RITSONA KINGDOM JOURNAL Issue 6 May 2018
PRODUCED BY YOUTH RITSONA
From the YES team Christina, Meg and Natasha....................................................................................................3 Art Internationally by Michael.............................................................................................................................4-5 Residential Volunteering Programme...........................................................................................6-7 Meet the YES.................................................................................................................................8-14 Football by Abdul..................................................................................................................................14 Safe Zone Mural ...............................................................................................................................15 Ma Mama Chérie by Louines...............................................................................................................................16 La Terre Inconnue by Jordan.................................................................................................................................17 Perspectives by Anonymous, Bashar and Sagvan ..............................................................................18-19 Storytelling Without Borders Showcase........................................................................................20 Adventures in Germany, Part II by Mohammed.......................................................................................................................21 YES Recipes by Nesrin and Ahmed............................................................................................................22 Construction Project.........................................................................................................................23 Perspectives by Mohanned and Hisham .............................................................................................24-25 Art Showcase...............................................................................................................................26-29 YES Workshops..........................................................................................................................30-31 About the Artist by Ibrahim.........................................................................................................................32-33 Lighthouse Recording Studios...................................................................................................34-35 Sports.............................................................................................................................................36-37 Films by Hamed and Ammar...........................................................................................................38 CV Workshops..................................................................................................................................39 "Syria is like the sun" by Anonymous.......................................................................................................................40
From the YES team
To view past editions, visit http://www.lighthouserelief.org/ritsona-kingdom-journal
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Lighthouse Relief and are the individual opinions of Youth Ritsona.
Table of Contents
Springtime in Ritsona has brought much change. Muddy football matches have transformed into sunny volleyball games; old friends have left and hundreds of new arrivals have joined the camp. Among these new residents are many wonderful new youth, who have brought even more joy, energy, thoughtfulness and creativity to our space. The Youth Enagagement Space (YES) has stayed busy throughout these changes with new sports programming, construction projects, CV and job skills workshops, music and recording sessions, language classes and much more. We are especially excited to announce the advent of our Residential Volunteer Programme (RVP), which has had great success thus far with residents of Ritsona participating in training and volunteering in both the YES and Child Friendly Space (CFS). Our Resident Volunteers have done an excellent job supporting and improving programmes in both spaces and we look forward to even more RVs joining the Lighthouse Relief (LHR) team as we continue this project over the next few months. As usual, we are at a loss for words to describe the sense of generosity, humor, creativity, patience, community and love that we see in the youth each and every day. We thank you all and look forward to a summertime full of fun! In solidarity and with love, The YES Team
ART INTERNATIONALLY
More than anything else, Michael misses his parents and his village, Sadad, where he says, “the people are just nice.” He explains that it’s been difficult to have to leave his family so young and to travel outside of his country under the circumstances they did. “We were all like a big family. Since it was small, everything was within walking distance and we spent our days with our friends in the streets. It’s sad to think that a lot of us are now spread around different countries far away from home and our families.” Throughout this difficult journey, Michael’s brother George always reminds him to “never give up.” Painting has been a refuge for Michael during this time. “For me, painting is a way to disconnect and to have some time for myself since it’s difficult to find time alone in camp. You don’t get a lot of privacy in the isoboxes or outside. I also don’t normally share what I have inside, but with my paintings I find a way to express my feelings and emotions,” says Michael. His artistic talents have allowed him to move beyond Ritsona. In fact, his work will soon be displayed internationally in San Francisco at a series of shows hosted by Love Without Borders. Michael reflects, “I feel like I am taking steps now to build my career as an artist. It's nice to know that people around the world are seeing my art. Even if I am still here in Ritsona, my art is traveling the world. I want people to appreciate my work now, but I also want to keep working to be a better artist. This show is just the first step." If you are interested in purchasing artwork or getting in touch with the artist, please feel free to contact him at michael.bahjat@gmail.com.
