Mahdia Hossaini
We want to tell you about these memories of ours that have changed our lives for the better over the past two years. They have influenced the way we think, how we see society as well as other people.
One day, I went to the camp I used to live in, in order to visit a friend. At first, I was overwhelmed by my memories of the past and of my life in the camp. My mind was confused and I was struggling with it. Meanwhile, I was searching for my friend who works as a translator for an organisation that supports women, but who was very busy at that moment. She finally invited me to go to a meeting with her, where there were many women and girls.
On walking into the place where the meeting was due to take place, I saw quite a few women reading the “Migratory Birds”, and specifically the article I had written entitled “What and Afghan woman wants to say to and Afghan man”.
As soon as they had finished reading it, the women were asked for their opinion, not knowing who had written the article. The surprise shown by one of the women really shocked me. “There is no way that article was written by an Afghan woman”. I asked her what made her think that, and why she thought the author couldn’t possibly be from Afghanistan. “That article has been written by a strong, courageous woman,” she replied, “and such women do not exist in Afghanistan”. I asked her why she regards women in this way, and she answered that that was how she was brought up.
I asked myself how can we possibly support our men, when Afghan women don’t even believe in themselves. Even though her words upset me, they gave me the strength to carry on writing more articles about the women in my country. They may not believe in themselves and in their capabilities, even in the 21st century, but I believe in them.
Another woman at the meeting said: “We are proud that there exists an Afghan woman who is able to express herself and make known the feelings of all Afghan women.”
That day I felt two conflicting emotions at the same time. At the end of the meeting I introduced myself and they hugged me. They also thanked all the members of the “Migratory Birds” team.
Now we would like to invite you to share your own experiences and memories from the “Migratory Birds”
Abdul Rashid Mohamadi
From the moment I joined the “Migratory Birds”, every meeting has been a pleasant memory. I have met a lot of people and my experience with the team has shown me that we are all equal, regardless of gender, nationality or religion. Whenever I see anyone reading our newspaper and encouraging us, I feel proud to be a member of the team.
Abdul Rachman Madala
One day, I was returning with a friend of mine from a meeting of the newspaper. We were late and we were hoping to catch the train to Malakasa, but first we had to take the metro. We rushed through the open barriers without a ticket but came face to face with inspectors and police. They asked to see our tickets and we had to tell them that we didn’t have any. As soon as we showed them our journalists’ identity cards they were impressed because they saw that we were volunteers at the newspaper. They gave us one fine instead of two.
Ihtisam Khan
I have a lot of interesting memories to do with our newspaper but it is hard for me to find the words to describe them. Firstly, I joined the newspaper on December 16th 2017. As a new member I wanted to write something but I started by just listening. Then, very gradually, I published my first poem. It was a life-changing moment. Since then, I try to make sure that my voice reaches both ordinary and powerful people in Greece.
Mohamad Nasim Haidari
When I was first introduced to the newspaper I wasn’t particularly brave nor was I very sure of myself. My involvement in the team increased my self-confidence; it made me realise the pain and difficulties faced by migrants and refugees, and allowed me to become their voice and make sure it reached people’s ears.
I remember how two months after my first involvement with the newspaper, I managed to speak in a seminar about the difficult living conditions faced by refugees in Greece. There were many visitors from foreign countries, such as France, England, Canada and Switzerland at that seminar. And so I was able to explain the problems and hardships of refugees to more than 500 people.
Mohamad Sarif Rahmani
When I first joined the “Migratory Birds” team of journalists, I realised that if we were united we could move forward towards our goal stronger than before, and that we could use the newspaper to inform refugees and migrants of their rights. Also, I learnt a lot through our group meetings, and I reflected on people’s rights and gender equality. I think that was the most important thing I gained from my involvement with the newspaper.
Noora Al Fadli
One day I was sitting in the camp, when some of the editorial team of the “Migratory Birds” came to talk to us about their newspaper and invited us to their meetings. I liked the idea, and I really enjoyed my first meeting. I told them I would like to be a part of the newspaper production and I was accepted. I am now an active member of the Young Journalists, writing articles and doing interviews. What a wonderful, unforgettable memory.
Umer Farouk
My name is Umer Farouk and I come from Pakistan. I remember members of the newspaper team coming to the guesthouse where we were living, asking if we wanted to join them. I was very confused at the beginning and I couldn’t find anything to write about. I did try and I believed in myself, so I wrote about life at school. When I submitted my article, the editorial team was very encouraging and that really motivated me. They showed me how to use the newspaper to make my voice heard by other people. That’s how I realised the value of the “Migratory Birds” in our lives and I learnt to raise my voice in order to be heard. I hope people find what we write interesting. The opportunity to write for the newspaper changed my life. I always had things that I wanted to tell people, and now I can do that through the newspaper. I am sure readers will find it useful and interesting.
Mohamad Alrifai
After all that I had been through and suffered in my life, when I arrived in Greece my goal was for my voice to resonate far and wide. However, I was afraid that I would remain marginalised and that I would have neither a voice nor a place of my own. I was afraid that my voice wouldn’t have an echo and that no one would be able to hear it apart from me. Joining the newspaper team made me feel that I wouldn’t always be the only one listening to my voice, and that there were others who would like to hear me.
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