“In every mission there is a 50% chance I’ll live and 50% chance that I’ll die. But in the end, I’ve left my mark. I’ve left children who are going to live and complete our future", says a volunteer named Rady. In 2013, former bakers, pharmacists, painters, carpenters, among others, decided to come together in order to mitigate the effects of the bombs dropped by the Syrian Government, the attack started after the Syrian Revolution attempt in 2012.
These humanitarian workers travel to the south of Turkey in order to get trained during a hole month. They are not professionals. In the camp, they are taught rescue procedures, how to put off fires, or effective forms of evacuation. The first training was in 2013. By the following year, there were WH across seven governorates in the country.
"Killing people is easy, saving lives is hard"
There are 221 women in the organization. They are trained for medical, rescue and light search missions. Nowadays, female volunteers provide trauma counseling, education, and have opened maternal health crisis hospitals. One of them, named Fatima, reported that she helps "injured civilians every day" because this will give her daughter and her country "a better life.”
The White Helmets organization, made up of thousands of individuals, is dealing with two wars: the first one, against Russian and Syrian Governments. But also, they have an "online war" were trolls, bots, and bloggers from Russia attack them constantly trying to create doubts about the grounds of their missions. The campaign tries to link them to Al-Qaeda.
The organization is extremely important. It represents a flash of light, within the chaotic and dark environment, and hope, for the democratic system of the region. In other words, they not only save lives, but they also save an idea. The world is watching what is happening in that country, and although the difficulty of stopping it is a fact, these boys will not give up. One day, when democracy and freedom is finally reached, people will remember them as heroes.
The White Helmets organization, made up of thousands of individuals, is dealing with two wars: the first one, against Russian and Syrian Governments. But also, they have an "online war" were trolls, bots, and bloggers from Russia attack them constantly trying to create doubts about the grounds of their missions. The campaign tries to link them to Al-Qaeda.
The organization is extremely important. It represents a flash of light, within the chaotic and dark environment, and hope, for the democratic system of the region. In other words, they not only save lives, but they also save an idea. The world is watching what is happening in that country, and although the difficulty of stopping it is a fact, these boys will not give up. One day, when democracy and freedom is finally reached, people will remember them as heroes.
When I heard the sound of the Civil Defence bulldozer, I started to feel some hope that I might live. Slowly, the stone started to be removed, rock by rock. All of the weight started to lessen. I was able to breathe, to hear their voices. It was difficult to open my eyes but I opened them a little and saw them wearing their white helmets. I was so happy that I was out of the rubble.This is their story.
By Micaela Seidman
Micaela Seidman is a 21-year-old-student from Buenos Aires, Argentina who is currently studying a Law Degree at the University of San Isidro. She is working at the Buenos Aires City Government. She is the CEO and Founder of Consilium Worldwide.
