Smallville – A team member shares
The first week of October was full; new faces, new experiences, many discussions about things we daily go through, but we rather not focus on. How can someone meet people in a small rural town and in an even smaller island? How can one talk about their experience of migrating and adapting in a place with people who have faced similar issues and who struggle to be incorporated? How can young people manage to achieve their dreams without being obliged to fly from their hometown?
All the above and even more topics were brought up during Smallville’s informal social councils. There was a very interesting team formed, with people coming from the areas of Poros and Galatas, but also from other places in Greece and abroad, of various ages and interests, but with one thing in common: the interest in everything that happens around us and the will to share personal thoughts.
After we got to know each other and we talked about ourselves, about our fears and questions that trouble us, the discussion turned to more general topics which we analyzed by getting ideas and examples from our daily
life. We talked about humour which many time can turn against a whole social group; we took in the importance of being aware when something that can harm a person who is considered different may happen – as we have all been considered different at times. We learned how to recognize our social privileges, which may stem from our gender, our sexual orientation, our race, origin, social class, or religion. At the same time, we
talked about the social exclusion and social obstacles faced by the people of the local area, such as lack of infrastructure for the disabled or prejudice against immigrants who live here. The opportunities lost due to the distance between the local area and Athens or other cities and the lack of cultural offer especially during winter time were deeply discussed, as was the need for re-creating trust bonds among the member of the local community. Joy, altruism, friendship and the will to say “good morning” to each other in the street, during the daily crossing to the opposite coast were some topics we equally delved into: are we open to people we do not know? Can somebody who just moved in the area feel welcome and incorporate in the local society? Can we talk openly to each other, without keeping in mind the fear of being commented upon?
There were many discussions and hours were long, but the material of our documentary theatre performance was compiled fast. After that, the rehearsals came − our effort to tell our own story in a simple way, as if we were talking to each other for the first time. No matter how many the rehearsals were, though, no matter how tired and stressed we were, the result and the discussion that followed made it up to us, as we saw the audience’s interest and their motivation to stay and talk with us.
We felt that the hours we invested in Smallville were worth it, we felt we made new friends and we found people to who we can confide things about us, and that along with them we can try to improve our daily life. I, personally, have recently moved on Poros. Even if at first, after some discussions with friends who live on the island, I thought my life here would be a lot more quiet and calmer compared to Athens where I lived before, reality had nothing to do with it, as I found many opportunities I can explore on the island and I met really interesting people. Smallville was one of these opportunities; I sound like a moving advertisement of the project, I can reassure you that this will probably be your impression the first time you will take part in such an activity.
After all, it is an easy thing to talk without being afraid of criticism: the team itself and the bonds created among its members protect us and give us the confidence we initially need, so as we do not worry about what may be said, but focus on whatever we believe it is worth and it has to be said.
*Crash Smallville Poros-Troizinia-Methana was organized by Katheti (katheti.gr) in collaboration with Brutal Stories (brutalstories.eu) and was implemented with the support of Hellenic Platform for Development in the framework of the European program “Sustainable Europe for All”.
Author: Anastasia Karouti
