{"id":5318,"date":"2021-03-24T10:57:36","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T16:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/?p=5318"},"modified":"2022-09-30T13:00:13","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T18:00:13","slug":"utilizar-instagram-para-humanizar-la-crisis-de-los-refugiados","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/es\/2021\/03\/24\/using-instagram-to-humanize-the-refugee-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Utilizar Instagram para humanizar la crisis de los refugiados"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leer en espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the spring of 2015, the global refugee crisis escalated as more than 1 million refugees fled war and persecution, migrating to Europe by sea. <\/span>Half a million <\/span><\/a>were Syrian refugees who arrived in Greece.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Syrian-American human rights lawyer Alexandra Tarzikhan was among the many volunteers in Lesvos, Greece who helped provide aid to the influx of migrants. In 2017, she created an Instagram account called \u201c<\/span>Meet a Refugee<\/span><\/a>\u201d to share stories of the people she met while <\/span>volunteering in Greece<\/span><\/a> as well as in Lebanon and Jordan. She wanted to raise awareness about and humanize refugee stories from around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tarzikhan, 27, grew up in Aleppo, Syria. Before the civil war, Syria was safe and had a thriving economy. She left in 2011 at the start of the war to study at Northeastern University in Boston. Just 18 years old at the time, she never thought she would be away from home indefinitely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2018, as \u201cMeet a Refugee\u201d gained traction, Tarzikhan delivered <\/span>a TEDx Talk<\/span><\/a> at Northeastern University School of Law and Tufts School of Medicine about her Syrian friend Sarah Mardini. Mardini, seeking refuge in Greece, had helped save <\/span>18 other migrants from drowning but was later incarcerated in Athens for more than 100 days. Last year, the pair launched a weekly podcast on Instagram Live called \u201cConversations over \u0642\u0647\u0648\u0629\u201d\u2014\u201cConversations over Coffee.\u201d It features casual discussions with refugees, volunteers and business owners about their everyday lived experiences<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Borderless Magazine spoke to Tarzikhan about her work with refugees and why she continues to fight for human rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Borderless Magazine: <\/b>What made you passionate about assisting refugees?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alexandra Tarzikhan: <\/b>I went to college to study medicine, specifically healthcare delivery in war zones. I wanted to understand if there are any safeguards in place to protect healthcare professionals and civilians in war zones. It got me researching the different Geneva conventions and international human rights laws. Eventually, my path changed, and I pursued law. In 2013, the problems in Aleppo escalated quickly, and it also became real to me that I’m probably not going to be able to go back.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I was in law school at Northeastern, the refugee crisis escalated. Three-year-old <\/span>Alan Kurdi,<\/span><\/a> who drowned along the shorelines of Lesvos, was from Aleppo. Seeing those images compelled me to go see the refugee crisis in Lesvos for myself and focus on migration issues to advocate for refugees \u2014 to know their rights, including their rights to access work and safe environments. I especially wanted to understand the legal humanitarian corridors so people don\u2019t have to make these dangerous journeys in the Mediterranean. I have a responsibility to give back, as someone who had access to opportunities and didn\u2019t have to go through legal barriers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lesvos is a gateway island. It\u2019s one of the closest points to Europe if you are crossing there from Turkey. I went four times. A lot of the people I met during my first trip [in 2016] were still stuck on the islands during my last trip. During my second trip I decided to work for the <\/span>Emergency Response Centre International<\/span><\/a>, and that consisted of rescuing people from the shoreline.<\/span><\/p>\n

Borderless Magazine: <\/b>Why was it necessary to create the \u201cMeet a Refugee\u201d page?<\/span><\/p>\n

Alexandra Tarzikhan: <\/b>During volunteering, you are in a fight-or-flight mode because too many things are happening in one day. You do not have time to process what you have seen. After my trip, I felt guilty that I was living a privileged life with a U.S. passport while migrants were stuck on the island. I reflected on the experience by writing about these people on the \u201cMeet a Refugee\u201d page. I was able to raise awareness on social media about those who are stuck there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

A post shared by Meet A Refugee (@meetarefugee)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n