Volunteer opens home to human rights abuse victims

A woman has been praised for "opening her home" to human rights abuse victims.

Genette Dagtoglou has supported the charity Prisoners of Conscience Holiday Fund Jersey (PoCHFJ) for more than 15 years and has had three refugees stay with her since she moved back to the island three years ago.

MBE Collette Crill, from the charity, said "it's super important and super special" for those who come to Jersey.

The refugees live in the UK before they come to Jersey for a week. Mrs Dagtoglou has made the shortlist for this year's BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards for her work.

Mrs Crill, who is the chairwoman of the charity, said: "She opens her home to these refugees, she welcomes them in, and she treats them like family.

"Genette is a human dynamo" and has "a dedication to improving human rights".

The visits are paid for by the charity and Mrs Crill added: "She has made an enormous difference as all our guests are refugees who've been horribly tortured so to come here and meet people who offer them unconditional kindness is incredibly important and Genette offers that."

Earlier in 2025, Mrs Dagtoglou hosted Somalia human rights journalist Abdalle Mumin.

In relation to the award nomination shortlist, she said "I'm just surprised frankly" and "I hope to carry on doing this for as long as I'm capable because I really enjoy this work".

"It's giving such joy and freedom which we can't truly emphasise with because for us a holiday is doing something like lying on a beach, but for these refugees this week in Jersey is just golden for them."

The award winners will be announced on the 12 September.

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.