AMONGST the despair and heartbreak of a refugee camp in Greece an Oxford lecturer brought smiles to the faces of 700 Syrians when she spent her summer sowing seeds of hope.

At Ritsona Refugee Camp near Athens there are rows and rows of canvas tents, overspilling pots and old food crates blossomed with herbs and fresh vegetables.

The camp also has three allotment sites growing onions, cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes and spinach that are tended by the refugees.

During August Oxford Brookes senior lecturer, Helen Hawari was at the heart of all this.

After seeing the three basic meals given to the 700 people at the camp, Mrs Hawari knew something should be done to not only bolster their nutrition intake but also help them pass the long days as they waited for their asylum application to be granted.

She said: "The Greek government are doing the best they can but the meals they receive are not the most nutritious.

"Normally Syrians are used to a diet packed full with fresh fruit and vegetables.

"So I thought why do I not buy some seeds and see if anyone wants to start growing some of their own food?"

Mrs Hawari said that with every effort to improve camp conditions, there is a real fear among the Syrians that it makes the camp more permanent.

She said: "I remember I was in the women's centre and I was starting to plant a lemon tree.

"One lady just burst into tears as she watched me plant it and I asked her why she was crying.

"She told me that by planting the tree it would mean they would be at the camp permanently.

"As we were both crying together I had to reassure her that although the tree will be there permanently, she would not be."

Since March the Syrian refugees have been waiting in the camp for their asylum applications to be granted.

There are only ten toilet and shower cubicles for the whole of the population and up to six people could be living in just one tent.

Mrs Hawari added: "Its a catch 22, every improvement or attempt to try and normalise life here, gives the impression that they are building a life here, which of course is not what they want.

"They literally have lost everything, their homes, family members, friends and some just arrive with their clothes on their back."

Throughout August, Mrs Hawari, who is fluent in Arabic, also helped at the women's centre in the camp, facilitating activities, film nights and exercise classes.

She said as she listened to one heartbreaking story after another, she realised there were serious mental health issues needing to be addressed.

She said: "It is a big thing being missed in these camps.

"Imagine yourself having to abandon everything you've ever known, risk your life getting to Europe and then end up just cramped in a tent.

"Every time a plane would go overhead the children would be hysterical because they associate planes with bombs."

Mrs Hawari said she hoped to go back after Christmas but was concerned about deteriorating conditions as winter approaches.

She said: "They are just sleeping on the floor, some with a thin mattress.

"Soon it will start pouring with rain and what will they do then?"

Before setting off to the camp, Mrs Hawari was a mentor with Refugee Resource in Oxford, working particularly with vulnerable women.

She has urged for Oxford residents to donate books, underwear, warm clothes for the winter and even their time in a bid to help.

She added: "If you are a councillor and are able to spare a few hours a week to help these people then it will make a huge difference.

"We can do something and it is our problem to help people who are fleeing a truly traumatic situation."