During the week 19-26 November, Inter Alia hosted 10 professionals and postgraduate students in the field of migration from the UK and Greece. Together with experts, professors, artists and vulnerable groups, they explored the role of employment and education in the path to integration, acquiring new knowledge and fostering critical thinking towards finding new solutions.
Day 1: An introduction on the key challenges to integration of new populations in Greece
The professional training course kicked off with a compelling presentation by Lefteris Papagiannakis, director of the Greek Council for Refugees, who shed light on key challenges to integrating new populations in Greece. Discussions centred around crucial aspects such as education, employment, and housing for refugees, as well as the role of the State and municipalities in facilitating integration.
Day 2: Education in the camps: An integration process
Day two began with participants presenting their work, leading to a lively exchange of best practices and methods. The highlight was an engaging discussion facilitated by Second Tree, focusing on education in refugee camps and community building. The day showcased the potential for future collaborations, embodying the essence of shared knowledge and experiences.
Days 3 & 4: Workshops and creative exploration
The third day featured a case study workshop by Second Tree, encouraging participants to think critically about potential challenges in their work. The afternoon session continued the trend with creative workshops provided by Glocal Roots and Network For Children’s Rights, emphasising the importance of innovative approaches to address complex issues. The fourth day took a creative turn with a discussion on the representation of global migration in visual arts by photographer-professor Marc Lepson. In the afternoon, participants immersed themselves in the ReFOCUS lab, joining a photography class alongside refugee students, becoming both photographers and directors themselves.
Days 5 & 6: Self-expression and motivation
The fifth day commenced with energisers and icebreakers designed for the first meeting with young refugee participants. The programme included a presentation on internally displaced people in the Nigerian context and a visit to Drop in the Ocean, where participants gained insights into education and employability initiatives. The day concluded with a movie screening and a vibrant discussion at the Ivorian community, fostering cultural exchange. On the sixth and final day, participants engaged in the creation of zines, a form of self-published, non-commercial print work. The zine-making process provided a platform for participants to express their feelings and reflections throughout the intense week, encapsulating the diverse range of experiences shared.
Take a look on the evaluation report:
