Last week, two new short-term volunteers, Katie & Jasmine, arrived in Athens to start volunteering with CRIBS. Here are some of their reflections:
Multiculturalism feels real and shared and promising
“The unwelcoming attitude of the Greek government to refugees rarely hits headlines in the UK, but it is something very real here in Athens, and a ubiquitous point of frustration for the organisations seeking to aid refugees. Something far more likely to picked up in UK media is the idea of Athens as a run-down capital, struggling to retain is ancient grace after financial crises and the Covid pandemic. And so, Athens has surprised. It is a vibrant, busy city, which feels amazingly diverse and cosmopolitan. In other capitals, like Paris or London, diversity is clear, but cultural segregation is visible. Yet in Greece, multiculturalism feels real and shared and promising. We noticed this while being sat in a square in Attiki, surrounded by kids and adults speaking multiple languages but all interacting with each other. It was so refreshing to see a public space being used for genuine cross-cultural interaction and the square seemed to capture the essence of the vibrant multiculturalism that exists here.
The plight of refugees, their right to safety and the value they will bring to society feels loud in the urban backstreets …
Across nearly every blank wall in Athens is sprayed some kind of graffiti. Much of it is in Greek, so we haven’t been able to read it. But what has stood out is the number of political slogans in English, many referring to issues of immigration, refugee aid or anti-nationalism. Walking through the streets it feels that there is a vocal activism, and again one with a multiculturalism, utilising a more universal language to gets its point across to as many readers as possible. Yet the use of graffiti perhaps points to how this conversation remains sidelined, and that visibility is only achievable from the bottom up. The plight of refugees, their right to safety and the value they will bring to society feels loud in the urban backstreets, but still ignored by the Greek government, the inheritors of ancient Athenian democracy.
there is a feeling of being let down again and again by the government
It is clear from many interactions we’ve had with immigrants across Athens that there is a feeling of being let down again and again by the government which could offer refuge and safety. There seems to be a common story of vulnerable individuals being forced to go through the asylum process numerous times, and facing the same disappointment and rejections each time. Even NGOs face constant disappointment in trying to deliver the most basic services to refugee camps, as bureaucratic barriers and high security on the refugee camps limit access to them. Successes by NGOs, for example, being allowed to deliver food to the camps, or supplying Pampers to families, is tainted by a sadness, that this is the first delivery in months, or that there won’t be enough Pampers for everyone.
Even in just a week here, there have been such a range of emotions, but Athens has a lot to offer and we are looking forward to getting to know more of its multicultural fabric. We’re excited to be part of CRIBS’ effort to support refugees in Athens and to witness their tangible positive impact.”
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