Τhe photo on the wall, Amin and an extraordinary encounter

The photo of a person with his hands wide open and stretched, as signs of both despair and expectation of a better future, is the one that someone can see, while entering the management office of SolidarityNow at the Athens Solidarity Centre.
Until recently, for all of us, this was just a picture. Powerful, yes, yet simply a picture on the wall.

Nassos, the guard at the Solidarity Centre was the one who recognized Amin first, by linking almost automatically the picture with the man who now stood in front of him. The staff at the Centre took him by the hand and asked him to follow them. He followed their directions. They led him to the picture on the wall. Indeed, the man in the photo was Amin. Just ten years ago.
When their gazes crossed, Amin immediately fell into his mother’s arms to hide both his tears and emotion.

Amin arrived in Greece in 2005. Starting his journey from his home country Mauritania, Amin followed what the majority of immigrants-asylum seekers do – that is, to travel long distances in their way to Greece. As such, Amin passed through Morocco, Libya and Turkey.

Having completed ten years in Greece and having been recognized as a refugee, Amin hopes for the best. Being a juvenile when arrived in Greece, Amin was given a place to stay at the temporary accommodation of asylum seekers ‘’FUTURE’’ in the area of Moschato. That accommodation is operated by the IASIS A.M.K.E in collaboration with EKPOSPO NOSTOS, ERGOEREUNITIKI and EADAP. During his stay there, Amin had the chance to speak with a staff of the non-profit union ‘’Network for the Children’s Rights’’, who then referred him to the Athens Solidarity Centre (ASC).

When Amin visited ASC, he spoke with the social worker of the ‘’Network’’ in an attempt to ask for help regarding a new accommodation that could accept him. In addition to his request, the social worker also referred him to the employability programme of PRAKSIS, so that he could get advice on job matters.

Currently, Amin is staying with a friend and he is striving to find a job. It is worth mentioning that during the whole conversation we had with him, Amin constantly reiterated his wish to find a job. Therefore now Amin is trying to be issued with the paper that will give him work permission. He visits the non-profit organization NOSTOS, where he has the chance to communicate over the phone with companies and employers.

This life-changing meeting between Amin and the image on the wall of the Athens Solidarity Centre inspired us to become familiar with his story these past 10 years, since he arrived in Greece. And at the same time, it made us reflect upon the strange game of life, the twists war brings into the lives of people, but also into the lives of thousands of other people like “Amin”, which are reflected in pictures, but then pass by and disappear. But do these people actually disappear? Amin showed us that behind the images are everyday people, with their own unique story to tell you.