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Daria Sukharchuk is a journalist based in Berlin, where she works as a news anchor for Russian-language OstWest.tv. Her writing has appeared in Motherboard and ZEIT Online, Cosmopolitan, as well as Afisha (Moscow's leading city magazine). She specializes on the topic of human rights, migration, and mental health.
She has her BA in Chinese history, and, never having forgotten her history background, has also contributed to the educational project1917.com.
What Does "Online Help" For Refugees Look Like, And Does It Really Work?
The refugee crisis of 2015–2016 moved many people to take action. But most of them couldn't do much. They couldn't fly to Greece to help or donate a lot of money (and some of those who could felt that it wasn't enough). Those who wanted to do something from a distance often joined Facebook groups connecting refugees and volunteers.
But the lack of organization and general chaotic nature of the online groups led to the fact that many volunteers' efforts were duplicated, or misplaced. "Laptop volunteers" themselves would often either drop out of the groups, getting caught up in their own lives, or dedicate all their time and money to helping others, ending up burnt out an in debt.
This story highlights the poor condition of the refugee aid in Europe and the desperate need for more professional aid, with workers able to identify the needs of the refugees.
