Background
The geopolitical situation in Ukraine has made refugees once again the most pressing issue for many European governments. One of the countries that welcomed Ukrainian refugees was Greece. Therefore, I became interested in the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), an organization that manages the refugee situation in Greece. The GCR website has a professional appearance because of its vibrant colors and high quality. However, several questions emerge when carefully examining the website’s material. Are refugees’ lives indeed as bright as depicted in the site’s photos? How effectively do immigrants integrate into the new environment, and what difficulties do they face? Offering shelter to migrants affects not only the lives of the refugees but also the lives of the Greek citizens. What are Greek residents’ opinions on providing asylum for refugees? It is hard to assess the scales of the refugee issue in Greece only by scrutinizing the GCR website. The solution was to contact a student who had volunteered at GCR’s First Reception Unit.
Volunteering in the borderline reception
Obstacles faced
Over the course of a little more than a month, the volunteer worked on the first registration of migrants. At the reception, they offered first-line services such as legal guidance, assistance with finding asylum, psychological support, and material aid. In response to the query, he made it clear that the pictures on the website are undoubtedly better than the actual situation. During his work, they had to deal with staff and facility shortages. Lack of utilities resulted in unsanitary living conditions for people. The fact that many migrants lacked identification documents made the issue worse. Legal procedures could be delayed for weeks, and people had to wait a long time. Also, insufficient staff was available to give refugees the necessary care. Due to the enormous amounts of labor that must have been done, psychological support and ethics used to be often disregarded. This information is similar to what Oikonomou (2018) reported: depression and suicide attempts were common among refugees, and the GCR program was unable to provide help to them all. In addition to all, the language barrier caused the most significant challenge. Although it was initially challenging to comprehend what refugees wanted, workers eventually adapted. Despite all the difficulties, the first-line reception staff made every effort to assure the security and comfort of the refugees.
How the work in GCR changed the volunteer’s life
The volunteer had previously supported the state’s decision to accept refugees, and his opinion did not change. He is confident that many individuals who are against accepting migrants would alter their opinions after seeing the conditions in which the refugees lived. Furthermore, the first registration unit has significantly impacted how the volunteer perceived the world. His approach to life, as well as his goals and principles, have generally evolved. Eventually, he came to the conclusion that his problems in life were insignificant in comparison to the challenges encountered by the refugees. He started to have a greater appreciation for life, making it easier for him to withstand hardships and see that everything was good. The volunteer started to understand that there are nations that lack access to basic human needs.
We might infer from the above that not everyone can afford to live a carefree life. Many people must struggle for their life, and in order to do so, they must leave their countries and migrate to an entirely foreign setting. Disease outbreaks, armed conflict, and the nation’s political situation are just a few of the various causes of emigration. Refugees are still humans despite the tattered clothing they wear and the different languages they speak. They must thus be treated as equals without any discrimination. After learning this, I realized that it is essential to be grateful for what we have and provide a hand to others who are less fortunate.
Reference
Oikonomou, S. V. (2018). Borderlines of despair: First-line reception of asylum seekers at the Greek borders. Greek Council for Refugees. Web.