DIGITAL WALL

We invite you to visit our interactive digital wall presenting a unified narrative of what it means to be a refugee in times of Covid-19. This narrative combines all participant's stories and experience shared in Living in times of Covid-9 campaign.

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"Living in times of Covid-19: Refugees SHARE their EXPERIENCE"

In "Living in times of Covid-19: Refugees SHARE their EXPERIENCE" campaign we try to create a new narrative about what "being a refugee today" means. We share multilanguage short videos, photos and text interviews trying to promote social inclusion and bring ignored issues to the forefront. We aim at building a large multicultural community defending human rights and providing wide access to media material. In this context, we ask of people to share with the world their experience of living in times of Covid-19. They can provide us with video material, photos or text interview speaking about their lives, activities, ideas, needs and dreams.

We provide technical support, video editing, translation of material and content guidance if needed. Each person can focus on different aspects of their life, speaking their own language. The participators are free to keep their identity hidden, by not showing their face, or sharing key personal information.

Our team, at Babel Day Centre and Covid-19 Refugees Info will be happy to hear your story and help your words reach as many people as possible.

👋 Be part of our community, share your story →

Facebook group: covid19 refugees info

WhatsApp:+30 6946553472

Email: LivingintimesofCovid19@gmail.com

2. Overcoming Difficulties

My name is Fatima and I have been living in Greece with my son and my husband for the last 3 years. Living in Greece is very difficult, the first days we arrived, none of the camps accepted us, and they said that you have to be vulnerable or pregnant to get in the camp or in the house. We had to rent a house. We stayed there for a few months, until we ran out of money. We were sad, we didn’t know what to do, until a friend of ours suggested we go squatting. We went there, but they didn’t accept us because they told us that they had to put us on the waiting list. After a lot of begging, they accepted us and they gave us a room. The situation there was really difficult, but there wasn’t any other option. We were in a room without furniture and we only had a blanket on the floor and two sleeping bags. The toilet, the bathroom and the fridge were sharedwith 3 more rooms. The days were difficult but we tried to find some things in order to be able to keep on living. There were about 80 to 100 people living in the building. There were people with different nationalities, different colors and languages and nobody was permitted to disrespect and make racist remarks to each other. Everybody there, was trying to be friends with each other in order to make the time pass quicker. However, there were also people causing trouble and gossiping. Life conditions were difficult and the days were going by. One day we had fights, the other day we had parties and so on. Every day we should clean the space and the stairway for 4 hours, not everybody did this. Not everybody was getting on with their responsibilities. Men were having fun with each other and we couldn’t sleep because of the noise but the biggest problem of all for everybody, was that they had told us to always have our bag prepared with first aid kit and important documents in case the police came. Every night we were sleeping with the fear and stress of the police coming, forcing us to leave the building, and us ending up again on the streets. Each night, when my son was going to sleep, he was preparing his bag with his school books because he didn’t want to miss school. They were telling us that when the police would come, we wouldn't have time to take anything with us. 

We were facing all these problems inside the building and moreover the Greek government was causing us more trouble. I’ve decided to leave Greece with my son a few times, but I was hesitating to leave my husband back. Nevertheless, I had to do it due to our poor housing, financial and work opportunities. I’ve tried to leave, but I couldn’t make it. Then we decided to give an interview and apply for asylum. Simultaneously another problem arose, COVID. During the first days everybody was very scared, and we were quarantined. The building staff would not allow us to leave the premises. Gatherings of more than five people inside the rooms and inside the building’s halls were forbidden. The children were constantly staying inside the room. People would regularly bring to the children puzzles and toys to keep them occupied. We disinfected the building’s equipment (railings, faucets, knobs) in order to keep everybody safe, since in case somebody got infected, the police would evacuate the building. After a week of staying inside, everybody ran out of patience and started quarrelling with each other; everybody was cursing at each other. Since this situation continued every day, I got very tired. I was telling my husband to leave this building, but unfortunately, I had to endure all the problems, since we could not afford the rent. I was so stressed that I developed a serious skin issue. My whole body was itching and I was in pain. After one month of quarantine, we were allowed to go outside for a two-hour walk or to run some errands. My husband saw that I was very sad. He suggested I go outside and to shop food etc to cover our basic need. Whenever I went outside, I looked like somebody who had just gotten out of prison. I even forgot that I had to look at the traffic light to cross the road. But our problems in Greece were not over. Due to the pandemic all asylum interviews were cancelled. Some people got new appointments and other people were still waiting for a decision. At last the quarantine was over. Although the children could not go to school for a short time, we didn’t know what to do with the children’s school. Us not speaking Greek, we didn’t know what to do with the children’s school. Somebody from the building’s residents found the school’s phone number and said that the classes were held online. Knowing this I was relieved, however the situation with the internet was not easy. Sometimes the internet was cut off. Sometimes there was no internet. The fear of COVID got lesser and we could walk more freely. At the same time, I felt mentally disturbed and I was worrying about the interview. I was trying to calm myself down for the interview. We visited with my husband the Asylum Service. After half-day of waiting a woman came and told us that we had to come back in thirteen months. Me and my husband were very angry. I was crying and my husband was shouting, but nobody cared. We came out disappointed, but our lawyer told us not to worry. He could set a new appointment for us sooner. I had serious mental and skin issues. After one year the time for the appointment with the doctor came. My husband went to work at the island. We had applied for an apartment at an organization and they called us. Because my husband was away the organization did not accept us. They told us I had to wait until my husband returned. My husband returned, but when he called the organization was not answering. One month passed and they called us again. Finally, we moved together to an apartment. They gave us an apartment that we had to share with another family. We had our own room, but we had to share the bathroom and the washing machine. Although I did not want to live in a shared apartment, I had to accept it. Otherwise, our monthly benefit would be cut. We stayed at this apartment for a few months, but my husband got tired. He decided to leave and he made it. Me and my son were left alone. Now we are waiting for family reunification. One month after my husband left Greece, I was called by the Asylum Service for an interview. Many difficult days have passed and I have difficult days ahead of me. However, I am trying to endure all problems with counselling and with the activities.

3. Taking things in our own hands

My name is Zahra and I am 23 years old. I came to the Greek island of Lesbos in 2018. It was a very difficult period for me, my husband and my daughter. We faced may problems, that I couldn't start describing. Everyone was trying or waiting to leave the island and Greece. Afte 7 months, we finally left Lesvos to come to Attica. It was honestly wonderfull to finally leave from there, but the problems didn't stop as we hoped. We had a very difficult time and then covid-19 came and things got worse. Everyone was suffering either from Covid-19 either from fear and restrictions.

Living during Covid-19 was very difficult for me, because I was already facing mental difficulties and I had just given birth to my son. Fortunately I started counseling at Babel DC and it helped me a lot, because being help inside, I couldn’t find support from my community. 

Three years have past since we arrived Greece. Now, we have taken things to our hands. Before 2 months, I came to Switzerland with my son and my husband is still in Greece, with my daughter. I hope we manage to be together soon! I have bad and good memories from Greece. Things are very difficult for refugees, but the kindness of people you cannot find elswere. I hope one day I can come back, but not as a refugee.

* See bellow a photo from the camp that Zahra is staying in Switzerland