Michael Georges is a 19-year-old artist from Syria. He likes to play drums and break dance and spends a lot of time involved in Lighthouse’s Youth Engagement Space (YES). Michael brainstormed with his friends to find three words to best describe his character: patient, kind, and strong. Over two years ago, when he was a 16-year-old high-schooler, Michael and his older brother George left Syria to escape the war. He and George, 21, spent 5 months in Turkey before making the crossing to Greece. Michael and George arrived on the Greek Island of Agathonisi on March 18, 2016, two days before the implementation date of the EU-Turkey Statement, which effectively closed Europe’s borders to newly arriving refugees. This has created many obstacles in their asylum process. Their registration and asylum procedures began the very day the EU-Turkey Agreement took effect, meaning their case has been handled as if they arrived in Greece after the cutoff date. Since there is no asylum office on Agathonisi, Michael and George were transported to Samos Island on March 20, 2016. They spent 20 days on Samos Island. "It was hard", says Michael reflecting back on those days. For over two years now, Michael and George have been living in Ritsona Accommodation Centre, just north of Athens on the Greek mainland. Over these years, they have seen countless friends from Ritsona move on to other European countries to re-start their lives, while their case remains open and unresolved. Michael has not attended school since he left Syria. At night, he tries to read, paint or play drums, if he has the opportunity. But most of his time goes by doing nothing – just sitting and chatting with the other young guys who, like him, are waiting to resolve their cases and finally start a new life. This “is really frustrating and mentally exhausting for a young person that has the energy and capacity for studying or working in order to ensure his future and finally become independent to make choices for his own life”, says Michael.
FROM THE RESIDENT VOLUNTEERS
"I wanted to volunteer because I knew I would be happy with this program. When I help others I feel happy, especially children. That's why I love being a volunteer!" - Hamed, Child Friendly Space (CFS) Resident Volunteer. We're happy to announce the successful kick-off of our new Residential Volunteer Programme (RVP). With over 30 residents signing up, the first teams have already finished training and are already volunteering in Lighthouse's spaces. The RVP aims to provide capacity building opportunities for Ritsona’s residents by recognizing and utilizing their broad skills and recruiting them to join the teams delivering our community and social programs. Residents can volunteer to work within the YES and Child Friendly Space (CFS) programmes; a new volunteer construction team; or to support our communications team. This initiative is an opportunity for the community to be more involved in the planning and implementation of services; to help the current lack of cultural representation during planning of daily activities in the CFS and YES; and to provide Ritsona's residents with a sense of ownership of Lighthouse Relief's spaces in camp.
Residential Volunteer Programme
Meet the YES
On April 16-19, youth from the Safe Zone beautified their space with the help of Spanish artist Gerbos. The youth did an excellent job painting with the result being several lovely murals that now grace the Safe Zone.
Safe Zone Mural
Football by Abdul
La Terre Inconnue Je suis arrivé dans une terre inconnue, différente de ma terre. Au début, j'étais un peu stressé, frustré, mais rien à faire parce que c’est difficile de retourner. Cette terre était devenue mon lieu de refuge donc il fallait s’habituer malgré c'était dur parce que chaque jour je pensais a ma famille. Un jour, je me suis décidé de faire le tour du camp, subitement je rencontre la terre promise, cette à dire un lieu qui a transformé ma vie. Dans cette lieu il y avait des jolies filles qui ont quittés aussi leurs pays pour venir remonter le moral des personnes perdues comme moi. Elles étaient gentilles, rigolotes, compréhensives, etc même si leur temps étaient limite dans cette terre. Elles m’ont appris que là où je suis c’est ma terre parce que je fais des amis de plusieurs nationaux, j’appris plusieurs cultures, langues, races, etc Donc, ma façon de voir des choses a changé et dans chaque difficulté se cachent des opportunités et de la joie. Si j’’ai retenu une chose chez les filles c’est de l’amour accompagné de la joie. On a formé une grande famille et des moments inoubliables. The Unknown Land I arrived in an unknown land, different from my land. In the beginning I was a little stressed, frustrated, but nothing could be done because it’s difficult to return. This land became my place of refuge so I had to get used to it, even though it was hard because each day I thought about my family. One day I decided to walk around camp, when suddenly I came across the promise land, in other words a place that transformed my life. In this place there were pretty girls who also left their countries to come lift the spirits of lost people like me. They were kind, funny, understanding, etc, even though their time was limited in this land. They taught me that here where I am is my land because I am making friends of many nationalities, I am learning about many cultures, languages, races, etc So, my way of seeing things changed and hidden in each difficulty there are opportunities and joy. If I retained one thing from the girls, it’s love accompanied by joy. We formed a big family and unforgettable moments.
