Where does Racial Hatred and Bullying Come From?

We have all heard that adage about not being born to hate, but learning to. So where do our children learn to hate and subsequently bully others?

I would suggest it is from their parents, their peers, their community, what they see on social media, and how situations are portraying in the media. Adults, who base their opinion on fear of the unknown. Questions such as,

How will this change they way we live?

Why are they different?

Will we be in danger?

Will we catch diseases?

Will we lose our jobs?

Will we have to change our beliefs, culture, identity?

Will we have to fight for resources?

Will our people miss out because of others?

Are all answered with worst case scenarios. Fear makes good people do bad things.

The Syrian refugees in Filippiada are facing this conundrum. They are hard working, intelligent people, displaced because of war not choice. Many people in Greece responded to the influx of refugees with these questions and as a result refugee children were refused entry to local schools. This meant that they were receiving little or no education.

Organisations like Refugee Support GR are working to help ease this problem and support refugees and the people of Greece to assimilate to this new state of being and to provide educational opportunities.

This article was taken from their webpage

Classrooms

At the end of August, we were asked by the Greek Ministry of Education to build 2 classrooms for the 4-7 year olds on the camp while the older children would attend local schools. After much discussion about what was needed and when, we have created two great quality spaces from derelict rooms for the 4-6 year olds.

The Ministry is totally responsible for educations so they will provide teachers and some materials. We will make sure they have whatever else is needed. They will be start teaching in November.

It's great to hear that students are being allowed to participate in local schools, which can only go towards helping reduce cultural differences, anxiety and fear from both parties and the tension between the nations. With supported, quality integration, it is the children who will learn to embrace each other and come to a place where all people can live together, no matter where they were born. Small steps, but steps in the right direction.

For more information on Refugee Support Greece,

visit their Web page HERE

or their Facebook page HERE