{"id":18840,"date":"2024-03-07T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/?p=18840"},"modified":"2025-03-04T14:30:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T12:30:44","slug":"8th-of-march-a-look-from-my-window","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/8th-of-march-a-look-from-my-window\/","title":{"rendered":"8th of March, International Women\u2019s Day: \u201cA look from my window\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18840\" class=\"elementor elementor-18840\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1725cf2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1725cf2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82865c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"82865c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">8th of March, International Women\u2019s Day:<br> \u201cA look from my window\u201d<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4a3994 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e4a3994\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Three women share their life experiences in Greek refugee camps <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-272613b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"272613b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7810248 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"7810248\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-136e33e elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/2024\/03\/07\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>March 7, 2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d67d93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3d67d93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday1_title.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"womensday1_title\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTg4NDMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9yc2FlZ2Vhbi5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjRcLzAzXC93b21lbnNkYXkxX3RpdGxlLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday1_title-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18843\" alt=\"8th of March, International Women\u2019s Day: \u201cA look from my window\u201d\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday1_title-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday1_title-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday1_title-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday1_title-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday1_title.jpg 1145w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-800a680 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"800a680\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 2023,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/migration.gov.gr\/statistika\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">16.806<\/a>\u00a0girls and women applied for asylum in Greece. On the occasion of 8th of March as a symbolic day for women\u2019s rights movement, Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) shares the voices of three women from different origins and backgrounds. We asked them about their lives as women living in refugee camps in mainland Greece, and about the meaning of women\u2019s struggle for them. What they have in common is a past marked by male violence, gender discrimination and systemic state oppression. Their words show incredible strength and a desire to move forward against all odds.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2123ca9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2123ca9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea51970 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ea51970\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2260b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a2260b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hani* (20) from Somalia and Yemen, is a single woman holding international protection status who arrived in Greece one year ago<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-071d821 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"071d821\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-scaled.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"womensday3_somali\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTg4NDcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9yc2FlZ2Vhbi5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjRcLzAzXC93b21lbnNkYXkzX3NvbWFsaS1zY2FsZWQuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18847\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-1250x1666.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday3_somali-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6aee1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6aee1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After spending five months on a Greek island camp, she was transferred to mainland Greece where she stays until today. About a month ago she received her positive asylum decision. Her cash allowance and food were cut soon after. What keeps her strong while living in a refugee camp and seeking for a future in Greece is speaking with her mother, as well as her broad language skills and her friends from all over the world. She wishes to continue her studies, as a nurse and midwife, and work in this field. Her dream is, one day, to be able to show the women of her country how she managed everything on her own.&nbsp;<i><b>She wants to show \u201cthat a woman can do it\u201d in order to bring change and empower others.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d7f448 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1d7f448\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>\u201cWhat I see from my window is a man looking at me while I am sleeping. I can smell his presence and I wake up! I open the window and punch him.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc872cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc872cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;The problem is that inside the camp I feel like I am still in my country. Women rights exist there too, but people are not aware of them. Women cannot easily struggle for them. They are still scared. And men often haven\u2019t learned that women are as human as them. We still seem inferior to them. In Somalia we don\u2019t have an international women&#8217;s day! We have a \u2018flag day\u2019, a \u2018police day\u2019, an \u2018independence day\u2019. Here, the problem is that we are stuck in this camp. There is no public transportation and we are far from Athens. Around us is nothing other than fields and fabrics. What I feel as a resident of this camp is exclusion, inequality, fear, anger and since I got asylum, I also sometimes felt hunger and thirst. There are problems in the camp: there are too many people. There is a beauty in the combination of many colours, but when forced to co-exist under conditions of stress and exclusion, it also brings conflict. We need to be near cheap markets, pharmacies, the asylum service, schools, ATMs and hospitals (for example to give birth). Sometimes the Ministry puts no buses at all for weeks, sometimes there are buses going to Athens but not enough places. Most people here have little money or don\u2019t get money at all. Some people don\u2019t even have documents, so they feel more abandoned and stuck in the camp as they fear to go out. Most women often don\u2019t even leave their \u2018houses\u2019, because they either live in parts of the camp that have no lighting at night, or they fear conflict between people, or they have nowhere to leave their children.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d846706 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d846706\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"Also, there is no place to go and meet each other, drink tea together, no protected place to get information and advice as women, to learn new things and feel empowered.