Pilotshow: Lesbos meets Graz

Today we present a special show: It is the first time we
broadcast from lesbos, the Paréa Community Center.


To know the place: the Paréa Community Center exists now for
several years. Originally it was founded as „One Happy Family –
Community Center„. It is run and selforganized by civil
society. It provides help and hope for people who are refugees,
who had to leave their countries because of violence, war,
ecological threats, social, cultural and political
discremination and exclusion.


As you know Lesbos has a tragic history. On the 9th of
September 2020 the first Moria camp burnt down. More than
20.000 thousand people were squeezed at a camp, that had a
capacity for only about 2000 to 3000.


Now there is a new camp. During the Corona pandemic, for two
years, the refuges inside the camp were only allowed to leave
for once a week and only for three hours.


Over all the living conditions only could be described as a
humanitarian scandal.


Not only the poor infrastructure: people are still living in
tents, some for years now. without pricacy. exposed to the
heat, the cold, the wet and windy conditions.


On a hillsite, above this refugee camp, the Paréa Community
Center is located. it represents a different version, how
people seeking for refuge can be treated in a humanitarian way.


The Paréa Community Center is a selforganised space, offering
legal support by lawyers, psychological help for traumatized,
education and language learning and much more, like gardening,
sports, music, arts and media productions – it is a place for
recovery, hope and taking action.


Radio Helsinki and Doro Blancke Refuge
Assistance are starting a radio project. To „leave no one
behind“, we put this motivation in first place: that people can
speak out, in their own voices. as there any many untold
stories, not only of trauma, violence or sufferings, but also
voices of hope, resilience and solutions.


We want to get connected to the people: Let them speak. Tell
stories. Adress issues and overcome prejudices. We want to
start with a team in Graz and a team at Lesbos. This will be
our initial exchange of us, global citizens.


On the 29th of May the team Graz and the team Lesbos aired the
first show and met each other for the first time.


In the Radio Helsinki studio in Graz: Peninah, Saif, Habib and
Gernot


At Pareá Community Center, Lesbos: Aziz, Mo, Yasin, Omid, Ipek,
ioha and Walt.


Hosts of the show are Saif and Aziz.


 


To the project:


We start Season III of Snapshots from the Borders. We got
a new funding and support by the „Action for Sustainable Future
hub„. Organized by the Ludwig Boltzmann Society and the
University of Applied Arts Vienna.


Till the end of 2023 we want to build a team at Lesbos and in
Graz for more collaboration and information about the complex
question of refuges and asylum. based on the experiences of the
people, of global citizens.


We use radio as a „social place of encounter“: through radio,
people can people can enter into dialogue with each other,
listen attentively, ask questions, experience themselves
differently, overcome resentments, network and reach an
interested public audience.


Over the years, community radios have accumulated experience in
addressing, organizing and involving people with diverse needs.
Across all age groups, origins (social, cultural, or
geographic), interests, or personal dispositions.


Photocredits: Mo


Music: Mo