It goes without saying that the past week here in Greece has been incredible. So far, we have gotten to tour the acropolis, visit picturesque islands of the Mediterranean sea, and most recently scavenge our way around the Plaka in Athens – all activities that would be a great start to any Grecian getaway. Tomorrow however, our week of service at Praksis will begin. This week will undoubtedly show us a side of Greece that very few tourists (or anyone outside of Greece) ever get to witness.
During our orientation at Praksis a few days ago, we were given an overview about the organization and what they do to help migrant workers, asylum seekers, human trafficking victims, etc. These were all very touching subjects, and obviously so different from what comes to mind when one thinks of Greece. The part of the orientation session that stuck out the most was (probably for all of us) Abdul’s story. Abdul is an asylum seeker from Sudan, as mentioned in previous blogs. The recent events of his life were shocking to all of us, and I think it’s safe to say that he has been in the back of our minds ever since hearing his story. What is so amazing is that starting tomorrow, we will be helping people like Abdul; people who have life stories and events within them that are unfathomable to any of us. Tomorrow, we begin a week that will change our lives and others. Tomorrow, we are going to see past the aesthetic beauty and ancient culture of Greece. Rather, we will acquire new perspectives of the real Greece and the unacknowledged problems within it.
I believe that after this week, our newly acquired perspectives will most certainly help us make a difference in the lives of various refugees and migrants of Greece. It is my hope that we can apply the lessons we will learn and the perspectives we will acquire to our own lives in order for us to all make a small difference in the world we live in.
Brooke Lane
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