Before I was a refugee

In this video, people living in a camp in the port of Athens are asked what they did before they were labelled 'refugee'. Watch the video to find out what they say.

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. Remember you can read the transcript at any time.

Transcript

I am a dentist, from Kabul.

I'm a mechanic.

I studied agriculture engineering.

Yes, I was studying in university.

What did you study?

Energy. 

I am engineer.

Driver.

Mother.

I worked with British army in Afghanistan. 

I was a cable guy.

Job in boutique and fashion. Men and women. In central Baghdad. 

My life, it was good. I don't have economical problems. Just I have my life problem. 

First, I have dignity in my country. This is first. Second, I have respect. 

Our life was so, so lovely. We have everything in our city. 

I feel more comfortable in my country. But because of war, I escape.

But now we don't have anything, because the war finished everything. 

It's very difficult to live without family. Without family you just like a lone tree. No one can help you. No one can care you.

Iraq, Iraq, problem. Iraq no good. Family in Iraq … no family. Finished.

We try to forget what happened to us.

We try to do something to, you know, make better. You know? Just football or some hobbies.

We play cards, we play chess, we go to swim, we do, but just to make time goes. Just we want to finish the day. Nothing more, nothing less. But not to have a fun, because nothing, nothing will make us happy here.

We are just waiting for a bright day, we are waiting for a bright day. I know this is night, it's night. One day it will become a bright day. And we are just waiting for a bright day.

© The Worldwide Tribe

Discussion

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Average: 3.2 (9 votes)
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Submitted by mparedesr on Wed, 10/01/2024 - 17:24

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From my point of view, everyone who has the opportunity to help should do it, sending clothes, blankets and food to the refugees, for instance. But the people who work in the government are the ones who have to solve these kind of problems as they have more power and impact than society. However, the sad truth is that they only care about money, instead of caring about improving and saving people's lives.
Marta

Submitted by Adrianagp05 on Wed, 10/01/2024 - 16:26

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I personally reckon that these people should not be living in these conditions. Firstly, because they are humans and need a home where they can live comfortable and happy. Secondly, due to the fact that their home is a tent and they cannot properly fulfil their necessities. I believe that the Government should take this group of people to account so they do not feel forgotten or lonely.
Adriana

Submitted by ximenan75 on Wed, 04/10/2023 - 16:42

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I think it is difficult to help the refugee crisis, it´s a big problem that it deserve to take in account for the governments, they are who have to stop the wars and conflicts, and think about the people before the money and the power.

Submitted by dhiyaa on Wed, 27/09/2023 - 19:52

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I hope in the future you will be better than now just believe in Allah first then second work hard I know you have some problems but this is life if we don't work life controls me and you

Submitted by Elimss on Thu, 13/04/2023 - 18:56

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I definitely picked the wrong topic, it hit me so hard.

Submitted by Anne Blanpain on Thu, 12/05/2022 - 17:10

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I think that there are two points. First, in those countries where refugees come from there are wars, poverty, religious violence... : our governments should try to do their best to help for more stability and calm over there. Second, when refugees are in our countries we have to let them have dignity as they used to have in their own country. It means a job : to do something useful, to be busy, to earn monay : that's the dignity !

In my opinion we can do to help the refugee crisis
Raising national awareness about the problem to help refugees who need assistance
Collecting data on the number and condition of refugees to support them
Encouraging human rights institutions to address refugee issues
Ensuring that refugees participate in decision making
Supporting durable solutions
Allocating adequate resources to address internal displacement.

Submitted by jyoti Chaudhary on Sun, 01/05/2022 - 13:13

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What can we do to help the refugee crisis?
many people migrate for work jobs in some cases they become refugees for that period of time nobody helps them, without family they live in another country only to help the family. we can help those people who have refugees and we can give food and room to the people and always support them.

Submitted by Miguelitorico1996 on Thu, 20/01/2022 - 03:13

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We can give them job oportunittes when they arrive in our cities but I think that the best help is the military because I noticed that these people wanted to return to their countries for starting over.