In Pictures

Refugee school gives respite to children in Greek camps

Nearly 150 children are able to escape from the harsh conditions of refugee camps at the volunteer-run school in Chios.

The Refugee School Chios is supported by NGOs and run on a voluntary basis. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

6 Jul 2016

Chios, Greece – A group of Syrian children walk along the pavement and make their way to school. With each coffee shop they pass, they cheerfully shout “Kalimera” – Greek for “Good morning” – in unison.

Several smiling locals wish them a good morning in return.

Across the street, a Romanian coastguard ship – part of Frontex, the European Union‘s border agency – creeps across the harbour, patrolling the waters for boats carrying refugees.

The children are heading to Refugee School Chios, a volunteer-run initiative that provides part-time classes for nearly 150 children living in the nearby refugee camp Vial and the informal Dipethe camp, located in a deserted municipal theatre.

Most of the teachers are Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan refugees who used to teach back in their home countries.

“Providing kids with two days of school is not a success,” the school’s Nick Millet, 25, told Al Jazeera.

“These kids should be in school five days a week. Some of them have never been to school or have been out for up to three years.”

Of the estimated 57,000 refugees and migrants bottlenecked in Greece since Macedonia closed its border in March, more than half are children and women, according to the International Rescue Committee.

Since the European Union and Turkey struck a deal in March to halt the flow of refugees to Europe, those fleeing war and economic devastation are left with the options of applying for asylum in Greece or returning to Turkey to continue the asylum and relocation process from there.

More than 8,400 refugees and migrants live in official and impromptu camps on the Greek islands, George Kiritsis, the Greek government’s refugee affairs spokesperson, told Al Jazeera

More than 3,000 live in Chios, where a small group of local right-wing activists have protested against and attacked refugees and volunteers in recent months.

Anger has also grown in the camps on Chios as people grow frustrated with the slow asylum registration process. On a handful of occasions, there have been violent clashes between Afghan and Syrian refugees.

They are barred from travelling to mainland Greece without police permission until their asylum process is completed.

The Greek government announced plans to introduce an education programme for refugee children, but it will not start until September. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

Muhammad Hamdan, 32, and his wife were teachers back in his home town in Syria's southern Damascus countryside. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

'Before the school, the parents were trying to teach their kids in the tents at the camp,' said Muhammad. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

Volunteers say the camps' poor humanitarian conditions are especially hard on children. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

All nine teachers at the school are refugees, while more than a dozen additional volunteers work at the school. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

'You can't imagine how important it is for the kids to get out of the camp,' Muhammad said. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

Students study English, Arabic and Farsi, as well as maths. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

'Here at the school, there is no difference between Arab students and Afghan students,' Muhammad said. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

The future for refugees and migrants in Greece is still unclear, as the government weighs increasing deportations to Turkey. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

Most refugees in Chios have been stuck on the island for several months and are dependent on aid groups for food and medicine. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

On their way back to the camps, the children pass the Frontex boat in the harbour of Chios. [Nick Paleologos/SOOC/Al Jazeera]

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