On the 10th May, our students from the ILC-MDAT-YMCA had the opportunity to visit a painting exhibition hosted in our facilities. The paintings on display were all done by Unaccompanied Minor Migrants and it was an incredibly moving experience for everyone.

The Exhibition was held for the period 7 – 13 / 05/2023. They included works by forty-eight (48) unaccompanied minors from different countries of origin (Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Egypt) in which the children’s wishes, dreams for the future, as well as the experiences they gained in from their journey, starting from the country of origin to a new life. The Exhibition was held at the initiative of the Unit for the Integration and Support of Unaccompanied Minors of the Special Secretariat for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, of the Ministry of Immigration & Asylum, with the support of YMCA Thessaloniki and in collaboration with the agencies: Arsis, Coexistence-Ecumenical Refugee Program, International Organization for Migration and the 5th Laboratory of the Department of Visual & Applied Arts of the School of Fine Arts of the University of Athens.

After viewing the exhibition, our students were given the opportunity to express their feelings about the paintings and send a message to the artists. Many of them were struck by the powerful emotions conveyed in the paintings and were deeply touched by the stories of the artists who created them.

It was a truly inspiring experience to see the work of these young artists and to hear their voices through their art. Our students came away from the exhibition with a greater understanding and empathy for the challenges faced by Unaccompanied Minor Migrants, as well as a renewed appreciation for the power of art to communicate deep and complex emotions.

We are grateful for the opportunity to have hosted this exhibition and for the chance to connect with these young artists. We hope to continue to support and uplift their voices and experiences through future events and collaborations.

 

“YMCA is a partner of MDAT in the framework of the HELIOS project, implemented by IOM and funded by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.”