As part of the O.D.I.SO.S Open Democracy in a Society of Solidarity, Médecins du Monde are organizing, from February 14 to 16, a photo exhibition and thematic discussions at the Serafion of City of Athens.
The photo exhibition entitled “Покидаю / Leaving behind*” aims to inform about the refugee crisis from Ukraine. Having completed 10 months of humanitarian action in Ukraine, Médecins du Monde Greece present a series of 32 photos about the Mission of the Médecins du Monde in Ukraine and on the border between Ukraine and Romania. The photo exhibition is presented within the framework of the program O.D.I.SO.S Open Democracy in a Society of Solidarity program, which is implemented with the support of the US Embassy in Greece and the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund.
Through the lens of the distinguished photographer Yiannis Giannakopoulos, the photographs have a strong narrative character and capture everything that the Médecins du Monde Greece saw, strongly experienced and witnessed. The camera has focused many times on children, women and the Third Age, that sensitive side of the groups that are the number 1 target (intentionally or not) of the modern tragedies that humanity is experiencing.
Through the exhibition “Покидаю / Leaving behind”, the Médecins du Monde-Greece seek to share common truths and common initiatives with the public.
“In my eyes this photo has a peculiarity… it becomes familiar to me over time. It’s the colors, the whole setting, the sunset, the snow on her, the fog, the dividing ribbon, like it’s made, but also something else… I can’t define it… maybe because in her place it could be any one of us…She’s a human being who’s cold, hungry, but trying to get somewhere better…it could be all of us…” -Yiannis Giannakopoulos
Action for Ukraine
Médecins du Monde Greece have so far collected over 100 tons of emergency supplies (mainly medicines and medical supplies) and have already carried out 25 humanitarian missions to Ukraine, accompanying the emergency supplies. So far, it is estimated that the activities of Médecins du Monde for Ukraine have directly benefited more than 17,000 people, while the number of indirect beneficiaries is estimated at 550,000.
The main purpose of Médecins du Monde is to further raise public awareness of the harsh reality experienced by millions of people in the world, as well as to take initiatives for an optimistic and hopeful tomorrow.
*The title of the exhibition with the Ukrainian word Покидаю (pronounced Pokydayu) conveys the meaning of violent and sudden rout, of being forced into an involuntary rout.
Exhibition information:
Serafio of City of Athens – Echelides 17 & Piraeus 144
Tuesday 14.02.2023
Exhibition opening (by invitation)
Greetings from:
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Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens
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Representative of the US Embassy in Athens
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Sergii Shutenko, Ambassador of Ukraine in Athens
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Emmanuel Pikoulis, Dean of the School of Health Sciences of EKPA
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Coordinators: Nikitas Kanakis, former president of the DoW and member of the Board of Directors and Asef Farjam, sociologist, consultant and intercultural mediator and founding member of the Hellenic Alumni Association, -graduates of International Visitor Leadership Program του State Department.
Wednesday 15.02.2023 – Exhibition open to the public
10:00-22:00
Discussion panels
Reception of Refugees 11:00 – 13:00
Participants:
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Melina Daskalaki, President of KYADA
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Manos Logothetis, General Secretary of Reception of Asylum Applicants
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Svetlana Chornenka, President of the NGO “Vorysthenis”
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Coordinator: Emmanuel Pikoulis, Dean of the School of Health Sciences of EKPA
Solidarity Initiatives 14:00 – 16:00
Participants:
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Apostolos Veizis, General Manager of INTERSOS Hellas
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Jay Mexis, CEO Odyssea
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Katerina Kuchirka, President of the Ukrainian Community in Greece “Gi tou Pelargou”
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Coordinator: Agis Terzidis, General Secretary of the board of directors of the MdM-Greece
Thursday 16.02.2023 – Exhibition open to the public
10:00-22:00