\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70c0adb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70c0adb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;Even in our \u2018houses\u2019, the places where we feel most safe, the situation is often not good. In general, as a refugee and as a woman, I don\u2019t feel free at all in the camp, even though I feel more powerful theoretically, as I know I am now in Greece. Imagine how much more difficult it is if you are a woman, you got a rejection in your asylum claim AND you also have a serious sickness, a disability, or you are pregnant! Then you feel practically imprisoned in your \u2018house\u2019 and inside the walls of the camp while living in fear.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49740c9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"49740c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a617b54 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a617b54\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d3ad98 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4d3ad98\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66fa9d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"66fa9d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ahin* (43), Kurdish from Iran, arrived in early 2023 through the land border to Greece with her husband and her two children (aged 14 and 20)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1e8ce5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c1e8ce5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-scaled.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"womensday4_iranian\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTg4NDksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9yc2FlZ2Vhbi5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjRcLzAzXC93b21lbnNkYXk0X2lyYW5pYW4tc2NhbGVkLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-769x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18849\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-1537x2048.jpg 1537w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-1250x1666.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday4_iranian-scaled.jpg 1921w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d87c5de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d87c5de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They registered their asylum claims after three months and got transferred to a camp in Central Greece. It took five months until they got their first monthly allowance, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which can hardly cover their basic needs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The family is currently still waiting for their asylum decision. What keeps the mother strong while living in the refugee camp is making herself busy with helping others. <em><strong>She wishes for a bright future where no one is exposed to \u201crefugeehood\u201d and wants to become a lawyer.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12e56f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"12e56f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>\u201cWhen I look out of my window I see children that are not happy as they should, they are not careless as they should, they don\u2019t play as they should, they don\u2019t learn as they should\u2026 but they have worries in their eyes.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c79b6c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c79b6c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I first came into this container (\u2018house\u2019) where I live, you could not see anything but cockroaches. The containers here are very old, since many refugees lived in them before us. In my \u2018house\u2019 the floor is so broken that insects enter through the holes. The other day there was a huge millipede, which bit me. But I have fixed most of it. If you look at other \u2018houses\u2019, they are in a worse condition. There are broken windows and locks, heaters, lamps.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93825c0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"93825c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"Our lives are a bit like these broken containers\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26fdf0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26fdf0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I have so many sicknesses, I cannot count them anymore and I hardly follow them up. We spent most of the 150 Euros we get per month on transportation to hospitals and medication. As a mother, I care most about the health and happiness of my children. Even though I have my own problems, what breaks my heart is when I see my children depressed, when I see them losing their hair from stress. I am thankful to be now away from the danger of death and to feel I am in a country where I am not discriminated against for my ethnic or religious identity or my gender. I feel respected in Greece. But at the same time I feel that the law is not applied properly and there is no system to help us integrate and build our lives here. What we need are language classes, vocational training and jobs for mothers and fathers. There is no path we can follow and this is also harmful for the Greek state. The only words I have learned to say in Greek are \u2018Kalimera\u2019 and \u2018Kalispera\u2019 &#8211; from the security guards.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c12e8c0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c12e8c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"We escaped a country where the ones in power don\u2019t see a reason to celebrate women. Women take to the streets to fight for their rights risking their lives and freedom. Here we are given shelter in a place that\u2019s not meant for people to live in. The refugee camp is a \u2018place of no choices\u2019.\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c6aa0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c6aa0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;It is in the middle of nowhere, but at the same time, it lacks professionals to offer sufficient care, such as doctors, psychologists, nurses, midwives or an ambulance. We are served food, but not the choice of what to eat or the opportunity to cook.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e802ef9 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e802ef9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"People are turned to passive recipients of aid instead of being activated\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6543502 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6543502\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;The sick are barely treated, and are getting more sick. Skin infections, depression, frequent colds, are all connected to our living conditions. We feel worthless and hopeless, so how can we provide for our children in this condition, when they are our whole future? Escaping my country helped me find myself, recognise my value as a girl, woman, mother and human. I finally breathe. Looking back, I think I was just serving others all my life. There was no space given to me by the state, the society, my family, to find my own worth. I had everything but I felt I had nothing. Now I take decisions, I know there is a reason why I exist. I feel I own the world while I have nothing.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75cb85d elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75cb85d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"\u2018War\u2019 is not just bombs and bullets, but also repression, discrimination, lack of freedom, hunger.\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af89947 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af89947\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;However, in the camp a woman has to be careful of how she moves. We don\u2019t feel free.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-align: var(--text-align);\">Even a bird doesn\u2019t feel free here, although the gates are open.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-align: var(--text-align);\">When I used to have a bird, I never put it in a cage.