Since $2015,$ there$$s been an increase in the number of Syrian and Afghan refugees$1$ arriving in Greece due to its

geographical position$2,$ trying to achieve passage to Northern European countries$3.$ This was also affirmed in my

interview with Hasib, a refugee that shared how $$Nobody wants to stay $[$in Greece$].$ I arrived at the Moria camp

and the workers told me I had no choice. I would either stay or go to jail.$4$ Most won$$t have the opportunity to

move west, as a result of the closed borders of countries like Macedonia and Slovenia. Consequently, since

refugees remain in Athens, what$$s the extent of integration possible?

As an Athenian, I witnessed the hostility towards the refugees. While the officials claimed that the gap in language

was too big to be overcome, the reality, as later seen in my report, is that the difference in religion and the

preconceived notions held about refugees kept them from being accepted. Integration of minorities in larger

communities is a topic that has far$-$reaching applications in many contexts. Whether it$$s integrating migrants or

prisoners that have served their time, integration is necessary in a rapidly globalized world. Lack of integration can

lead to violence. We have explored violence in our syllabus, in Unit $1,$Power$,$ sovereignty and international

relations$$ and in Unit $4,$Peace and Conflict$5.$

My engagement activity comprised of three parts: Interviews, volunteer work and writing two articles. I

conducted interviews with refugees, Non$-$Governmental Organizations $($NGOs$)$ and Athenians to gather multiple

perspectives. I then volunteered at a summer programme addressed to children, coming up with workshops that

GloPoPolis

would be accessible to my audience of Greek and refugee participants$6.$ I chose to reflect by writing two articles

for United Youth Journalists, a youth media initiative. By writing those articles, I was able to critically analyze what

I had seen before I wrote this report. By using the material from my engagement and theories like Foucault's

Power Relations and Realism, I will explore the question of what are the barriers to integration of the refugees in

Athens, Greece.