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
Im kleinen Laden «Noemimehanis Concept Store & Atelier» in der Tellsgasse in Altdorf gibt es viel zu entdecken. Neben Kleidern, Schmuck und Dekorationsartikeln finden sich zahlreiche handgemachte Produkte. Vieles davon entwirft und produziert Inhaberin Noemi Walker selbst, anderes stammt von lokalen Künstlerinnen und Künstlern, die ihre Werke im Geschäft verkaufen.
According to Articles 29 and 31 of the Asylum Code, beneficiaries of international protection should enjoy the same rights as Greek citizens, receive the necessary social support, and have access to accommodation for third-country nationals lawfully residing in the country (Greek Council for Refugees 2025). However, in practice, significant gaps exist between this legal framework and lived realities, limiting effective access to these rights.
Over the past few years, Greece has introduced a series of policies that have made the asylum process increasingly complex and difficult for people seeking protection. Since the 2023 immigration bill, new administrative and legal barriers have been added at every stage of the asylum and integration pathway. These changes have contributed to a system that is harder to access, slower to navigate, and more dangerous for the people who depend on it.
When thinking about people on the move and the challenges they encounter, it is easy to picture the most visible struggles: lack of food and safety; the dangers of human trafficking and the risks of border crossing.Yet, behind these images lie another crisis that often remains overlooked: the specific risks faced by women. During displacement, women’s sexual health and reproductive rights (SRHR) are rarely protected, leaving them exposed to infections, violence and unwanted pregnancies.
Education is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the 1951 Refugee Convention. To deny it is to deny a child the chance to grow, to be safe, and to belong. Education is a lifeline. Yet, this right remains out of reach for many refugee children with 49% being out of school. During humanitarian crisis education is sidelined. Between 2010 and 2017 less than 3% of humanitarian funds were allocated to education. Even though education is at the core of the realization of so many other human rights. To claim, enjoy and protect your rights – whether they be social, economic, cultural, political or civil – education is a fundamental tool. School plays a key role in every aspect of a child’s development. Going beyond cognitive skills like reading and numeracy, it also nurtures social and emotional growth. The classroom offers structure, routine, and safety. It is where children learn to cooperate, to build relationships, and build self-confidence. School also introduces children to sport. More than a simple form of recreation, physical education provides children with the opportunity to connect, to practice teamwork, and to experience the joy of shared achievement. Sport fosters resilience and self-worth.
Am Rande eines Beachvolleyball-Felds am Strand von Kos-Stadt sitzt Nabil und schaut auf dieTouristen, die im Meer baden. Er war letztmals vor zehn Jahren im Wasser. Von der türkischen Küste her war er gekommen,sie liegt nur sechs Kilometer entfernt. Zusammen mit vier anderen jungen Männern wollte er nach Europa schwimmen. «Wir starteten zusammen, wir sagten, wir halten uns aneinander, damit keiner verlorengeht.»
