Abstract
Three years after the closing of the Balkan route and implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement, Athens is still a hub and junction for people on the move in Greece. As a response to this influx, an extensive humanitarian field embracing a wide spectrum of actors has developed, from small grassroots organisations to large INGOs. Volunteers play a crucial role in the functioning of this field. This paper is based on a pilot study of people who cooperate on a voluntary basis with small-scale initiatives in Athens. As our research shows, many small-scale initiatives’ participants perceive ‘volunteering’ - and their labelling as volunteers - problematic. This paper explores why the conventional V-term has become controversial, considers its alternative labels, and links this conceptual debate to the broader problems of humanitarianism.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 75-80 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 21 Aug 2019 |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2019 |
Keywords
- humanitarian
- grassroots initiatives
- Greece
- forced migration