Visiting Greece for the first time is a remarkable experience, I assume, for everyone. But doing so in the middle of spring, with the little Nea Makri filled with flowers, lemons and cats, and knowing that ahead of you await weeks of new, fulfilling experiences, is a feeling I’ll treasure for a long time.
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Even though I had collaborated before in a couple of local organizations in my town, this was my first contact not only with the European Solidarity Corps, but also with such a high impact NGO. Getting to know how a well-stablished organization works from within was, at the beginning, a little bit confusing, with so many branches and areas of work that intertwined with one another.
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During the first two months of my volunteering experience, we scripted, filmed, and edited the documentary “Threads”, which portrays various aspects of the work IASIS and Fabric Republic, does in the Athens area.
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We conducted interviews with employees of Fabric Republic, staff from IASIS and the Boarding House, volunteer firefighters, local authorities from Marathon, beneficiaries of the Boarding House, volunteers, and representatives from other organizations that collaborate with IASIS.
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Throughout this time, with each interview we conducted, it felt like we were uncovering new layers of the impact and effort behind the organization. We met incredible workers and volunteers, visited different workplaces, and gradually understood how IASIS sustains its work and changes the lives of hundreds of people every day.
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Every conversation added another piece to the puzzle, shedding light on the organization’s multifaceted approach from social inclusion and psychological support to solidarity and sustainability.
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Their main priority is the psychosocial support of people in dire situations or dealing with mental health issues. Also, as a collateral line of action, they assist people and collaborate with other organizations in places of crisis, as wildfires or earthquakes, and they have a second-hand clothing program, Fabric Republic, which not only focus on sustainability but also inclusion.
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Myself and the other European volunteers, under the facilitation of the program facilitator from Connect Athens, were in charge of recreational activities for some of the mental health beneficiaries, packing or repurposing clothes for Fabric Republic, and assisting in the many inclusivity activities and festivals organized by Connect Athens, such as the bazaar co-organized by IASIS and the social services of the Municipality of Marathon, tree planting together with the volunteer firefighters and the Municipality of Marathon, as well as the beach cleanup in Nea Makri. Additionally, we contributed to the Connect Athens Festival, where through artistic, experiential, and educational activities, we strengthened the connection between generations, promoting inclusion, mutual respect, and social cohesion. Another significant event was Celebrate Love, an initiative that blends fashion with mental health awareness, highlighting acceptance, self-confidence, and diversity. Mental health service beneficiaries showcased unique clothes that were collected and distributed through the Fabric Republic sorting system, sending the message that mental health is the most valuable ‘garment’ we can wear.
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Working in the different frameworks of the organization gave us a sense of belonging, and experiencing all together and for the first time how our small actions could improve the lives of someone else, brought us together and helped to create lifelong bonds with each other.
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People that I didn’t knew some weeks before were now my dear friends, and they captivated me every time they were able to bring a smile to the face of one of the beneficiaries: creating games for them, exchanging gifts, making them laugh with some silly joke. They were giving away their love and their kindness, and in return they were making people happy and changing their lives for the better, even if it was only for a couple of hours.
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Small acts of solidarity do change the world, and I’ve been privileged enough to witness it.
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Isabel Hernandez Herraez,
ESC Volunteer
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