Events
Incorporating Refugees: How Refugees Can Help Businesses Grow
I had the honor of being invited as a speaker to the event “Refugee Integration: How can refugees help your business grow?” Refugees, individuals who flee their countries due to various challenges, often find themselves unable to return home, making their new host country their new home. Despite the hardships they face, refugees seek opportunities to rebuild their lives, become self-sufficient, and contribute positively to their new communities.
In the business world, the concept of “thinking outside the box” is widely embraced. One effective way to foster this mindset is by embracing diversity through the inclusion of employees from various linguistic, cultural, and background perspectives. This diversity not only enables teams to collaborate more effectively but also encourages innovative thinking, benefiting both the company and society at large.
The event, organized by the American – Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Embassy of the United States and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and hosted at The American College of Greece, featured distinguished speakers including:
Claudia Carydis: Vice President, Public Affairs, The American College of Greece
Elias Spirtounias: Executive Director, American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
Dimitris Kairidis: Minister, Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Greece
George J. Tsunis: Ambassador, Embassy of the United States in Greece
Maria Clara Martin: UNHCR Representative in Greece
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all participants for their contributions to this remarkable and impactful event. Events like these play a crucial role in promoting equality and fostering inclusivity, making a significant impact on individuals and communities worldwide.
What an honor to participate in the Human Rights conversation and to have the opportunity to present two of my short films focusing on the LGBT refugee situation in Greece
The “LGBTQ Rights are Human Rights” event was sponsored by The Demos Center at Deree- The American College of Greece.
Refugee Week Greece at KMOP
Protection and Inclusion of persons with a Migrant Background
I had the pleasure of representing Refugee Week Greece at the KMOP event. During this, I emphasized the RWG’s significance in fostering unity among people and communities. It is a platform for local migrants and refugee artists to share their art with the public.
Film Screening
“Capturing Compassion In my city”
Honored to be part of “I Photograph Compassion in My City” as a jury and committee member, organized by the Cities Network for Integration and Refugee Week Greece.
I had the great pleasure of being invited to the “Work for the Future” event as a speaker, where I had the opportunity to encourage companies to hire refugees. Refugees, individuals who have fled their countries due to war, persecution, and other challenges, often bring valuable skills and education with them. By embracing their potential, companies can not only provide opportunities to these individuals but also benefit from their expertise.
In today’s Europe, there is a growing need for skilled labor, and refugees can play a significant role in addressing this shortage. It’s a win-win situation that can contribute to the growth and prosperity of both refugees and their host societies.
The event was organized by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Greece, the Hellenic-Dutch Association of Commerce & Industry (HeDA), and UNHCR Greece.
I dream an Athens where children….
12 children from the Culture Lab & Youth Center of the Networks for Children’s Rights became journalists/active citizens, asking questions for a debate with the candidates for mayor of the City of Athens.
I had the pleasure of filming the event and creating its teaser
Harvard:
I am delighted to announce the successful completion of a 3-Week Intensive Summer Course on Migration and Refugee Studies, jointly offered by Harvard University and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
During the program, we had the privilege to explore various locations, including camps, engage with local communities, and receive valuable insights from NGOs, lawyers, doctors, and educators. Additionally, we had the opportunity to interact with authorities, enabling us to pose questions and foster critical thinking.
I had the pleasure of screening my documentary “Nice Lie” as part of the Summer School in Refugee and Migration Studies at Harvard Center at Nafplio.
“Nice Lie” (2018 documentary) sheds light on how the EU’s handling of refugees affects Greece and its financial difficulties. The film focuses on the struggles of refugees in Moria camp and their challenges post-asylum.
July 2023
Today, I met with Mr. Manos Logothetis, the General Secretariat for the Reception of Asylum Seekers.
During our meeting, I raised two important questions. First, I asked about the possibility of expediting the renewal process for documents like passports and IDs for individuals like myself. Second, I expressed concerns about the complex path to citizenship.
As part of the Harvard University summer intensive course, we had the opportunity to visit Katsikas refugee camp and ask questions to the officials.
As part of our summer intensive course at Harvard University, we had the opportunity to visit Mavrovouni refugee camp (New Moria) and ask questions of the officials.
I have the privilege of receiving a scholarship from #UNHCR and Harvard University for the Summer School in Refugee and Migration Studies. This program includes a field course study in Athens, Nafplio, Ancient Olympia, and Lesvos. It allows me to not only experience life as a refugee but also study it academically. By expanding my knowledge in this field, I aim to advocate for overlooked refugees who face exclusion and integration challenges in Europe.
