History & Hope
ATHENS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MI-HEALTH EUROPE
Athens wears its history openly, from ancient ruins to the marks of recent upheavals. Its layers reflect a city in constant negotiation with its past and present. Among those layers are the lives of migrants, navigating a system that often overlooks them. For many, access to healthcare is not just a challenge but a daily struggle. How does a city like Athens, with its rich legacy and stark inequalities, respond to those at its margins?
ABOVE: MR SOLO ENJOYING MORNING COFFEE ON HIS BALCONY IN PIRAEUS, GREECE
The Port of Piraeus, with its constant hum of activity, is where I met Mr. Solo. Once a nonprofit leader in the Ivory Coast, his life was upended by persecution. After enduring imprisonment in his home country and again in Turkey, he arrived in Greece seeking safety. But his challenges didn’t end there.
Mr. Solo spoke of the difficulty navigating Greece’s healthcare bureaucracy. "You feel invisible," he said, describing the emotional toll of encountering barriers like legal status, language gaps, and discrimination. Despite these struggles, his connection with Open Paths Athens became a turning point. They provided him with access to basic medical services and emotional support, while also fostering a sense of belonging. "I’ve learned to adapt to every turn," he shared, a quiet declaration of resilience amid systemic neglect.
ABOVE: MR SOLO SITTING ON THE BLEACHERS AT DIOGENES BASKETBALL CLUB
In Exarcheia, a neighborhood with a history of activism, I spent time with two remarkable individuals: Ms. Loretta, a community leader from Nigeria & Mr. Kaly, a human rights lawyer from the Democratic Republic of Congo:
"The psychological scars of my ordeal haunt me daily. Simple tasks trigger panic attacks, transporting me back to the dark cell where I once feared for my life. The asylum process is slow and daunting, complicated by language barriers and bureaucracy."
ABOVE: MR KALY & IAN FROM OPEN PATHS ATHENS
Mr Kaly’s story is one of courage and profound loss. A vocal advocate for human rights in his home country, he was detained and tortured before escaping to Greece. "Starting over is not easy, but it’s necessary," he explained. In Greece, Open Paths Athens became a lifeline, providing trauma-informed counseling and advocacy that helped him access essential healthcare. Mr Kaly’s story is a reminder that behind every statistic is a person carrying the weight of both visible and invisible scars.
ABOVE: MR KALY, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER & VICTIM OF TORTURE
Ms. Loretta’s journey highlights another dimension of healthcare inequality: the need for education and advocacy. "Organizations like Open Paths are so important," she told me. "They teach people about their rights and ensure we are treated with respect." Loretta’s role as a community leader has been shaped by her own experiences of navigating a system that often excludes migrants. Her words, "They make me feel like I matter," underline the importance of grassroots solutions that empower individuals to advocate for their own health and dignity.
ABOVE: LORETTA, ACTIVIST AND COMMUNITY LEADER
The stories I encountered in Athens highlight a broader European issue: the tension between policy and humanity. Migrants often navigate systems not designed for them, where basic rights like healthcare are uncertain, tied to paperwork, language, or limited services.
Ms. Loretta described these challenges: “Without someone to show you the way, it’s impossible to know what to do.” Through Open Paths, she gained access to vital medical care, but what mattered most was the respect and dignity she felt. “They treat us with dignity,” she said—a reminder of how grassroots organizations not only meet urgent needs but also restore agency and hope.
ABOVE: LORETTA IN EXARCHEIA
Athens, a city shaped by migration across centuries, offers both a backdrop and a context for these struggles. As one interviewee reflected, "This city is a place of contradictions—where history and hope collide." In the small acts of support—connecting people to care, creating spaces of safety—we catch glimpses of a more equitable future. These stories remind us that dignity is not just a moral obligation; it is a right that must extend to all.
