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No right to dream: The on-going journey of a young journalist through thousands messages of Greek despair

My interview with Alexei Leonov, the first man to walk in Space, plus the fact that I moved abroad to escape the Greek crisis, enduring many difficulties to make my dreams come true, were the reasons for being interviewed by the TV presenter, Fei Mavragani in one of Greece’s most popular TV shows

By: EBR - Posted: Thursday, July 20, 2017

Thousands of Greeks contacted me looking for information on the necessary procedures to leave Greece to work abroad. Unemployed people from all over the country, of all ages, from 16 to 60-plus from all educational backgrounds - doctors, lawyers, PhD candidates (who are not paid for their work in Greece), biologists, engineers, amongst others -make up a list that keeps growing by the day.
Thousands of Greeks contacted me looking for information on the necessary procedures to leave Greece to work abroad. Unemployed people from all over the country, of all ages, from 16 to 60-plus from all educational backgrounds - doctors, lawyers, PhD candidates (who are not paid for their work in Greece), biologists, engineers, amongst others -make up a list that keeps growing by the day.

by Margarita Chrysaki*

My interview with Alexei Leonov, the first man to walk in Space, plus the fact that I moved abroad to escape the Greek crisis, enduring many difficulties to make my dreams come true, were the reasons for being interviewed by the TV presenter, Fei Mavragani in one of Greece’s most popular TV shows ‘Tora oti symbainei’.  

Knowing what it’s like to be unemployed for over a year during the interview I decided without hesitation to offer my help to any unemployed Greeks seeking work abroad, especially in Brussels where I work as a journalist. And so begins this young journalist’s story about the despair suffered by her Greek compatriots.

Shortly after my appearance on the show, I went to the supermarket unaware of the explosion of messages that had suddenly hit my email and social media accounts. I could not imagine that anyone would take up my spontaneous on-air offer. However upon returning home I was in for a shock.

Thousands of Greeks contacted me looking for information on the necessary procedures to leave Greece to work abroad. Unemployed people from all over the country, of all ages, from 16 to 60-plus from all educational backgrounds - doctors, lawyers, PhD candidates (who are not paid for their work in Greece), biologists, engineers, amongst others -make up a list that keeps growing by the day.

Immediately a few special cases drew my attention, such as the 42-year old former director in a bank. “Since December 2016, I have sent 1362 CVs and cover letters! I can send you the print-screen of my mail account to check it by yourself. I have two children and now I work from time to time as a waiter to at least cover the cost of the food!”

Another case involved a 33-year old PhD student from a rich educational and professional background, who can speak six languages fluently: “I feel embarrassed for myself. After all these years of hard work, I need to know ‘someone’ in order to get a part-time job in a coffee shop or in a call-center!”

But this is not the only thing that shocked me. As the huge response rate continued I compiled some statistics regarding the different categories of people who are contacting me. These are made up overwhelmingly of 2 groups. The first of these – parents, isolated single mothers and grandparents – make up 52.2%, which shows that the Greek crisis is not just financial but concerns the future of the next generations.

 ‘Ms Chrysaki, I have 4 grandchildren and I would like to get in contact with you when the time comes and my grandchildren need your help to find a job abroad’; ‘Ms Chrysaki, I have a 4-year old daughter but I don’t want to see her working in a coffee shop for 300 euros per month. I will invest for her future but not in a country that doesn’t give opportunities to young people. I will leave Greece so my children have a future. There is nothing to believe in here anymore’.

Others are sending me lists of foreign companies asking me for more information about what would be the best choice. Statistically, the United States, Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands are considered to be the most preferable destinations for a better life job-wise.

By now 367 young Greeks, many of whom are studying abroad, particularly in London, have contacted me after their parents saw me on TV. They ask for information on how to efficiently research the job market in order to remain abroad as returning to Greece is no longer option. One of them stated: ‘I don’t want to go back to the nightmare called ‘Greece’. Leaving to work abroad is a one-way street’.

The second largest group – making up 34,6% - are employees, in some cases well-paid e.g. public administration, company managers. They believe that this is a crisis of values concerning the key institutions in Greece.

‘Europe’s terrorism means nothing compared to Greece’s reality’ says a 52-year-old, who works as an educational coordinator. Why do these people consider moving abroad as the best solution for them and their families? Some of those answers that really stood out include: ‘There is no justice’; ‘there is no respect for employees but constant humiliation’; ‘the system doesn’t allow you to develop yourself as a professional’; ‘there is no safety with regards to the variable tax system’.
 
The absence of effective formal institutions that are necessary for Greece’s economic growth along with the presence of ineffective institutions block the smooth functioning of the Greek economy. In addition, the lack of transparent procedures highlights, as well as feeds into the culture of corruption that exists in the state.

“There has always been a socio-institutional crisis in Greece, austerity measures applied for the Greek debt just worsen everything”, said one respondent, highlighting the people’s unhappiness over the role of the representative institutions such as governments and public institutions. 

Many in this group refer to a ‘new civil war’, between those who have a job and those who do not. ‘You should feel lucky working in the supermarket even if you have a law qualification’ seems to be the general attitude among people. This type of attitude encourages people to fight against each other as well make people feel afraid and ashamed of daring to have their own dreams. According to some Greek political and non-political figures you should feel guilty, in fact feel like a ‘traitor’ just for even thinking about leaving your country and following your dreams.

As I’m about to finish this article, I’m still receiving hundreds of messages each hour from thousands of desperate Greeks who are dreaming of a better future abroad. For my part I try to help by sharing information and supporting them in their decision to move abroad in search of work, as obviously there is no alternative.

However, while this certainly does not portray a good picture of Greece as a whole it hopefully could serve as a warning for Greek governments to take drastic action. Measures could be taken to:  promote a stable institutional landscape that is not subject to political party interests and clientelism; ensure that ‘open institutions’ are developed that allow for pluralism at the economic and political levels; enhance social mobility, open markets and competitiveness that would help Greek citizens to renew their trust in institutions, and developing the necessary social conscience which is severely lacking in the country right now.

*Margarita Chrysaki is a Brussels-based Scientific Journalist. She has BSc and a MA in Political Sciences and she was recently been admitted for the Master of Space Studies in KU Leuven.
**Interview link at 2:29:00: www.epsilontv.gr

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