The recent trip to Athens offered our students a powerful and eye-opening experience focused on the realities faced by refugees and homeless people in the city. In partnership with the Christian Refugee Relief Foundation (CRR), students engaged directly with vulnerable groups, gaining a deeper understanding of their struggles and hopes.
Throughout the week, many students shared how their perspectives shifted. One reflected, “I now see refugees and homeless people not just as statistics but as individuals with stories, pain, and dreams. Helping them is not as difficult as I thought.” Another student was moved by the contrast between their own lives and those of the people they met: “I learned to be grateful for what I have, seeing how so many live without shelter or security.”
The group participated in various projects—distributing food and essentials in refugee camps, assisting at schools and childcare centers for refugee children, and working in community kitchens serving the homeless in Athenian neighborhoods. One participant shared, “Meeting people in the camps and on the streets showed me the immense challenges faced daily by refugees and homeless alike—not only physically but emotionally. Yet their resilience and hope were inspiring.”
The experience emphasized the importance of human connection. As one student noted, “It’s easy to overlook refugees and homeless people as ‘others,’ but this trip taught me they are neighbors in need of love and understanding.” Another student highlighted the power of small acts of kindness: “What might seem like a small gesture to me can mean the world to someone who has lost so much—whether their home, family, or sense of belonging.”
The close-knit group dynamic allowed students to share and process their experiences together. One said, “Traveling in a small group helped us connect quickly and support one another through what we witnessed.”
These lessons are already influencing how the students envision their future teaching roles. Many expressed a desire to foster empathy and awareness among their pupils. One student explained, “I want my students to understand the struggles of refugees and homeless people and learn to care for those who come from very different backgrounds.” Another added, “Sharing these experiences with children can broaden their worldview and encourage them to be compassionate citizens.”
Ultimately, the Athens trip was more than an educational journey—it was a transformative experience that challenged students to live out Christian values of compassion and service. It reminded them that behind every face is a story of hardship and hope, and that even small acts of love can bring light into dark circumstances.
This experience will continue to shape their personal growth and professional development as future teachers who reflect Christ’s heart for the vulnerable, especially those displaced or left homeless by circumstances beyond their control.
