By: Christina Salem
(Ritsona Refugee Camp, Greece.)— Imagine fleeing your homeland because of fear of persecution for your faith, only to reach a destination of refuge and find that you still weren’t safe.
The arts as treatment for trauma
By: Mary Siring
(Kera Tepe Refugee Camp, Lesvos, Greece.) — Individuals from all parts of the world are building bridges and creating avenues of expression within Greek refugee camps with the arts.
Refugees waiting in Greek refugee camps are given food, shelter, and toiletries- the necessities. The next step in creating more humane conditions is creating avenues for expression and ways to pass the time for residents.
Traumatized refugees refusing mental health help
By: Morgan Brouillet
(Scaramagas Refugee Camp, Greece) — Barbers Alcocknde has been a resident at the Scaramagas Refugee Camp in Athens, Greece for more than a year. The Saudi Arabia native ended up on the run with his Afghanistani wife after the Taliban attacked her. Her wounds were so severe she almost died, needing four surgeries to survive. They fled in the dark of night, and on a journey that took them on a flimsy boat from Turkey to Greece’s borders because it meant a chance of safety for them.
Continue reading Traumatized refugees refusing mental health help
Obama’s Parting Gift to Immigrants: $700,000 for refugee education in Greece
John Bozick – July 28, 2017
(AGIA PARASKEVI, GREECE) — It was his last trip abroad – November 15, 2016 – just two months before he would turn over the reins of power to the next president seen by many as anti-immigrant. As President Obama stood before a packed crowd at Athens’ Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center, he commended Greece, saying “nowhere have we seen compassion (for refugees) more evident than here in Greece.”
Continue reading Obama’s Parting Gift to Immigrants: $700,000 for refugee education in Greece
Refugee camp volunteers disguise play as therapy
By: Michael Blackburn
(Ritsona Refugee Camp, Greece) — Inside of the big barbed wire fence that encompasses the camp area lies a unique space. At first glance this may seem like an old shipping area defaced with graffiti, murals of space, and mermaids, but it is actually the Child Friendly Space (CFS) of Ritsona Refugee camp.
Continue reading Refugee camp volunteers disguise play as therapy
English: The priority language among refugees in Greece
By: Mallary Becker
(Athens, Greece) — Maryam Sultani is 19 years old, she came to Greece from Iran in 2016.
“We have an enemy in Iran and Afghanistan,” she said.
Her plan is to go to Sweden after Greece. She wants to learn English because she feels it is absolutely necessary; to be able to communicate with other people, just that. Continue reading English: The priority language among refugees in Greece
Alt-Right Greek party takes stance against refugee school integration
By Abigaile Kootsillas, 7/25/17
(Athens, Greece) — Greece’s far right-wing party, the Golden Dawn, is promising the possibility of protests if the government moves forward with plans to fully integrate refugee students with Greek students in the school system. Continue reading Alt-Right Greek party takes stance against refugee school integration
Humans of Greece – speaking about immigrants
Composed by: John Bozick, Abigaile Kootsillas, and Jessa Vivio
Athens is a diverse city made up of people from different ethnic backgrounds. There is a great deal of diversity, therefore, when it comes to the question of accepting more refugees into a country already in the midst of an economic crisis.
The OU Refugee Reporting team found many people of varying ages, races, and backgrounds who agreed to tackle the question, “Do you think the refugees should should be integrated into Greek society or kept at a distance”.
Here is a look at the responses from these “Humans of Greece:
Continue reading Humans of Greece – speaking about immigrants
OU Refugee Report 