On Friday, March 21, the Social EMS held the presentation of the book "Children's paths in times of war" at Impact Hub, in the center of Athens.

This book, consisting of personal stories of underage refugees, became the basis for a broad discussion regarding hospitality, rights, integration, and the causes of the uprooting of millions of people of all ages, who will always dream that one day they will return home.

The readings of the children's narratives by the actor Mario Ioannou created vivid images of their journey, often left in obscurity. They evoked emotion and reflection on the way we treat people, especially children, who had the misfortune to experience the horrors of war. The Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, Mrs. Sophia Voultepsi outlined the Ministry's planning for refugee children, while the President of the Board of Directors of the Social Emergency Medical Services (SCS) referred to the work of the Organization and particularly to the care of children.

The opinions and experiences of the panelists were crucial. The Secretary General for Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection Hercules Moskov, the journalist Panos Charitos, the actress and theatre teacher Eleni Moleski and the General Director of the Kinoniko EKAV Maria Dimitropoulou, each spoke from their own perspective about their efforts to better care for children, about frustrations and prospects. The participants' statements came to mingle with the words of the refugee children themselves who were present at the presentation of their own work. The refugee boys, hosted in the Kinoniko EKAV  facilities, expressed their concerns, raised pertinent questions regarding the effective implementation of human rights and spoke to us about their dreams after adulthood.

So on the day of the International Day against Racism, we all filled the Impact Hub hall together, giving a voice to these children who are often left on the sidelines. Developing a fruitful dialogue, we all realized the obvious and great human trait that is none other than solidarity and the urgent need to protect children, unjustly punished and tortured by the inhumanity and atrocities of wars.

We thank all of you who were with us on this day making the voice of refugee children stronger.