The action called “The Quarantine Monologues” aims at voicing the emotions and views of teenage refugee residents of a series of accomodation facilities across Greece, during the temporary, general lockdown that was induced by the COVID19 pandemic in the period between March and May 2020.
The creative writing workshops
In April and May 2020, twenty four (24) teenager refugees (boys and girls) with different backgrounds and origins such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran Pakistani Balochistan, citizens of Syria, Cameroon and Benin, Kurds from Syria and Somalians, participated in 15 online creative writing workshops facilitated by Greek writers Dimitra Didangelou, Nikos Kalaitzidis, Eleni Svoronou.
The creative writing workshops provided a forum to teenager refugees who live in various facilities and regions of the country to voice their thoughts and emotions while the coronavirus quarantine was still in place.
The teenagers reside in Refugee Accommodation Centers in Diavata, Thessaloniki; Filippiada; Kara Tepe, Lesvos; and Malakasa, in Transit Accommodation Facilities for Unaccompanied Minors (hostels or supported independent living appartments) in Patra, Drama, Athens and Lesvos and in appartments of ESTIA project in Karditsa and Tripoli.
The workshops’ writers – facilitators encourage the young boys and girls to write in their mother tongue short stories, narrations, diaries or poems. Some of the questions posed in the context of the workshops:
- What did I learn and what will I remember from this time?
- What made me laughe these days?
- What are my dreams for the future?
- Which values and strengths do I benefit from in order to face the hardships of life?
- Is there something that I would like to say but nobody is asking me about?
The workshops are supported by 5 interpreters (Farsi, Arabic, French, Somali, English) and 17 educators, psychologists, social workers etc who function as liaisons of the project.
The publication
After the creative writing workshops end, the texts are included in a special publication in Greek and English.
Organization: Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet-Gr) in cooperation with the UNHCR Greece, (the UN Refugee Agency) as part of the “it could be me – it could be you” project. “It could be me – it could be you” is an awareness raising project, targeting the educational community at large, on refugees and human rights using experiential learning, theatre and educational drama techniques.
Collaborating partners: ARSIS – Association for the Social Support of Youth, PRAKSIS, Iliaktikda Civil Non-Profit Company, Kinoniko EKAV – Social First Aid Greek Team, Regional Development Company of Parnonas S.A., Development Agency of Karditsa S.A., Secondary Education Directorate of Karditsa, International Organization for Migration in Greece.
Download and read the book here (free)