La Terre Inconnue by Jordan
Ma Mama Chérie by Louines
Ma Mama Chérie Ma Maman african, Tout le plaisir que j'ai eu dans le berceau de maman Dépasse celui des autres lits dans lesquels j'ai dormi, Maman si tu étais toujours éternellement dans ma vie je t'aurais demandé de me faire revivre ces moments là, Jamais tu ne supporterais de me voire pleurer et toi souriante, jamais tu ne supporterais de me voire faire une insomnie et toi avoir sommeil, jamais tu ne supporterais qu'une moustique me dérange, Quand je tombais malade,tu me veillant jusqu'au matin. Depuis que je vie plus avec toi maman je me sens abandonné, ta récompense à qui la remettait-je ? Même Quand je pleure personne n'est là pour me conseiller, voila pourquoi je te fais cette poème ma mère BEBE, la saveur du lait maternel de ma mère dépasse le goût de touts les recettes de cordons bleus chez qui j'ai mangé même s'il n'y avait pas l'huile ou de tomate dépasse cela avait plus de goût que la viande Depuis que tu prépares plus pour moi, d'appétit je ne mange que pour faire plaisir à ma bouche. Même s'ils refont le monde cinq cent fois, moi mon serment est que tu sois toujours ma mère. My Beloved Mother My African Mama, all the pleasure that I had in the cradle of mama surpasses all the other beds I have slept in, Mama, if you were still eternally in my life I would have asked you to let me relive these moments, You could never bear to see me crying while you were smiling, you could never bear to see me without sleep while you were sleepy, you would never let a mosquito bother me, When I got sick you watched me until the morning. Since no longer living with you I feel abandoned, who can I pay back for what I owe you? Even when I cry no one is here to console me, this is why I made you this poem dearest mother, BEBE, the flavor of my mother's breast milk exceeds the cost of all the chef's recipes from which I ate even if there wasn’t oil or tomato, yours had more taste than the meat. Since you no longer prepare food for me, I only eat to satisfy my mouth. Even if they remake the world five hundred times, my vow is that you are still my mother.
My name is Sagvan, and I am from Zakho in Iraqi Kurdistan. I am 26 years old. I love going to the gym to train and swimming. I also love the English language. I love Greece and it's culture. So far in Greece, I have had a lot of fun, and I continue to do so. I thank Lighthouse Relief for the activities they host for the guys and all they do. I thank all of Lighthouse, including the new volunteers and those who have left. I also thank all the other organizations in Ritsona, including IOM, IAM YOU, CCS, Café Rits, and the medical organization KEELPNO (previously Red Cross). All my best wishes!
Sagvan
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Perspectives
Bashar
Lighthouse's Storytelling without Borders project closed with a bang as we celebrated the completion of their travels throughout Greece in Chalkida. A dozen youth participants in the project joined Lighthouse staff and supporters in the closing celebration to view the final products of their film-making and a great time was had by all (see photos below). YES founders Hannah Brumbaum and Daphne Morgen are extremely excited to share their next step, the launch of a project that is very near and dear to their hearts: Youth UnMuted! The phenomenal young people they worked over the past 15 months in Greece inspired them to create a project designed to ensure that their voices and stories continue to be heard despite the dwindling media coverage of the refugee crisis. One third of the people stuck in refugee camps across Greece are youth, many of whom have little to no access to schooling or psychosocial support. Youth UnMuted seeks to elevate and empower these young people’s voices through providing them with a safe space and platform to freely express themselves and be heard by a global audience. Youth UnMuted needs YOUR help to get this project off the ground! Please check out and share their website and consider donating!
Storytelling Without Borders Showcase
Adventures in Germany, Part II by Mohammed Tawfik Kwider Mohammed updates us on his most recent adventures in Germany, continued from his previous article in Issue 5 of the Ritsona Kingdom Journal.
Addis (Lentils) by Ahmed
As a part of the RVP, Lighthouse volunteers have completed multiple construction projects including a new walkway in the CFS, fortified benches and fences in both spaces, and even a new cornhole game for the YES!
