"As if we were their friend, and not refugees": Hesham's essay
At our site at Alpha Land, we host informal English lessons for free to any interested resident of the Closed-Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) on Samos.
Hesham, from Yemen, is a resident of the CCAC and a community volunteer. He has been on Samos for three months and has been attending our English classes for two months, now.
He has been excelling in our English classes, currently at our highest level of English, and recently wrote this essay about his experience coming to Samos.
We are so grateful to have him in our classes and as a community volunteer, helping us provide the best services we can to the community on the island.
A photo of Hesham’s writing. July, 2024
Transcription of Hesham’s essays:
As all refugees who came to Samos, I felt like a stranger on this island and was taken to the refugee camp and I was afraid at first but I met people of several nationalities such as, Syrian, Afghani, Iraqi and Palestinian. I felt some comfort, despite being in a camp that was like a prison.
When I left the camp for the first time, I was extremely happy to be out of the detention centre I was in. That day, I went to Alpha Land, which is a social organization, and I was welcomed by the employees who work there with open hearts, as if we were their friend and not refugees. They offered me tea and coffee, talked to me, played with me, and gave me clothes.
At that time, I felt like a human being because of the humane and beautiful treatment they gave me. I started learning English at the hands of the best teachers in Alplha Land. They taught me the meaning of humanity.
I currently work as a volunteer with them to help other refugees. Finally, I would like to thank all of Alpha for all their efforts for me and for all refugees and for giving us hope in life. With all my appreciation, Hesham.
Below is a voice recording of Hesham, reading his essay, for individuals with impacted vision.
While residents at the CCAC await the processing of their asylum application or the transfer to another location, they cannot work, study, or leave the island. The average waiting time is also over two months, which can be particularly challenging for people who are vulnerable or are recovering physically and mentally from a difficult journey.
Providing language classes and other psychosocial workshops and events allows residents at the CCAC to prepare for the next step of their journey with more confidence and useful skills.
We currently have three levels of English classes, so everyone can be met at their point of knowledge and have space to improve.
Having residents of the CCAC also volunteer with us in their free time allows us to know exactly what their needs are in terms of informal teaching or other services they would like to learn or that we should improve.
This is how we build community in Samos, how we can help the time pass and remain positive for the next steps in anyone’s journey.
To continue supporting the informal education and language lessons we hold at our sites, please consider donating or running a fundraiser. We rely on our supporters to keep up the quality and consistency of our services.
All personal information provided has been approved with the informed consent of the person it concerns.