τΗΧΟΣ
The "Wall of Voices" or "τΗχος" was created with an intention to offer young adults a space for reflection on social issues in the European and local society. Here you will discover various essays, galleries, videos and content projects created by our volunteers.
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THE REFUGEE CRISIS : REVERSE PATH by Alessandra, Maewenn and Gisela
03/02/2023
Do you know that in Venezuela, human rights advocates are accused of terrorism, incitement to hatred, and treason?
Do you know that 80% of Somali refugees live not in Europe but in neighboring and equally unstable countries in Africa?
Do you know that many Palestinians in the West Bank live with the constant fear of seeing their house demolished?
Do you know that in Pakistan, the unbearable heat due to climate change further worsens the daily life of women?
Do you know that 6 out of 10 asylum applications requested by Syrians were refused in Europe in 2020?
Do you know that in Iran, homosexual people are forced to modify their sexual orientation through "medical" conversion therapies?
We are Alessandra (27), Maewenn (21) and Gisela (28), from Italy, France and Spain, respectively. We met in Ioannina (Greece) to live a beautiful experience with unaccompanied minors. Our job is to make the experience of a minor's journey from his country of origin to Europe a little more pleasant, and that is why we go every day to the facility where these people live. Our days are full of emotions and learning: we learn from every person we meet. That is why we decided to study and go deeper into the context, from which come the people who make us move every day and those who give us their time. We wanted to understand the reason for some sad looks, the generosity, the origin of everything; and we wanted to understand ourselves too: our feelings, berries and thoughts when we are in contact with them.
After several weeks of research, exchanges and readings, we decided to gather all the information we found in order to share it. Our main objective doing this interactive map was to highlight all these crises that are in the shadows.
If like us, you are interested in the reasons that pushed all these refugees and asylum seekers to leave their country, their family and friends to start this perilous journey for a better life, here is the link of our interactive map translated in different languages :
PS : This is an ongoing project, we will add new countries and it will soon be available in Greek, Italian, Spanish and French.
Language barrier essay by Artur
03/02/2023
The language barrier is perhaps one of the most discussed topics when it comes to integration in a new country and or reaching an intercultural environment. This essay on the language barrier is a personal experience story of Artur - a Latvian guy who has stepped out of his comfort zone and now living in Greece. Usually found walking trough the city with headphones on or having fun with friends. He is open minded, full of sarcasm, always ready for an adventure, and this is his story:
"First time I experienced a language barrier was at age of 5 when my great-grandmother was trying to communicate with me in Polish. I still have no idea what she wanted and she has taken this secret with her into the afterlife but I do remember the confusion it caused me. What am I to do when someone is trying to reach out to me but I don’t understand? At the time it wasn’t something that would really budge me since I had more important matters to attend to, like teasing my little brother and furtively eating green peas in our neighbor’s garden."
To read the whole essay, download the document below.
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