These new Sheltersuits are keeping 879 refugee kids warm

Sheltersuit—the genius wearable homeless shelter solution to help protect the most vulnerable—has recently developed special suits to hand out to refugee children on the Greek islands of Lesbos and Samos

Warmth for 879 kids on Lesbos and Samos

On the Greek islands, thousands of refugee children are stuck because they are not allowed to enter Europe. The islands are not prepared for such large numbers of people. To add to the tragedy, living conditions are becoming even more distressing as temperatures drop. Sheltersuit, together with partners UNICEF, has just handed out 879 suits to children in need.

Sheltersuit has recently developed special suits for children in need. There are different variants such as sleeping bags, walking suits similar to children’s ski suits and a children’s edition of the Sheltersuit has been made. This is a zip-off jacket with sleeping bag that can also be used by older children. Source: Sheltersuit.com

These suits were made because children in refugee camps are suffering

In total there are more than 37,000 children stuck in Greece. Besides families, there are also many children without parents who are often severely traumatised. More than half of them are under 12 years of age, according to UNICEF figures.

The children who have experienced the most are in the “Safe Zone”. This is an area for unaccompanied minors in camp Moria where UNICEF supervises. Sheltersuit handed out the children’s suits here.

“The Safe Zone accommodates orphans, extremely traumatised children and children who have lost their parents during the dangerous trip to Europe.” said photographer Tony Dočekal, who travelled with Sheltersuit to Lesbos to capture the situation in the camps and to hand out suits to children in need. 

“It is very difficult to see the suffering that these children have lived through. You can see it in their faces, like a shadow hanging over them. The carefree inner child is completely gone.”

During the handout there was a friendly atmosphere. “The kids were told in beforehand that there would be a surprise for everyone. The last few days it had rained a lot and all their clothes were wet. The Sheltersuits we brought were warmly welcomed. The parents too, were very happy that their children were warm and dry again.”

Not every child can stay in the Safe Zone. There are also many children in the camps who have to survive on their own. Even during the cold winter months. Many children are walking outside in the cold without a coat or shoes. Once their clothes are wet, they hardly dry under the current weather conditions. The families live in the open air or in leaking tents.

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Source: Sheltersuit.com

More than vulnerable 37,000 children are stuck in Greece. Many children in the camps have to survive on their own, even during the cold winter months. They walk outside in the cold without a coat or shoes. Once their clothes are wet, they hardly dry under the current weather conditions. Source: Sheltersuit.com

Brilliantly designed Sheltersuits help protect the most vulnerable from the worst of the elements The Shelteruit is a waterproof and windproof coat which can be transformed into a sleepingbag. You simply zip the sleeping bag onto the coat and your whole body is protected against the elements. During the day the sleeping bag can be stored in the matching backpack. The suits, made from 100% recycled materials by former refugees, are given to homeless people and refugees for free. Source: Sheltersuit.com