Community as Solidarity: the Challenges and Empowerment of Managing Community Spaces in the Eu-Border Context
As winter sets in on Samos, this month we’ve been searching for ways to provide some comfort to our community.
Reflecting on what warmth, community and kindness mean to us, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share what our community spaces, Alpha Centre and Alpha Land, represent to us and the people we welcome every day.
To mark the occasion, we asked our Alpha Centre and Alpha Land Officers, Nicole and Mike, to share their thoughts and experiences!
What do Alpha Centre and Alpha Land mean to you?
“The magic of our two community spaces lies in their ability to bring people from different countries and cultures together”, begins Nicole. “You see people who don’t even speak the same language, sitting at the same table, playing games and becoming friends”, continues Mike. “In our spaces, you realize that sports and games truly have no borders”, he adds.
At the same time, they both emphasize that “...our spaces also represent a way for people to escape the monotony and boredom of the Camp (Closed-Controlled Access Centre).”
For this reason, at Alpha Land and Alpha Centre, we provide a safe space where people can engage in psychosocial and educational activities, relax, and connect with others.
Nicole explains: “Our approach in managing the two centres is community-based, meaning that we try to tailor our activities and services to the specific needs of the people at any given moment.” “And for this, we need to remain flexible, prepared and adaptable to all kinds of changes, whether it’s the camp schedules or weather conditions”, Mike adds. “We also try to be as inclusive as possible, offering women-only activities to create a comfortable space for them to bond, or simply playing music from people’s home countries to make them feel more connected.”
Nicole shares that handling cultural and language barriers was not always easy and could be a bit overwhelming at the beginning of her job. However, after working three months as a Community Centre Officer, she realizes that “80% of communication is body language: with a simple smile, you can make someone feel welcome and at ease.” Similarly, Mike highlights how something as simple as offering tea and coffee can help people feel more comfortable and safe.
At Alpha Centre and Alpha Land, two days are never the same. Managing the spaces and addressing people’s needs can be quite challenging. When asked about the most difficult part of their job, they both agreed without hesitation: “It’s realizing the limitations of our work and accepting that there is only so much we can do to help. We can’t improve living conditions in the camp or speed up the asylum process…But we can make sure people have a good time in our spaces.”
On the flip side, their favourite part of the job is learning from people about their languages, cultures, and countries. For Mike, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job is seeing people grow more and more confident and comfortable in our spaces. “You often see someone coming to Alpha Land and Alpha Centre for the first time, looking shy and quiet. Then, after just a few days, they walk in confidently, joke with us, and bring friends along to show them around”. For Nicole, it’s incredibly gratifying to see how quickly people become familiar with and attached to the spaces.
“This experience as Community Centre officer has significantly improved my cultural awareness,” shares Nicole. “I’ve learned so much about different cultures and countries, and I’ve become more familiar with how to approach new cultures,” she adds. Mike agrees, saying, “I feel much more confident now when meeting and connecting with new people. This job has taught me invaluable skills in understanding and approaching different cultures.”
Do you have any tips for future Community Centre Officers and final thoughts?
“Be open to cultural exchange, ready to learn, and willing to try new activities. Just get out there and enjoy it!” “And we hope the next people who take on this role will bring the same passion and enthusiasm!”
Written by Gaia Polidori, Communications Officer
