REFUGEE CHILDREN OF ELLINIKO

In December 2016, Elliniko Camp, an abandoned airport in Athens, was home to refugee children and their families who fled from Afghanistan and Iran. While the children's dreams are on hold, their lives continue as they learn Greek and play games with the staff of Faros, a local NGO. 

18 of the children agreed to be interviewed and have their hands photographed, alongside the Faros staff (names marked with a star*) who they see every day. 

Photography & Interviews by Talitha Brauer and Natalia O'Hara

Layout by Caroline Kimbro

 
Ali, age 10, AfghanistanFavourite colour: BlueFavourite food: MacaroniFavourite sport: Football, Volleyball and BasketballWants to be: A Boxer

Ali, age 10, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite food: Macaroni

Favourite sport: Football, Volleyball and Basketball

Wants to be: A Boxer

Ali is very smart, he has a talent for languages, when he came he only knew a few words (of Greek) and now he understands so much, he is almost fluent and you have to be careful what you say in front of him! He can be very naughty, but if you tell him he is being naughty he won't get upset, and if he does get upset, he'll be over it in one minute.

- Simona, Faros staff

Negar, age 13, AfghanistanFavourite colour: Blue and RedFavourite part of camp: I don’t like anything in camp, I only want to leave. But I like Phaedra* and Mariana*, they are very good. And I like to watch TV.Favourite subject: EnglishWants to be: …

Negar, age 13, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Blue and Red

Favourite part of camp: I don’t like anything in camp, I only want to leave. But I like Phaedra* and Mariana*, they are very good. And I like to watch TV.

Favourite subject: English

Wants to be: A Doctor

Ali, age 10, Iran/ AfghanistanFavourite colour: Red, Yellow, BlueFavourite food: Spaghetti with ChickenFavourite sport: My favourite sport is school, especially reading and writing.Favourite part of camp: Phaedra* is my favourite thing at camp becau…

Ali, age 10, Iran/ Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Red, Yellow, Blue

Favourite food: Spaghetti with Chicken

Favourite sport: My favourite sport is school, especially reading and writing.

Favourite part of camp: Phaedra* is my favourite thing at camp because every time I need it she lifts my spirits.

 
The sports facilities at the old Elliniko airport complex was converted into a camp for refugees. Athens, Greece. 12/2016.

The sports facilities at the old Elliniko airport complex was converted into a camp for refugees. Athens, Greece. 12/2016.

Faize, age 9, AfghanistanFavourite colour: BlueFavourite food: MacaroniFavourite part of camp: Games with the other children, painting flowers, and playing guitar. Johanna*, Nikki*, Mariana*, Phaedra* – all the people.Wants to be: A Doctor

Faize, age 9, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite food: Macaroni

Favourite part of camp: Games with the other children, painting flowers, and playing guitar. Johanna*, Nikki*, Mariana*, Phaedra* – all the people.

Wants to be: A Doctor

 
Hadia, age 7, AfghanistanFavourite colour: PinkFavourite food: White BeansFavourite part of camp: Phaedra*, Simona*, Johanna*, and Nikki*. Playing with dolls.Favourite sport: Football and GymnasticsWants to be: A Doctor

Hadia, age 7, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Pink

Favourite food: White Beans

Favourite part of camp: Phaedra*, Simona*, Johanna*, and Nikki*. Playing with dolls.

Favourite sport: Football and Gymnastics

Wants to be: A Doctor

Razia, age 10, AfghanistanFavourite colour: Black and YellowFavourite food: Mantou (rice)Favourite part of camp: Simona* and Phaedra*, but I like Maria* best because she’s very good and she plays with me. I like school, especially Dari and English.F…

Razia, age 10, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Black and Yellow

Favourite food: Mantou (rice)

Favourite part of camp: Simona* and Phaedra*, but I like Maria* best because she’s very good and she plays with me. I like school, especially Dari and English.

Favourite sport: Volleyball

Wants to be: A Teacher


Razia is smart and very intuitive, and far ahead of her age, she notices everything even when she doesn’t seem to be listening.

- Simona, Faros staff

 
Hossein, age 15, AfghanistanFavourite colour: BlueFavourite food: Rice with KormaFavourite part of camp: The volunteers from Faros, friends in the camp, and fixing motors. Simona* and Martina*, they are family and I want to learn from them.Favourite…

Hossein, age 15, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite food: Rice with Korma

Favourite part of camp: The volunteers from Faros, friends in the camp, and fixing motors. Simona* and Martina*, they are family and I want to learn from them.

Favourite subject: Math

Favourite language: Dari

Wants to be: A Doctor

“Layla is very quiet, but she is friendly and likes just to be sitting near to us.”