<\/span><span style=\"text-align: var(--text-align); color: var( --e-global-color-27db95f );\">&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-528baa9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"528baa9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2975261 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2975261\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2b4c74 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d2b4c74\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bea255e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bea255e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Farzana* (29), from Afghanistan, arrived through the land border in Greece in the winter of 2022 together with her father and sister.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-730f878 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"730f878\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday5_afghan-1.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"womensday5_afghan\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTg4NTMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9yc2FlZ2Vhbi5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjRcLzAzXC93b21lbnNkYXk1X2FmZ2hhbi0xLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday5_afghan-1-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18853\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday5_afghan-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday5_afghan-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday5_afghan-1-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/womensday5_afghan-1.jpg 1117w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4582f85 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4582f85\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They waited for months in a refugee camp until their asylum claim got registered. Almost a year later, the family got transferred to another camp. As soon as the young woman got her positive asylum decision, her cash allowance and food catering were cut. In early 2024 she received her residence permit and was told to leave the camp. What kept her strong during the period she waited for her asylum decision and when she lived in refugee camps was attending online vocational classes. Her dream is happiness for all of her family and people in general. For herself she wishes one day to get a high position in a big company.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07feea1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"07feea1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>\u201cLiving inside a camp in Greece does not give you freedom as a human and as a woman. You remain inside your room most of the time and keep your window closed. No language classes, no information sessions about your rights, no empowerment and no integration support.&#8221;\u200b<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd36409 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd36409\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;<\/span><span style=\"text-align: var(--text-align); background-color: var( --e-global-color-f2a045f );\">I never lived in my country. I have always been a refugee, someone who cannot go home; someone who has no passport. I never chose to be a refugee or to live in a camp.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-27db95f ); text-align: var(--text-align); background-color: var( --e-global-color-f2a045f );\">I escaped to Europe because the law, the culture, the state, the people where I lived were not protecting me but exposing me to dangers and violation of my rights. In Greece, I had to live among people who likewise suffered and suffer, who are marked by experiences of violence and loss and who live worrying about the future.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17066c3 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"17066c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"The camp is like a cage and the people within are the ones without hope. I felt I was suffocating from the mixing smells and the dust and getting crazy from the constant noise.\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f663b23 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f663b23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;I felt scared to use the shared showers or toilets and even sleep or leave my room empty and unwatched. I felt confined when I had to speak in front of male translators. I felt scared to walk alone outside the camp. I felt exposed in the nights and weekends when the only employees I could ask for help in the camp were the security staff. I felt sick from showering with cold water and the cockroaches and bedbugs. I worked from a young age and supported my family, and I never wanted to be dependent on help.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40e1ba9 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"40e1ba9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"I felt powerful as a woman only when I first started saying \u2018no\u2019, when I took my own choices and found my own way without my family - before we reached Greece.\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af07128 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af07128\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;As an independent young woman, you are exposed to the lack of knowledge of your relatives and neighbours in the camp, their narrow-mindedness and conservatism. I cannot walk without my Hijab because people will say bad things for me. If I leave the camp alone or play football I get provocative looks, I will be harassed if working in a caf\u00e9\u2026 No one is there to offer other perspectives, facilitate contacts and support communication with the locals.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b33606 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b33606\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"You are channelled into the asylum procedure, you endure the period of waiting for an unknown destiny and once you get asylum you stand there with nothing in your hands. You are unprepared to live in Greece and remain also without help.\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e3adf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44e3adf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;That is why most people decide to leave Greece when they get their papers. They like the country, its people, the weather, the culture, but you cannot survive with only papers in your hands. If I was the president in Greece, I would house refugees in the cities in small camps, provide language classes and help people to integrate, become independent and gain hope.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-594fe51 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"594fe51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"The current system is not profitable, neither for the refugees, nor for the Greek state and its people. It\u2019s a \u2018no win\u2019.\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db834e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db834e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though I don\u2019t speak Greek, I have no job and no place to stay, when I am outside the camp I can finally see the beauty in small things and I can breathe. But I will have to leave the country since I cannot survive here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-399cf9b elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"399cf9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e57ba4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e57ba4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">* Names of persons cited in this text have been changed to protect safety and privacy.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the occasion of 8th of March, RSA shares the voices of three women from different origins and backgrounds. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":18843,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,207,5,332,137],"tags":[301,18],"class_list":{"0":"post-18840","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news-2","8":"category-other-topics","9":"category-publications","10":"category-refugee-women-topics","11":"category-topics","12":"tag-2024-2","13":"tag-featured"},"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18840"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18840\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22201,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18840\/revisions\/22201"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}