A TEACHER with a passion for languages is heading to Greece to help refugees gain the essential skills they need to settle into their new surroundings.

Lindsey Clark is joining forces with volunteers from the educational collective No Border School to help teach adult refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan English

The experienced English as a foreign language teacher, from Crook, County Durham, will drive to Athens on April 12. She is appealing to the public for donations of old laptops, tablets, keyboards and smart phones to take with her as teaching aids.

Ms Clark, who is working towards an MA in applied linguistics at Durham University, said the importance of gaining basic English skills could not be underestimated.

“Because of colonialism the English language has become a commodity,” said Ms Clark.

“It is something everyone needs and Britain, directly and indirectly, profits from this.

“The refugees coming to Greece have lost their homes and have been separated from their families. When they arrive they find they cannot integrate with people because they don’t have the language skills, which I find very sad. They want to go home but they can’t because it’s too dangerous

“This is a way I can help. I have got the skills and the experience and I just have to do something.”

No Border School was launched last April to empower refugees and migrants in Athens to stand up for their interests. It does so by promoting language and cultural exchange between refugees and the volunteers who come to support and help.

The internet is a vital educational tool for the collective as it allows students to access a wealth of websites, along with online dictionaries, translation tools and YouTube videos.

Ms Clark, who taught English in Italy for nine years before returning to Crook last October, explained: “The internet is better than course books because course books tend to show pictures of happy families living in big houses.

“You just can’t use things like that with people whose homes may have been destroyed.”

Any businesses or individuals able to donate IT equipment can contact Ms Clark on linzjoclark@gmail.com

To find out more about No Border School or to make a donation, visit noborderschool.com