Khaya

"I landed in Ioannina on the 20th of August and was welcomed by Martina and Enis, during their last weeks of volunteering. I then had the chance to be on my own for a while, getting lost in the little streets, walking by the lake, discovering Greek cuisine, eating the best sandwiches at the Lady's and making friends with the local shopkeepers.

 

My main mission during this volunteering was to organize, prepare and animate non-formal educational and recreational workshops with unaccompanied minors. Above all, to offer them fun and games, activities, knowledge, artistic practice and so much more, in a non-formal setting. But they offered me just as much, just by being themselves and gradually giving us their trust. Like the surprise of seeing a young, who until then had kept his distance, gradually open up and participate, and have the opportunity to discover their own universe.

 

Of course, it wasn't always easy. You have to get used to people coming and going and not always being in the same mood they were the day before. So, with my super co-volunteers, we took great care to adapt and renew ourselves constantly to give them a great time.

 

Sometimes, frustration and disappointment are also part of the equation. Indeed, the system and the resources given to the organisation and social workers are not always sufficient, and the administrative processes are long and not always successful. As a volunteer, you're not directly impacted, but reporting the failures and seeing the sad moans of teenagers on certain days has been a challenge for me. So I've learned to deal with these emotions and share them with my managers so that I can continue to give the best of myself and try to counterbalance this reality, if only for a few hours. By the way, I would like to thank Dimitri for taking the time to answer our questions and give us the information he could to reduce these feelings. Still, most days are magical. There's nothing purer than a child or teenager, and their smiles, laughter and strong character warm the heart.

 

Here, I've also blossomed as an artist. Dora and Spiridoula have really encouraged and supported my ideas and my projects. In fact, I've been lucky enough to organize two events that have really nourished me artistically and humanly. They made me realize what

I was capable of, when I had a goal and a deadline. One of these projects was the making of a short film (Ioannina Pieces, if you want to know more), for which I had the opportunity to organize a projection. When I decided to take part in this adventure, I needed a break from the daily routine, and time to find my place, to know what I wanted and what didn't want. My daily life in Ioannina lived up to these expectations. I loved sharing my days and living with Enora, Clara and Jacopo, discovering different cultures, languages and ways of thinking, and feeling respected and loved for who you are.

 

I took my time, but through meetings and opportunities I found the answers. Not least thanks to Dora's suggestion to organize an art therapy workshop. She really trusted me and gave me carte blanche. It's a real personal and professional accomplishment. I'm happy to be back in the city of my birth and my heart, not because I have to, but because I want to. Marseille baby. I'm also proud to be able to speak English, so that I can travel more serenely and interact with people from all over the world.

 

I have only one word to say for conclusion : Hallas : ھالاس ".

 

 

This project was co-funded by the European Commission.