You Don't Have to Live Like a Refugee

I was a little nervous going into the Youth Engagement Space (YES) because I had been given guidance not to ask the youth residents personal questions about where they are from, how long they’ve been in camp, etc. because those topics are understandably invasive and can be triggers. My usual happy hour bar banter of where do you work, what neighborhood do you live in, or the geeky tech joke of API or IPA? wouldn’t work here though.

I walked into the isobox (an isobox is a converted shipping container, most with electricity, that serves as homes, community areas, and storage in camp) to find a cozy environment with music playing. There's a small kitchenette by the entrance where people can prepare a snack and make coffee or tea, and to the right there are couches and a coffee table for hanging out. The walls are covered with the colorful art created by the participants of YES. I was introduced to the few residents who were there and sat down on a couch. Silence. I was so paranoid about saying the wrong thing that I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Luckily Mohammed befriended me right away and saved me from my fast-growing awkwardness. Mohammed has a quick, infectious smile and a way of reading people that is more perceptive than anyone I’ve met. He was working on long math equations that he would make up and then solve. He asked me to create one for him. Yikes! I use Excel for all necessary calculations and don’t even remember all the multiplication tables, but I accepted the challenge and proceeded to write down an equation that I was at least confident was correct. He solved it in 10 seconds and told me with a grin that it was too easy. I made the next one harder and surreptitiously checked my math on my iPhone calculator. We went on this way for about 30 minutes working up to solving for “x”. I continued to use my calculator as needed while Mohammed laughed at me.

The young residents of Ritsona camp are in a difficult, and often overlooked, situation because they are too old to go to school (Greek schools will not accept them after age 15) but too young to have families of their own. Some are even alone with no other family members in camp. These kids should be in high school or college having fun with their friends, reading literature or studying calculus, enjoying that carefree time before you must become an official adult. Instead they’ve endured horrible circumstances only to be stuck in limbo with an identity of “refugee”.

I have to admit that the Tom Petty song “Refugee” played on repeat in my head for my first week in Greece. I heard, said, and read that word so many times throughout the day that I couldn’t help but hear the refrain, “You don’t have to live like a refugee...” like a soundtrack. But the young residents don’t want to be defined by the label “refugee” because it undermines their humanity and individuality.

These young adults are whip smart, artistically talented, powerful writers and poets, and can express themselves with a depth of character and emotion that amazes me. They’ve created a magazine called the Ritsona Kingdom Journal which contains artwork, photography, poems, essays, and more expressing their views and experiences, giving the reader a glimpse into their lives. They officially launched the magazine last week for International Youth Day, a global celebration of the contributions of youth as crucial agents of change. Please check out the Ritsona Kingdom Journal digital exhibit here and read the first two issues of the magazine to hear the voices and understand the perspectives of these phenomenal young people for yourself.

I’ll leave you with a sample of the magazine content - a poem I love called “Color” by Bassam. It leaves me a little teary but full of hope.

“Look at yourself as a color maybe you will not be the favourite color of some people but be sure that one day someone will need you to complete his/her DRAWING.”