Fatima from Afghanistan

Every child deserves to live in peace and happiness, surrounded by friendship, kindness and respect

Welcome to Happy Caravan

Education and Creativity in Refugee Camps

Our dream is to provide basic social, therapeutic and educational support to refugee children and their families in Europe. We aim to support the children to not just survive, but thrive and fulfill their potential while breaking the cycle of conflict.

Meet Neil & Nikki, our volunteers & advisors from Australia, who share their experience and explain the work of Happy Caravan School.

WHAT WE DO

“Refugees face two journeys, one leading to hope, the other to despair. It is up to us to help them along the right path.”
Filipo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

We are currently working to acquire, adapt and transport a container that will be used as mobile classroom at refugee camps in Greece. Our education program will offer activities consisting of English language, music and cinema sessions.

EDUCATION

“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”

CINEMA

“Movies are like Magic Tricks.”

ART & CREATIVITY

“Music gives a soul to the universe – It’s crazy how music can connect souls.”

YOGA, SPORTS & DANCE

“Nobody wants to be alone.”

ALA EDDIN JANID

President & Founder

As a 33 year old Syrian man, I had the ability to experience and enjoy life in Syria before the war. I studied Interior Design and had a chemical jeans company with my brother. When the war began, everything changed.

ESTHER DUINEVELD

Board Member & Treasurer

I had the dream and need to do something for and with refugees, and found Happy Caravan on social media. From the first contact I was impressed by the passion and motivation of the organization.

AUDREY BINGAMAN

Board Member & Public Relations

Since receiving news about the refugee crisis years ago, I knew I had to get involved in some way, but living in the US, I felt so distant from the reality of the situation. When I moved to Europe, I saw my chance to really get involved.

NINA HORKOVA

Education Manager

I have been involved in working with Happy Caravan since July 2017. Outside of my work with Happy

KARSU DÖNMEZ

Ambassador

I am a Dutch/Turkish musician and composer. I have my own band and play all over the world. I’ve released 3 albums and in 2016 I won an Edison Award. In 2015/2016 I began helping with Refugee Welcome Amsterdam

NEIL COOKE & NIKKI DOLLING

Advisors

Neil and I spent 2 1/2 weeks volunteering with Happy Caravan in central Greece in September 2017. It was a life changing experience both in terms of what we felt we achieved through the program, as well as the lifelong friends that we made among the staff and other volunteers.

WILLEM VAN LEEUWEN

Webdeveloper

I am born and raised in Amsterdam and am working as independent webdeveloper for more then fifteen years now. Begin 2017 I read a message on FB, that was forwarded by a good friend of mine and wherein was asked for somebody who could build a simple website.

ILAYDA OYKU BIBEROGLU

Media Manager

I’m an international student who moved to the Netherlands from Turkey which hosts the largest population of Syrian refugees. When I was around 13-14, I was seeing tens of refugee kids in the streets of my hometown, Istanbul.

KYLE HASLICK

Education Consultant

I am an international primary school teacher currently living in Chengdu, China. I was inspired to contact Happy Caravan after seeing friends and coworkers use their skills at various volunteering positions around the globe. I felt especially inspired to work with Happy Caravan as their work deals exclusively with children, a domain I am very familiar with.