This time, the “Migratory Birds’ flew to the skies above Chania.
On Tuesday, 11th December 2017, a group of “Migratory Birds” went to Chania, in Crete and visited the exhibition entitled “The Children who Crossed the Seas and the Game of Masks”
The exhibition was held at the Center of Mediterranean Architecture in Chania. It opened on 12th December 2017 and closed on 6th January 2018.
Mr Panos Christodoulou, the Director of Network for Children’s Rights welcomed everyone at the opening and presented the Network’s programmes, including the “Migratory Birds” project. He also gave an interview and spoke in great detail about the programmes in the local Chania media.
The “Migratory Birds” team, together with their interpreter Mr Saam, presented the project to schoolchildren who visited the exhibition.
Ms Foteini Avdelli, who runs the Culture Lab at Network for Children’s Rights was also present and organised an experiential workshop designed to inform children of their rights and help them recognise their individual identity.
After going round the exhibition and hearing about what we do, the schoolchildren expressed various opinions and queries, which they discussed with us.
In this exhibition, there were masks of varying colours, shapes and themes, which the pupils looked at and discussed. Behind each mask was a different message. For example, one mask portrayed an immigrant holding a ball of yarn that represented his life and the quest for hope.
Another mask which drew people’s attention was the one on which the flags of Afghanistan and Greece were drawn side by side. The children told us that this represented the union of the two countries. Although the majority of masks had been painted predominantly in bold colours, the hidden melancholy behind them was very apparent.
The visitors came from various organisations and schools. They spoke with the reporters of the “Migratory Birds” and asked them, amongst other things, about their stay in Greece and about the wars in their countries. All the visitors expressed their satisfaction with the way the exhibition had been organised and as a memento, they gave us a card with their comments and wishes for better days. Finally, a reporter from the newspaper “Chania News” interviewed members of the “Migratory Birds”.
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