- Simona, Faros staff

 
Layla, age 13, AfghanistanFavourite colour: Red, Blue, and BlackFavourite food: SpaghettiFavourite part of camp: I love Simona*, but I don’t want to say why.Favourite sport: BasketballWants to be: A teacher of not very small or very big children, bu…

Layla, age 13, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Red, Blue, and Black

Favourite food: Spaghetti

Favourite part of camp: I love Simona*, but I don’t want to say why.

Favourite sport: Basketball

Wants to be: A teacher of not very small or very big children, but ones in the middle.

Reza, age 11, AfghanistanFavourite colour: RedFavourite food: SpaghettiFavourite sport: FootballWants to be: An EngineerFavourite part of camp: Johanna*, and I want to play football with her now!

Reza, age 11, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Red

Favourite food: Spaghetti

Favourite sport: Football

Wants to be: An Engineer

Favourite part of camp: Johanna*, and I want to play football with her now!

Mahlo, age 11, AfghanistanFavourite colour: BlackFavourite food: Rice and kormaFavourite part of camp: I want to leave the camp. But I love Simona*, she is beautiful and has a nice personality and is kind.Wants to be: A Policewoman or a Hairdresser

Mahlo, age 11, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Black

Favourite food: Rice and korma

Favourite part of camp: I want to leave the camp. But I love Simona*, she is beautiful and has a nice personality and is kind.

Wants to be: A Policewoman or a Hairdresser

 
Young refugee girls with Faros staff at the Elliniko Refugee Camp. December 2016.

Young refugee girls with Faros staff at the Elliniko Refugee Camp. December 2016.

Sana, age 8, AfghanistanFavourite colour: RedFavourite part of camp: I like Simona*, Phaedra*, Maria*, and Johanna*. They play every day and I am happy.Favourite sport: FootballWants to be: A Pilot

Sana, age 8, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Red

Favourite part of camp: I like Simona*, Phaedra*, Maria*, and Johanna*. They play every day and I am happy.

Favourite sport: Football

Wants to be: A Pilot

Alisina, 10, AfghanistanFavourite colour: YellowFavourite food: PizzaFavourite sport: FootballWants to be: A DoctorFavourite thing about camp: Simona*

Alisina, 10, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Yellow

Favourite food: Pizza

Favourite sport: Football

Wants to be: A Doctor

Favourite thing about camp: Simona*

Hadi, age 6, Iran/AfghanistanFavourite colour: RedFavourite food: MacaroniFavourite part of camp: Playing and I want to go and play now.Favourite sport: Sit-upsWants to be: Spiderman

Hadi, age 6, Iran/Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Red

Favourite food: Macaroni

Favourite part of camp: Playing and I want to go and play now.

Favourite sport: Sit-ups

Wants to be: Spiderman

Farshid, age 9, AfghanistanFavourite colour: YellowFavourite food: Roasted PotatoesFavourite part of camp: Johanna* - especially playing football, she plays well.Favourite sport: FootballFavourite subject: Greek

Farshid, age 9, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Yellow

Favourite food: Roasted Potatoes

Favourite part of camp: Johanna* - especially playing football, she plays well.

Favourite sport: Football

Favourite subject: Greek

Hamid, age 10, AfghanistanFavourite colour: Green, Red, and BlackFavourite food: RiceFavourite part of camp: Phaedra* and Ali*Favourite sport: Football and Cops and RobbersWants to be: A Policeman

Hamid, age 10, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Green, Red, and Black

Favourite food: Rice

Favourite part of camp: Phaedra* and Ali*

Favourite sport: Football and Cops and Robbers

Wants to be: A Policeman

Moslem, age 9, AfghanistanFavourite colour: RedFavourite food: Rice and ChickenFavourite part of camp: Johanna*, I like her personality and she plays good football and games.Favourite sport: Football

Moslem, age 9, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Red

Favourite food: Rice and Chicken

Favourite part of camp: Johanna*, I like her personality and she plays good football and games.

Favourite sport: Football

 

 

Moslem’s a very sweet boy and kind and quiet and he has a beautiful smile. He would play football all day long.

- Ali, Faros staff

Madia, age 9, AfghanistanFavourite colour: YellowFavourite food: Mantou (Rice)Favourite subject: EnglishWants to be: A Doctor

Madia, age 9, Afghanistan

Favourite colour: Yellow

Favourite food: Mantou (Rice)

Favourite subject: English

Wants to be: A Doctor

Hosna, age 7 AfghanistanFavourite food: MacaroniFavourite sport: I don’t like dancing, only school.Favourite subject: All the classes at schoolWants to be: A Teacher

Hosna, age 7 Afghanistan

Favourite food: Macaroni

Favourite sport: I don’t like dancing, only school.

Favourite subject: All the classes at school

Wants to be: A Teacher

 
Hands of children Ali, Hamid, and Faros volunteers Johanna & Ali.

Hands of children Ali, Hamid, and Faros volunteers Johanna & Ali.


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