Refugees constitute a vulnerable minority in European society. My sincere aspiration is to amplify their voices and advocate for their rights, as they often lack equal opportunities and face exclusion from integration programs, which needs to change.
I had the privilege of collaborating with multiple teams and both small and big organizations throughout the week.
Together, our primary goal was to raise awareness about the lives of refugees and promote inclusivity.
Today, I had the chance to interview Dr. Sandra Morgan on behalf of the #MigratoryBirds newspaper. Dr. Morgan is the director of Global Center for Women and Justice and has an extensive background in combating violence against women and human trafficking across various regions, including Africa, Middle East, Russia, Europe, and South America.
The focus of our interview centered on the overall situation of women in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on Afghanistan. Additionally, we discussed the urgent matter of ending human trafficking, especially in light of the recent tragedy in the Aegean Sea.
The interview will be published in the upcoming issue of Migratory Birds.
Greece has declared three days of national mourning for the tragic sinking of a refugee boat, resulting in the loss of 79 lives. It is a matter of interpretation whether one should feel hopeful about the country’s acknowledgment of the crisis and the mourning period or be scared by the fact that this will not be the last time.
Without the ability to swim and be swollen by the Aegean Sea, I do not want to imagine what it would be like to be in that boat.
This tragedy has occurred numerous times before; in the Aegean Sea, tens of thousands of migrants and refugees have drowned. Despite this, no program for assisting refugees in reaching safety has been implemented.
How many more lives will it take, and how long will this last?
I am happy to announce that, despite the program’s intense competition, I made it as far as the finalist round and was selected as one of the finalists for the Obama Scholars program for 2023–2024.
“What does democracy mean to you?”
Along with everything else, democracy should mean inclusivity: supporting the most vulnerable members of society and those without a voice or the right to one.
Today, I visited Moria camp, and it felt like entering a post-apocalyptic landscape without any exaggeration. Memories of Moria, where I once lived with 18 other individuals in a shared tent, still remain with me, as they do with countless others.
Currently, millions of refugees reside in camps globally, lacking access to basic necessities, a clear future, and substantial support from governments. Although I cannot participate in the upcoming Greek election or have any influence, I hope they recognize the potential benefits of integration for both refugees and society.
However, I am not optimistic…
I remember when we were still in Kabul, my younger brother or I would go to a bakery in the late afternoons to buy fresh flatbread for dinner. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, this ritual has continued, but with a difference: women in blue burqas gather in front of the city’s bakeries and wait in silence for a charitable person to buy them a bread.
According to the World Food Program, 20 million Afghans sleep hungry every night.
#Nowar
Today, a group of 20 professionals and postgraduate students in the refugee field visited Migratory Birds newspaper as part of their training on using education, employment, and art to integrate refugees into society.
The introduction’s aim was to show the help of the newspaper in allowing young Greek, migrants, and refugees to share their concerns with the public.
One of our time’s most urgent humanitarian issues is the plight of women in impoverished Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s women face various difficulties, such as hunger and malnutrition, due to decades of conflict, political unrest, and social upheaval. The World Food Programme estimates that nearly half of Afghan children under the age of five are chronically malnourished, with women and girls being especially at risk. Rural areas, where poverty rates are higher and access to food is more restricted, are particularly dire. Additionally, food systems have been disrupted by conflict and displacement, depriving many women and their families of access to wholesome food.
What else will Afghans go through?
#refugees
#nowar
The power of education on the lives of refugees is immense. Education empowers individuals to rebuild their lives, instills dignity and self-worth, and opens doors to new opportunities, breaking the cycle of poverty and despair and restoring shattered dreams.
It is crucial to make education accessible to all refugees.
Talking about home, you realize how much you missed it. The hardest is when you realize that now you don’t have one.
UNHCR estimates that global forced displacement has reached 103 million by mid-2022, of which 32.5 million are refugees.
Talking about inequality: refugees are second-class citizens in Europe—people whose rights and opportunities are treated as less important than those of others in the same society. Considering this, when individuals are treated unequally by the law, that makes the perception of societies and can manifest itself in the form of racism and discrimination. As a result, anything that results from such a law can be anything other than equality.
At the SpeakUp Forum event organized by AIESEC in Greece and hosted by The American College of Greece, I had the honor to speak on “Refugees & Inequality” and screen one of my short films.
US ambassador to Greece
I had the opportunity through Migratory Birds Newspaper to interview Mr. Tsunis, which shared his personal story. He is a proud Greek-American son of immigrant parents from Platanos in the magnificent mountainous area of Nafpaktia.
