The world is witnessing one of the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War, but it would seem as if very few are paying attention. Disgruntled by this reality, activists around the world have employed various methods to raise awareness about the fact that the conflict in the Middle East has caused more than 65 million people to become displaced.
An individual doing just that is André Naddeo, who posted on Bored Panda that he returned to Greece to work on his own independent project focused on the refugee children. He says that many children are plastered across media sites, but few have taken the time to actually understand what the young ones are going through, as well as what their future aspirations might be.
Naddeo explains:
“These children are very visible in the media, but no one seems to be trying to research their thoughts about their past and their hopes for the future.”
The activist spent 45 days living at the Piraeus refugee camp and while he was there, he founded the Drawfugees project. He and a team have been asking kids affected by the crisis what they want to be when they grow up. As Naddeo says,
“This new initiative forms part of the core mission of the Drawfugees project giving children a voice. It is children who are suffering the most from war and human rights abuses. About half of today’s refugees are children.
Many of those children aspire one day to be doctors, teachers or even drivers. Only some of them will make it – but Drawfugees is an optimistic project. While we do not ignore the scars and pain of the past, our focus is not on tragedy but on hope.”
Visit the Drawfugees Facebook page to learn more.
Reem, 6, Syria
“I want to be a pediatrician because my dream is to take care of children just like me. Did you like my drawing?”
Arsyan siloo, 9, Iraq
“I want to be a football player because of Cristiano Ronaldo – me and my father love to watch him playing for Real Madrid , it’s so inspiring”.
Sana Shirzad, 6, Afghanistan
“I want to be a high school teacher when I grow up. My dream is to have my own school in my homeland Afghanistan with a backyard for the children not only learn, but play and have some fun at the same time”.
Aoumar Mazan Shabe, 9, Syria
“I want to be a driver, a chofer. It’s because my father used to do so I want to be just like him. Can I make some money with that?”.
Mohamed Al Kadad, 8, Syria
“This is my house, my children playing while I am coming back from work with my suitcase. I want to be a doctor when I grow up. Merry Christmas everyone!”
Toulay Khalil, 6, Syria
“This me as a dentist taking care of a patient lying on a Red Cross bed. That’s what I want to do.”
Evan Siloo, 5, Iraq
“I want to be a teacher, definitely. But my draw looks more like a house, and not a school, don’t you think? Perhaps because we do not have one”.
Yaser Mazan Shabe, 11, Syria
“I wish that one day I can be a football player. I used to watch a lot of matches with my uncle (in my hometown), such a good memory. I love Real Madrid! Cristiano Ronaldo is the best!! Sorry, I don’t like Barcelona at all!”
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
This article (Activist Asks Refugee Children What They Want To Be When Older, This Is What They Drew) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and TrueActivist.com
