A.Ss.I.S.T. 2024 – The Team
Sheila (Sandy) Cross (Legal Representative)
Following a career in international development working for many years in South East Asia and in local government in remote communities in Australia, Sheila has been a resident of Chios since 2017. As Partner and Legal Representative of A.Ss.I.S.T., she has enjoyed the privilege of collaborating with the Teams of many like-minded people, volunteers and professional associates, who have dedicated their efforts to fulfilling the mission and objectives of A.Ss.I.S.T.
Mary Wenker (Parnter)
A trained special education teacher and therapist, involved for many years in the defense of refugee populations in Switzerland, her country of residence. Since 2016, she has also been involved in Greece (Chios, then Athens) through the association Choosehumanity which she created. She is the author of several books on the issue of asylum, and runs numerous training courses for teachers and educators, so that they can better understand the issues of exile. Mary is co-founder and current Partner of A.Ss.I.S.T
Rakel Sezer (Partner)
Born, educated in, and resident of, Istanbul; as an undergraduate, Rakel studied biology and her post graduate studies were in environmental sciences. She boasts 20+ years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, in manufacturing, clinical research and quality management
In 2015-16, with the influx of people seeking refuge to Turkey and to Greece, she volunteered with the Chios Eastern Shore Response Team (CESRT – now Offene Arme e.V.). There she bore witness to the many violations of the rights of asylum seekers. Her book titled ‘Refugee’ records her impressions, insights, and testimonies she gathered while working at a refugee camp in Chios highlighting refugees’ own stories: what they went through before arriving in Chios and then the inhumane conditions of their life in the camps in Chios
Other volunteers include:
- Molly – Operations Manager
- Kristina – Client Services
Manager - Karen – International Volunteer Lawyer
- Marie – International Volunteer
Lawyer - Volunter Interpreters