The interview is published in the 26th edition of Migratory Birds Newspaper
Today I had the honor of speaking at Roots Winter School, an event organized by Inter Alia on “Gender and Communities Periphery.” I spoke about Single Afghan Refugee Males.
Before picking up the topic, I thought it might be odd for me to talk about it as an Afghan man myself. Still, I felt compelled since I have witnessed how men are highly politicized, criminalized, and disregarded for their masculinity.
I drew attention to how Afghan men are responsible for supporting their families back home, especially after NATO quit, resulting in an economic collapse in Afghanistan. Knowing that Greece has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe—11.6%—makes it even more difficult for refugees to find a job and to be able to support their families.
I also mentioned how the asylum procedure is strict and has no tolerance for single men, which results in high asylum rejection and deportation. Finding mates and loneliness is another significant issue that single men face. I am sure you understand that everyone needs someone to share good or bad news with.
Losing identity and uncertainty about the future; all lead to psychological issues, which can lead to self-harm, crime use and abuse of drugs, and on and on.
It feels like people are stuck in a cycle of re-traumatization. What will be their future?
Second winter in Afghanistan under Taliban rule; a COLD HELL.
The religious group’s seizure of power in August 2021 sent the economy into a tailspin and fundamentally transformed Afghanistan, driving millions into poverty, hunger, and displacement.
I’m not actively talking about Afghanistan as much as I am about refugees because the mess created is so amazingly massive that I feel I have no voice.
Winter is coming, and millions of Afghans will suffer once more, with many dying. I don’t even want to imagine how painful it would be to die of cold or to find a loved one frozen and lifeless.
I can’t do anything since I’m myself struggling as a result of the chaos; all I can do is remind you that Afghanistan hasn’t been solved, but simply forgotten.
📷 Scott Peterson
The U.S. EMBASSY ATHENS and Athens Comics Library collaborated with American soccer stars to empower women and lift exclusions in “Score a Goal for Inclusivity,” an event supported by #Deree – The American College of Greece, #ActionAid and #EAK, a Greek professional football team.
I was thrilled to participate as a filmmaker and create the event’s teaser.
What an experience to speak to school students from more than fifteen different countries.
Today, I was delighted to be invited to a Global Perspective class at Byron College – The British International School, where I spoke to students ages 12 to 16 about what it means to be a refugee.
I was warned that keeping the students’ attention at such a young age would be difficult; instead, I found them sharp, engaged, and interested in the issue, indicating the significance of such events for children and our future.
I told them a story and made two points: first, to enjoy having such an excellent opportunity to receive an education in such a wonderful place, and second that we live in a globalized world, and their decision will have an impact on many people in the future if they ending up in a high position— I think it is highly possible considering their background and resources.
My favorite part was the questions: I was telling them about the importance of education and how it can help them think critically and find their way in life, as I have been fortunate to continue my education; instantly, one of the students, a girl, raised her hand and asked me how my life would be if I didn’t have the opportunity to study?
I didn’t know what to say, told her I never thought of it, never wanted to; it must be dark…
I think, now I know the answer, I wouldn’t be able to have a voice…
Former Afghan MP
The interview was terminated as expected.
Today I interviewed Homma Ahmadi, a former Afghan member of parliament, for one of my documentaries.
More than seven years ago, I had to leave my country, not knowing much about it except that we were at war. The ugliness of my journey made me start questioning things that developed while living in the refugee camps.
What is a human?
Who are we, really?
Today I asked her about Afghanistan and Afghans who are suffering in the country and shamed outside. But, she didn’t find my questions pleasing.
What I noticed is that herself was a victim of a corrupted system, much bigger. Where, now she is fed by organizations while once she had four bodyguards and luxury cars.
Of course, I see the differences between her condition and another Afghan woman who lost her kids in the war; she might not mourn as much as they do, or perhaps she does?
I don’t know…
RWG 2022
After a week of intense work, Refugee Week left beautiful moments, and they will stay with me as the footage I captured.
I thank Natalia Galgos, Dina Ntziora and everyone else who honored me to be part of this memorable event, which was full of teamwork, stress, laughter, and emotions.
I learned that nothing could be as fulfilling as doing what you love and doing it with the people you love.
Long Way
A documentary
A documentary focused on refugee street workers in Athens City follows the story of an Afghan family who have received asylum in Greece but are not entitled to any kind of support from the Greek government. To support the family, the father goes on the streets and collects cards and boxes to make 15 to 20 euros daily.
film is in progress
