I moved to Zürich seven years ago. Before that I have lived in Budapest and Barcelona. It hasn’t always been easy for me to feel immediately home in a new place. But little things on a daily basis remind me that home can be anywhere – sometimes it’s just how the sun shines through the trees. Sometimes it’s going to a pharmacy and asking for Neocitran, with them knowing what I mean. And sometimes it’s a guy playing music on the street. As you can see, for me being a local is strongly connected with my senses. But of course, having a network of friends in a certain place makes you feel like you belong. It’s when you walk down a street and meet somebody you know – then you know you’ve arrived. I also have rituals that I maintain in every place I live. For example, I always have my five favourite bars in a place, where I can sit in peace, read a book or just watch the people passing by. But sometimes you face barriers, such as the language. Sometimes people don’t make the same jokes if I’m around or they feel uncomfortable because they think they have to adapt. But I know it takes time for certain locals to get used to change. This is one reason why I created the open source online platform “Architecture for Refugees”. Our main target is to bring local people and refugees together: to connect, to learn, to create synergies, to break down barriers, to lose fear, to be open for new adventures.
– Bence
In recent years, the global displacement crisis has reached unprecedented levels. Conflicts, persecution, climate change, and economic instability have forced millions of people to flee their homes to seek safety and dignity elsewhere. Whilst legal frameworks and humanitarian responses focus on shelter, food, and documentation. One crucial aspect is under-prioritized: the psychological and emotional impact of forced displacement.
Die bunten Accessoires des Labels Glocal Roots sind nicht nur handgemacht und aus recyceltem Stoff, sie erzählen auch Geschichten von Frauen auf der Flucht. In jedem Etikett finden sich Erlebnisse derjenigen Näherin, die das jeweilige Produkt hergestellt hat.
Motherhood is a profound journey that demands strength, care and resilience. For refugee women in Greece, the experience of motherhood is deeply shaped by the challenges of displacement, uncertainty, and systemic barriers. While every mother carries hopes for her children’s safety, education, and happiness, refugee mothers often fight for the most basic needs, without state nor family support to go through this journey.
Since the Easter weekend, one of the most important celebrations in the Orthodox calendar, Kos has transformed its face. As every spring, shopfronts have been freshly repainted, restaurants along the harbour have reopened, terraces are filling up, and the air is filled with a mix of languages. The return of tourists brings small businesses back to life, rekindles the enthusiasm of restaurant owners, and infuses the island with the seasonal energy locals know so well.
But just a few kilometres away, in another Kos, doors don’t open with the same warmth. For those who cross the sea seeking asylum, there’s no ouzo toast to welcome them. In this microcosm of the Aegean, two kinds of travellers coexist: some are welcomed, served, pampered; others are ignored, monitored, and sidelined.
If someone is seeking asylum, it implies they are looking for safety owing to a lack of human rights in their country. But seeking asylum is also about rebuilding your life and having the chance to move forward. Nevertheless, in Greece, the process for asylum seekers and refugees is slow and complex.
At the start of each year, we often reflect on what we are grateful for and set our intentions for the future. Some cherish a stable home, proximity to loved ones, or the ability to engage in meaningful work. Others value hobbies, personal freedoms, or simply the sense of security that allows them to plan ahead. Whatever the case, the foundation of what people care about is their ability to choose—to shape their own futures with stability and autonomy. But what happens when that stability is abruptly taken away?
