“We often follow the same routes in the city, to feel safe. We want to get to know Athens, to feel free when we move around in it.” With this request, the walk from Victoria Square to Monastiraki, with the refugee women and their children, began.

With stops at Varvakeio and Euripidou. Smells, colors, and products that reminded them of their homes.

Tour of the city and its monuments, from above, from a roof garden: Lycabettus, Acropolis, Plaka, Pnyka, Thisio, Psirri. The refugees of the Farsi-speaking empowerment group get to know Athens.

They ask about places they and their children can visit. They located on the map where Dionysiou Areopagitou, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and other points for cool walks in the city are.

On the way back, they ask to visit the church of Aghioi Anargyri. They ask about Papadiamantis’ cell. The conversation about Greek writers and literature is on fire.

The meeting closes with smiles and great enthusiasm.

The multilingual (Arabic-speaking, Farsi-speaking, French-speaking) refugee empowerment groups are part of the “Program to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the urban fabric”, which is implemented with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Greece (UNHCR Greece) and European Commission funding.