Summer Issue 2006

Issue 2, 2003

In December 2002 the Feminenza team in Athens started working inconjunction with the French-Greek organization, ‘Doctors of the World’.This is a humanitarian group of volunteers who amongst other activities,host refugees who are on their way to Western Europe to try and build better(and safer) lives for themselves. As a first support towards their work, our teamstarted collecting donated clothes from the women who had been attendingour workshops and ourselves, and these were passed on for the refugees.

“When we enquired if there was more we could do, they asked whether we could organize an activity afternoon for the refugee children. We keenly responded to this request and this is how it came to be that we arranged a couple of events back in December2002 and recently in February. We went with five women and three men to their place in the centre of Athens and spent time with the children and some of their mothers. We brought lots of homemade food (in accordance with good Greek custom), musical instruments, props, clothes and a new jacket as a gift for each child.

We began by playing games with the children, after which we engaged everyone in a lively musical session, in which the children also joined in, banging their small tambourines, and spoons. They had a great time, and really enjoyed singing, playing and laughing.

It was very moving when later we were all sitting together in a circle talking, whilst guitar music was playing in the background. We told them that we were glad they had come to Greece and that we were able to meet them. When the children were asked what they wanted to say, they spoke about thejourneys they had made from their countries to arrive here. Some were from Vietnam, others from Kurdistan, Turkey, Russia, Iran and Iraq, so many places they had travelled from, it was as if their lives had been a continuous journey, always moving from place to place.

The mothers were sitting witnessing this, their faces aglow - it was very rich. This was their way of participating, and they had a full-hearted radiation of support and appreciation. Understandably they hardly spoke any Greek or English, so communication was limited and yet as time went on and as they felt more comfortable, we connected with unspoken words and through looks passing between us, as our eyes met, with hugs, touch and simple gestures. There was the recognition that we are all women, born into these times and in some ways facing and dealing with similar struggles.

The grand finale of the afternoon was a puppet theatre. At dinner time everyone enjoyed the homemade food (including the parents). The children were very proud wearing their new jackets and showing them off to each other, even though it was quite warm indoors.

For us Feminenza members, living in homes, with cars and in comparison living in luxury, it was a shock to meet people who have absolutely nothing and who don’t know where they will be living next month and whether they will be able to feed their children. It was an opportunity to share some warmth and to appreciate the circumstances we were born into and the many small and large blessings in our lives. It brought us closer to the meaning of humanity and this we learnt from people who taught us without words”.