World Refugee Day 2023: Pass your phone challenge
On World Refugee Day, every year on 20 June, we honour the strength, courage and persistence of millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes. This year, we had hundred more reasons to honour them, as many as the souls that were lost in the shipwreck off Pylos in Greece, a few days earlier, and to want to change the way that the refugee issue is being addressed.
World Refugee Day 2023 focused on the need for solutions and opportunities for refugees so they can keep their hope alive. Solutions that allow them to continue their lives with safety and dignity through their work, education, their inclusion in the society that is welcoming them.
On the occasion of this year’s theme, we invited people from the art world to join their voices for a world that embraces refugees. The actors Gerasimos Gennatas, Antonis Karystinos, Maria Konstandaki, Marianna Polychronidi, and Alekos Syssovitis, participated in the ‘pass your phone’ challenge, passing their mobile phone to a refugee to answer the question “What gives you strength and hope?”.
Adel from Syria, Chalil from Afghanistan, Rouddy from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ruslana from Ukraine, and Jawad from Afghanistan accepted the challenge and picked up the phone to answer the question. “It gives me hope that Greek friends and colleagues are there for me,” says Chalil. What motivates Ruslana is faith in peace and in the moment that she will be able to return to her homeland. The universal language of music helped Rouddy to keep hope and be able to communicate with the host community. For Jawad and Adel, being able to work while giving to other people is what hope is all about.
“Refugees are not refugees by choice, or because they did something wrong. Despite their dire situation, they still have hope. They are optimistic for a better future’’ said Maria Konstandaki, and the answers of those who participated in the ‘pass your phone’ challenge essentially confirm it. Let’s hear their message!
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