Cooking Afghan Biryani & Kebab at Prosfygika #5

Описание: A few weeks ago I had the incredibly enriching social and cultural experience of visiting a refugee Afghanistan family in their new home, with a colleague from my Heritage Management postgraduate programme in Athens. Ali* had worked as an English interpreter for the American army, and escaped the Taliban regime to travel to Europe for the safety of himself and his family. They were wonderful hosts, and together we cooked the traditional family dish of biryani and lamb kebabs while Ali recounted their story.

The family are squatting residents of Prosfygika, a purpose built refugee housing complex in the centre of Athens. At almost 85 years old, the eight Prosfygika apartment buildings are a truly unique historical (yet still living) monument, and contain a rich and fascinating history of thousands of inhabitants over the decades. The community living there, from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and nationalities, have found a common home and place of shelter and acceptance.

The dilapidated buildings can look alarming to passers by, but the sense of sharing and togetherness displayed by the inhabitants is truly astounding and unique. Neighbours work together to improve the housing conditions in each others' apartments, and find furniture or goods for one another to use, purely out of generosity and reciprocity. The residents cook communal meals at least once a week, children play together and nobody is made to feel unwelcome.

I really appreciated this eye-opening experience, and it has been a real highlight of my time living in Athens so far. This is a short film of my interaction with Ali and his family.

*alias

Ysanne
2020

**This video was created in 2020 as part of a research project for the master's program in "Heritage Management."
**Το παρόν βίντεο πραγματοποιήθηκε το 2020, στο πλαίσιο ερευνητικού πρότζεκτ για το μεταπτυχιακό πρόγραμμα ''Heritage Management''.