'˜My journey to The Jungle to find a caravan called Phoebe Hope'

Creative career mentor Kerrie, 38, had made the journey for two reasons: she wanted to find a caravan called Phoebe Hope, donated to the camp in memory of a young relative; and she wanted to talk to the family who live in it now.

“I wasn’t optimistic about finding her,” Kerrie confesses. “But we were walking through a group of shabby caravans and there she was – a green, weathered looking van. We knocked on the door and it was opened by a lady and her teenage son.

“I showed her a photo of Rosara standing at Phoebe’s door.

“I can’t explain what happened next but it was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Fatima ran out and held me and thanked me over and over. She couldn’t speak English but she offered me food and tea and showed me a picture drawn by her seven-year-old son Mohamat.

“Our tears dropped as we hugged and I promised to visit again. We spent only a few minutes together, but I felt deeply connected.”

Kerrie, of Stanbridge Road, is determined to return and wants to set up a creative project for the women and children in the camp.

She says: “Many charities are doing amazing work. There’s a church – a tranquil haven in the midst of all the madness. There’s a small school, and health, youth and legal centres – a human civilisation rising up in the face of the lowest adversity.

“There are youths playing badminton, football and scaling make-shift buildings. They’re finding ways to keep warm, numb the pain and escape the living reality of existing here.

“Make no mistake, this is no holiday camp. It’s the ground zero of choices.

“But in the despair are glimmers of hope. In the dismay there is still laughter and in the humiliation there is still pride.”

> If you’d like to help, visit www.emmaus.org.uk/st_albans/latest/news/1677_calais_appeal_updated