I follow the blog of Manya of Mythcolour. She felts and continues the ancient art of story telling. She lives on the outskirts of Athens which was destroyed by fire this weekend.

Is there any way we can help. I know a fund raiser was started for the Australian bushfires. Could we do the same for our Greek friends? Could anyone help and guide me with this. My heart is crying for Manya, her community and her nature.

Jasmine - I am sure that people would respond if you wanted to tackle the fundraiser. I guess it was easier for the Aussies as we had several Aussie members who stepped forward to run the fundraiser. I would be glad to donate something but I don't really have any extra time right now to help with the fundraiser. Anyone out there willing to lend a hand?

Thank you so much Ruth,

Manya has left a message on my blog (link below) stating that she is currently discussing an art auction with a trusted organisation local to the area that will use the proceeds for the reforestation of the area. I think this is a wonderful plan. It also makes donating very easy. If I get an address and finer details then anyone kind enough to donate something (no matter how small, everything greatly appreciated) will be able to donate straight to Greece.

This removes burden of suspicion, responsibility of selling work and handling funds. It certainly makes me feel a lot easier about helping out.

If anyone has any questions about the organisation that I will be donating to, the proposals for use of raised money or anything else please do not hesitate to ask and I will endeavour to find answers. I think this initiative is in early days.

Please visit Manya of Mythcolour who has been directly affected by this tragedy. http://mythcolour.blogspot.com/

Thank you Ruth x

Great Jasmine - I'm sure you'll get some other people willing to donate - just let us know when you get the information.

Thats so sad, I'll definitely donate something . I'm following her blog now to and we can start a new section when its up and running and try to get as many people involved as we can. The support we recieved for the Australia Bushfire was incredible and we have lots of very generous people here that i'm sure would find it in their hearts to spread some more love

Thank you Kaza,

Every offering is greatly appreciated. Manya is currently talking with the folklore museum she works with on the outskirts of Athens. They are a trusted and educational establishment local to the fire afflicted area. The proposal is to set up an exhibition in the museum and that the exhibition will handle the sales of the donated arts and crafts.

The proceeds of the sale will go o the reforestation of the area and he trees will be named and planted by local children as an educational exercise.

I understand that when the finer details of the organisational aspets of this are ironed out there will be press releases. In the meantime if anyone has questions please do not hesitate to drop me a line or post a response here. I will check daily.

Thank you again Ruth and Kaza :)

A brief update, I will post about the arrangements that have been organised to help in the immediate aftermath of the Greek fire tragedy this evening.

For now could I please sign post anyone interested in this appeal for help to Manya's blog 'Mythcolour' http://mythcolour.blogspot.com/ and a new blog that has been set up to coordinate and report on the progress of the appeal for arts and crafts which will be auctioned to help the reforestation of fire damaged land; http://attikasos.blogspot.com/. 'The Art For Trees' project will be followed and reported on in both English and Greek.

Please visit attikasos blogspot and show your support by following the blog (I find that i have to click the follow blog on the top tool bar these days as clicking on the follow section down the left and right hand side of the blog pages often does not work).

Thank you for taking time to follow this thread and to all of you that have left messages here, on my blog, and/or sent messages to my email account.

Jasmine x

Oh how my heart pumps and the pit of my stomach churns as it all comes flooding back. Yes, Jasmine, of course we will do what we can to support you in this.

Thank you Judelicious. You have suffered from fire too? I'm so sorry.

Manya has created a blog which she is updating frequently informing of arrangements for the exhibition(s). http://attikasos.blogspot.com/

Submissions are asked to be received in Greece by November. The first exhibition will be held at the folklore museum in December. Anything that is not sold will be exhibited again. Manya is hoping to keep this initiative going as there is much work to be done.

Please send any donations of arts and crafts to:

PO Box 66
Marathon, 19007
Attiki
Greece
c/o Manya Maratou

please label them clearly, with a separate tag with the name or title of the work, your name and address and any text you want to be included in the presentation. Please state clearly how you want to be referred to at the exhibition and at any promotion of the event.

Thank you all for your kind offers of help. x

Not in person Jasmine, but just reading your thread brought back all the memories and emotions of our recent bushfire season. 6mths and a wet winter on and I am a little more rational in my understanding (or admittance of not understanding) this wild natural world in which we live, with no discrimination for those in its path. But this does not take away from the pain one feels when fellowmen/women suffer at its hand.

Thanks for keeping us posted.
jude

Just a quick update:)

The Attika SOS project has started receiving donations of arts ad crafts for which Manya and her community are very grateful. THANK YOU :)

Manya tells me there has been a lot of interest in the project and that she has received many messages of support. A new press release will be made in the next few days and Manya will be posting a more thorough update to Attika SOS.

Thanks for all of the support and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

jasmine, jude, karen, ruth,
thank you all for helping out with our fundraising project- it is rolling now, but getting it started has been a trifle overwhelming-anyway I have wonderful news:
donations have started appearing, response has been touching, I've received messages from people of all ages and walks of life, i;ll post what I can, but I must say that tears have come to my eyes often while reading the emails
We are happy that we have the official support of another very active organisation, the Centre for the Study and dissemination of myth and folktales (lofty sounding name, but very effective organisers and great people)
you can see links and updates on www.attikasos.blogspot.com
Comments are open on that blog, which means anyone can leave a few words, even if they don't have a google account- many comments and links help with the greek part of this venture

A storytelling event is being organised, I will post here with more news when I have specific details

now I am gathering courage because I am going to visit the place where the fire started- where the wildest part of the forest was ( my boys have been there and they say it is frightening

My donation to Attika SOS has arrived in Greece and has been posted to http://attikasos.blogspot.com/" target="_blank

I wish the sun was as blue here