of refugees
  • Request and facilitate referrals provided within the local non-governmental agencies
  • Arrange follow up with our Greek partners for identified healthcare concerns
  • Supply much-needed medications and supplies for the community healthcare team remaining at the completion of our brigade
  • Offer a safe learning environment for medical students and residents, other healthcare personnel, and ancillary team members
  • Provide intensive training for students in the art of medicine, with technology limited by the local standards
  • Facilitate opportunities to experience different cultures and global health issues

Checklist

  • Complete the application here
  • Submit your $206 deposit here
  • Make certain your passport does not expire before 12/2020
  • Make certain your passport does not expire before 12/2020
  • Upload the required documents here for your team role (with .pdf format)
  • Final payment due – payable by check to Power of a Nickel by April 6,2020.

In this world of noise and turmoil, how far are you willing to walk to find peace? Refugees want to walk away from the chaos of their country at war and begin their journey…walking.
A refugee family leaving Iran, must pay a large sum of money to the smugglers to get to the borders of Iran and Turkey – and then pay another large sum of money to get to the borders of Turkey and Greece.You would think that for that kind of money they would be traveling first class, but instead many have lost their lives in the Aegean Sea in pursuit of peace.
Imagine that you take your husband or wife and your 2 or 3 children on this long journey….. you begin to walk. Not just walk on the cemented streets or highways or even dirt roads, but walk through the forest and mountainous terrain for a whole 4 days. Your shoes get torn by the rocks and thorns, your feet ripped with open sores. You begin to lighten your burden to make walking easier. The nights are cold and you have no place to hide or rest.

Perhaps you chose to take the other option – of taking a float that fits 15 people to cross the Aegean Sea between Turkey and the closest Greek island, 4.1 nautical miles…to find that the float is now carrying 50 people and you have to leave all your belongings behind. The next 4.1 miles, you are stripped from all hope that you will ever make it alive, fear grips your heart and wonder if there will be peace at the end of this journey, only to find out that their journey only began.

When the refugees arrive in Athens, whether they walked 4 days or survived the 4.1 nautical miles on the float, they arrive with the clothes on their back, no ID, hurt, very sick, emotionally and physically depleted.

Power of a Nickel partners with Voice of Hope to provide basic medical care, medications, reading glasses, listening to their stories and hope. Hope for a better tomorrow.

Costs

Total trip cost: Unknown

This DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE TO Athens. Included are: In-country travel, breakfast daily, 2 dinners, translator expenses, governmental document preparation, medications, and supplies for clinics, and a one-day Greek Island cruise.

Requirements

Participants will be responsible for all travel and routine vaccinations. More information can be found at www.cdc.gov and www.headinghomehealthy.org.

  • Evacuation insurance is required.
  • Trip cancellation insurance is suggested.

Payment Schedule

A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF $206 is required to hold your space.

Final payment payable by check to Power of a Nickel 3010 W Gulf Dr. Sanibel, FL 339575.

Cancellation Policy

$206 deposit is non-refundable. You may transfer this to another person if you find you are unable to participate but you will need to make any financial arrangements with that person.

  • Final payment for the trip is due 60 days prior to trip start date.
  • 59-30 days prior to departure, 50% refund.
  • 29-0 days prior to departure, no refund.

Trip cancellation insurance (different from evacuation insurance) is strongly encouraged to avoid forfeiting funds if you must cancel for any reason.