Hope seekers and mavericks

Ten years ago this month, I made the first of more than 30 trips to Northern France, where 10,000 people from 15 nations were trying to exist in what became known as the ‘Calais Jungle’. Volunteers from across Europe stood in solidarity, bringing practical and organisational skills that strengthened the already remarkable resilience and resourcefulness within the refugee community. Those early months held deep loss, steep learning curves, and countless moments of despair — but also extraordinary interdependence, creativity, and courage. Treasure is often found in the least likely places. A decade on, my hopeful story centres on two groups of people. First, the refugees who, against all odds over the past ten years, have sought hope in the midst of conflict and trauma and are now contributing their skills, culture, and life experience in communities across Europe. And second, the volunteer mavericks who arrived in Calais intending to stay only a few months, yet are still serving refugees ten years later. Numerous organisations working around the world today can trace their roots back to that time in Calais. Choose Love is one of them. In the ten years since it began, it has raised over £150 million and supported 600 organisations across 51 countries — a testament to what can grow when ordinary people show up and choose compassion.