Stories of Hope
Discover our ‘Stories of Hope’: Real-life accounts from our Teachers that inspire unity, resilience, and optimism for the future.
PHILIPPINE (FRANCE)
in TeachersPHILIPPINE (FRANCE) Volunteered From JANUARY 2023 TO MARCH 2023 2023 The two months I spent teaching at Habibi Center will be forever printed in my mind. The fact that it was challenging was the best part. It was my first time as a teacher and my first time being involved in refugees lives. I had…
KITTY (HONG-KONG)
in TeachersKITTY (HONG-KONG) Volunteered From OCTOBER 2022 TO DECEMBER 2022 2022 It was a meaningful volunteering experience. Thanks for having the opportunity to teach the refugee teenagers in Habibi centre. It has broadened my horizons. I learnt a lot from the students and volunteer teachers here. The volunteer work was challenging at the very beginning because…
LOTTE (THE NETHERLANDS)
in TeachersLOTTE (THE NETHERLANDS) Volunteered From OCTOBER 2022 TO DECEMBER 2022 2022 Even though I’ve been only been at Habibi Center for two months, I’ve been so thankful for this opportunity. To my colleagues and to my students: for making this such a meaningful and educational time. And I know these feelings go both ways. I’ve…
ALISON (THE U.K.)
in TeachersALISON (THE U.K.) Volunteered From OCTOBER 2022 TO DECEMBER 2022 2022 I found the Habibi Center whilst searching for a teaching post online and knew it would be the right one for me. Despite it being a volunteer position I applied immediately and was soon making arrangements with Steph for an 11 week stay. I…
TIRZA (THE NETHERLANDS)
in TeachersTIRZA (THE NETHERLANDS) Volunteered From SEPTEMBER 2022 TO DECEMBER 2022 2022 I have worked at Habibi Center for the past three months. Coming here was the best decision I have ever made. It has been amazing. My personal life had become very difficult and I needed a break. I came to Habibi and I was…
GEN (NEW-ZEALAND)
in TeachersGEN (NEW-ZEALAND) Volunteered From AUGUST 2022 TO OCTOBER 2022 2022 It is hard to sum up such a meaningful experience with words. If you are considering applying to the Habibi center, I wouldn’t think twice. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about others, yourself and the refugee experience of young adults in Greece. Greek life…
MARIAN (CANADA)
in TeachersMARIAN (CANADA) Volunteered From AUGUST 2022 TO OCTOBER 2022 2022 A quick Google search earlier this year led me to the Habibi Center and an epic 2-month experience that I’m struggling to find words to describe. I landed in Athens 8 weeks ago, a nervous and excited, jet-lagged traveler. This would be my first ESL…
JOANNE (THE U.S.A)
in TeachersJOANNE (THE U.S.A) Volunteered From JULY 2022 TO SEPTEMBER 2022 2022 I am very thankful for having the opportunity to volunteer at Habibi Center. I have met many other wonderful volunteers passionately teaching and devoting their energy and time to the students there. The students are very respectable, self motivated and full of dreams for…
ARTHUR (FRANCE)
in TeachersARTHUR (FRANCE) Volunteered From JULY 2022 TO SEPTEMBER 2022 2022 My 8 weeks at the Habibi Center were a completely new adventure for me! As an engineering student, it was an opportunity for me to change roles and teach my computer knowledge to students with incredible backgrounds, always very curious to learn and develop new…
SIDNEY (CANADA)
in TeachersSIDNEY (CANADA) Volunteered From JULY 2022 TO AUGUST 2022 2022 As I walked into Habibi Centre on my first day, I took my shoes off and placed them neatly with the collection of shoes in the entryway. The teachers were sitting on the couches getting ready for the weekly Monday meeting. The atmosphere felt like…
SARAH (THE NETHERLANDS)
in TeachersSARAH (THE NETHERLANDS) Volunteered From JUNE 2022 TO AUGUST 2022 2022 Where to begin?! There is so much to tell! First of all, at Habibi Center I rediscovered why I love teaching so much. A feeling I kind of lost in my job in the Netherlands. Here, I returned to the core of teaching, where…
AL-KWAKU (THE U.S.A)
in TeachersAL-KWAKU (THE U.S.A) Volunteered From MAY 2022 TO JUNE 2022 2022 My time at Habibi Centre was amazing! I had the time of my life. The teachers were amazing. But it was the students that really did it for me. I love and adore my students with all my heart. And watching their growth and…
SARA (THE U.S.A)
in TeachersSARA (THE U.S.A) Volunteered From MAY 2022 TO JULY 2022 2022 I arrived in Athens in May and the students and teachers at the Habibi Center immediately stole my heart. Habibi Center was an amazing opportunity for me to teach in a different environment and use the skills I’ve learned during university. I even got…
ELLEN (CANADA)
in TeachersELLEN (CANADA) Volunteered From APRIL 2022 TO JULY 2022 2022 After reflecting on my time as a volunteer, I certainly agree with all that has been said about the students – particularly how grateful and resilient they are. Smiles and laughter are common. What stood out for me, was (is) their optimism about the future.…
NIEL (BELGIUM)
in TeachersNIEL (BELGIUM) Volunteered From FEBRUARY 2022 TO MAY 2022 2022 Ay ay Caramba! What a rollercoaster of beautiful experiences, friendships, learning, laughing and crying. An experience that blew me away and pulled me back up, just a little bit wiser than before. It was a dream to teach such motivated students. Every class we had…
LAUREN (THE U.K.)
in TeachersLAUREN (THE U.K.) Volunteered From FEBRUARY 2022 TO MAY 2022 2022 It has been a real privilege to teach at Habibi Center for the last 3 months. The commitment from the students and other teachers was so inspiring, and it has been incredibly satisfying to see the personal progress and dedication. Each lesson for them…
JOE (THE U.S.A)
in TeachersJOE (THE U.S.A) Volunteered From FEBRUARY 2022 TO APRIL 2022 2022 As I reached the end of my time teaching at the Habibi Center I was struck by how opportunities in life are oftentimes not recognized and acted upon, bypassing chances to enhance and improve our experiences as human beings in this world. That being…
KATRINA (THE U.S.A)
in TeachersKATRINA (THE U.S.A) Volunteered From JANUARY 2022 TO MARCH 2022 2022 Habibi Center was the experience I had dreamed about for half of my life. The program they offer to children-teens is amazing, an extended helping hand where the need is not only desperate but crucial. Habibi provides comfort to so many without parents to…
MICHAEL (THE U.K.)
in TeachersMICHAEL (THE U.K.) Volunteered From JANUARY 2022 TO MARCH 2022 2022 Volunteering at Habibi the past two months has surpassed all of my expectations. Working with the students has been a real honour and a privilege. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn shines through the difficult and challenging situations that they may have recently encountered.…
DANIEL (THE NETHERLANDS)
in TeachersDANIEL (THE NETHERLANDS) Volunteered From SEPTEMBER 2022 TO MARCH 2022 2023 It was after finishing my first half of medical school that I decided to take a gap year and spend it teaching at Habibi Center in Athens. Anticipating the well-known challenges and difficulties of teaching and having little prior experience with teaching, I felt…
