Thessaloniki | Story no5Walking together

I left my country on October 2015. The situation for my country that is in Central Africa is extremely grim because there is no free speech and human rights are almost non-existent due to having a dictatorship and having to obey the dictator. A lot of people have disappeared, tortured and murdered without any explanation. I took part in political actions of leftist groups and put myself in danger many times. I was assaulted various times, imprisoned, tortured and condemned to 15 years in prison. The secret services took my laptop and all my personal belongings and then jailed me, tortured me with electric shocks and even made me drink a poison that left me paralysed and sick for many days.

I finally achieved my escape and then went to Senegal. But in Senegal the situation is also difficult, there is a dictatorship and they cooperate with my country so they had my details. Regardless, I managed to acquire a fake passport and fly to Istanbul in Turkey. I found a smuggler there and paid him 1000 euros and that is how I went to Samos. I stayed for about 10 days in Samos and then took a boat to Athens and from there I reached Idomeni at the border with North Macedonia. Meanwhile the borders were already closed for those of us coming from zones not registered as war torn, allowing only Syrian, Iraqis and Afghanis. So I was left stranded and isolated in Idomeni for around two weeks. The situation was extremely hard. It was very cold. It was raining constantly there were no tents for people to stay and of course no toilets. I stayed many nights in the cold without tent and without a blanket. Finally by the time it was certain that the borders would not open again, some solidary people gave me the address of the squat Orfanotrofeio at Thessaloniki.

I stayed at Orfanotrofeio for 6 months and my life changed radically. I could never imagine the solidarity and care that I met at the squat. The whole journey up to Orfanotrofeio was a hell, pure suffering and full of disappointments.

Orfanotrofeio is one of the best squats that I’ve seen and visited in Greece. The people that participate and support the squat are truly dedicated to the cause of equality and solidarity. They organise and take care of the squat but also make several political actions. The care and concern can be seen primarily in their help towards the refugees, if someone gets arrested then instantly demonstrations get organised, if someone needs help with asylum issues then lawyers are found. But I think the most important is that many nationalities and people live in common spaces trying to get to know each other and learn from each other. We organise communal cleaning and cooking shifts. We also claim our right to free movement and organise demonstrations so that our voice is heard in the city. So Orfanotrofeio was good because all of us were pressured both mentally and physically by the journey. When I came to it I instantly felt a hug, the solidarity people supported me, even if you have psychological problems they are very supportive and caring, so much so that they are trying to relieve you. Also, a lot of political groups participate at Orfanotrofeio, there are always assemblies and meetings. I am very impressed of how dedicated the people that support the Orfanotrofeio are. I can really repeat with ease how Orfanotrofeio has changed the way I look at life. Until I reached Orfanotrofeio all I knew was smugglers asking me for money and hiding from cops and border police that chased me. At Orfanotrofeio I found my lost dignity and I felt safe and free. That was really important because the laws of states and their borders consider me as illegal, as a crook. In comparison, at the Orfanotrofeio squat I feel free and creative.

I would say that what I liked very much was the democratic and self-organised way that Orfanotrofeio functions. If I was to find a phrase expressing what happens at Orfanotrofeio that would be “Learning to Walk Together”. This learning in mutual care starts from simple daily functions of the squat, like the full participation of all for cooking and cleaning, and extends to self-organised decisions for political actions like demonstrations, interventions and other events. Nobody pushes another to do something, and all the decisions and events are based in dialogue, respect towards others and consent. This way we all learn to be active together, to care for one another and to function as a team. So this team is one of care and political struggle, on one side arguing for equality between us and on the other raising our voice in the city centre with protests and actions. I believe that political actions need to intensify, more immigrants/refugees should participate and solidarity networks to strengthen.