We of Balkan Hotspot support the values of the UNITED for Intercultural Action network. Because we felt it was important to carry out the project on a local level, we organised some activities during the action week. Here is a short review of all activities. We hope it will inspire you to organise similar actions!
Volunteer Zoé embracing her tree-hugging tendencies and promoting the Anti-racist picnic
Activities and events
We kicked off the week with an anti-racist picnic. Joined by Oikopolis, Refugee Trauma Initative, and ΦΙΞ in art, we brought together people from different backgrounds. It was a wonderful day full of shared food, laughter and joy. Take a look at the pictures here, and watch the video that Irene made about the event below!
A short impression of the antiracist picknick
We also hosted a screening of the documentary “I Am Not Your Negro” at Balkan Heart. Afterwards, there was a short discussion. It was an informative evening that gave participants lots of food for thought.
Promotion image of “I Am Not Your Negro” (2016)
During the week, volunteers also organised workshops at two language schools in Thessaloniki: Babylonia and Galileo Galilei. They joined classes for English, Italian, Spanish and French. Through non-formal methods, they started discussions on racism in the target languages of students.
Workshop about racism at language school Babylonia
To conclude the week full of important activities, Balkan Hotspot organised a flashmob against racism: a human chain. In other words: a line of people, united hand in hand, starting from the port and moving towards the White Tower. Because of the great collaboration between Refugee Trauma Initative, Oikopolis, Thessaloniki Checkpoint, Infinity Greece, ESN Thessaloniki, FIX in art, Babylonia, United Societies of Balkans and Balkan Hotspot, the human chain was a huge success. It even caught the attention of a variety of local news agencies. Find the pictures here and see the video below!
I am 23 years old and moved from Sweden to Greece for ten months. My main interests are human rights, activism, and art. I also love writing about LGBTQ+-related topics and social justice.