YES RECIPES
Construction Project
How did you learn to cook lentils? I taught myself! Why do you cook lentils? I like it because I know how to make it well. Who do you cook lentils for? I cook it for myself. Where does the recipe come from? It’s an Iraqi recipe. Iraqis love this dish, especially during cold weather. Do you enjoy cooking? I love cooking. It helps me get my anger and nerves out when I cook. Recipe: ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp black pepper ½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp salt ½ tsp coriander 4 tsp raspberry vinegar 4 tsp apple vinegar 2 chili peppers Potatoes Bell peppers Onions 1 clove garlic 1 lemon 1 bag lentils
Soksey by Nesrin First mix milk with cacao powder and sugar over stove on high heat and stir until it becomes thick and sticks together. Break digestive biscuits in a pan, and pour over the chocolate mix over the broken biscuits. Put the pan in the refrigerator for two hours, and when it is ready cut with a knife and serve. Bon appétit!
Hisham G
Mohanned
ART SHOWCASE
YES WORKSHOPS
IBRAHIM ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ibrahim has been illustrating since he arrived in Ritsona. He really enjoys illustrating animals and thinks his artwork is a way for people to get to know him. It’s also a fun way to spend time in camp. He loves to sketch with pencils and enjoys drawing symbols of love. He practices every day so he can master illustrating human faces.
Recently, the young people of Ritsona have been engaging in guitar, singing and recording workshops with Australian volunteer Catherine. Every day, the youth have come eager to learn how to use recording software to capture songs they have written or to record songs that remind them of home. It's been a magical time - watching the youth close their eyes and sing with all their heart, supporters listening with rapt attention. These young musicians are bursting with creativity and talent. Have a listen to some of their recordings HERE.
LIGHTHOUSE Recording Studios
Qudditch
Volleyball
SPORTS!
Ultimate Frisbee
Ping Pong
Yoga
Muay Thai
Ammar
For the past two months the youth have been working hard on writing their CVs. The YES has hosted various workshops on CV writing including the rights to employment in Greece and a special workshop focused on using the platform LinkedIn. In the weeks to come, we will focus on creating cover letters and preparing for interviews.
HAMED
Mehdi, Sous-chef / Karate Instructor “I am passionate about cooking and food. Cooking Mexican, Indian, Italian, French and Chinese dishes are my specialty. However, I would love to learn more Indian and German recipes. I enjoy drinking coffee and hope there will be opportunities in the future to learn about the many different ways coffee can be prepared and served. One of my future ambitions is to learn and practice writing poetry in the many languages I speak."
Ansu, Professional Footballer / Sales Assistant “I have worked as a sales assistant and volunteered with the Red Cross but my favourite job so far has been playing professional football in Liberia. Football has been my passion since I was a small child. I believe that nothing is impossible if there is passion behind the things we do and my goal now is to pursue my professional football career in Europe."
Hamed is from Syria and has been making video logs about his journey as a refugee. Follow him on Facebook or YouTube to see more of his video clips.
Ammar loves comedy films and during one of our film making workshops wanted to make a short prank comedy. With the help of Ibrahim on editing, and Bekoo on camera, they made the masterpiece The Thief.
Garib, Concrete Laborer / Supermarket Cashier “Going to school has always been my favourite thing to do. I love learning. I have enjoyed all my past jobs but most of all I liked going to college."
CV WORKSHOPS
Ahmad, Translator and Interpreter / English Teacher “I love working as an interpreter because I enjoy communicating with people from all over the world and meeting people of different nationalities."
I am from Syria. In my country people who don’t deserve death die, from the hand of those who do not deserve to live. One day, I left my home without saying goodbye and I know we will be separated for a long time... When they destroyed, killed, made people being displaced in my country, introduced sectarianism and traditionalism that divided the sons of the nation and danced on your ashes like clowns they thought they erased all your history, your identity. But I’m sure we will come back and instead of blood spilling in the places, we will plant flowers. In place of the little stone that you destroyed we will build a big rock. You tried in vain! Syria is like the sun that goes down in the evening, it has to rise again in the morning, and over again. So Syria is like the death, it will come back one day.
"Syria is like the sun..." by Anonymous
