What does together mean?

What weaves a community?

Where do our paths cross?

What forms a common grammar among different languages, religions, stories?

What stories do the voices of women beside us tell?

What emotions, memories and desires hide in fragments?

What is the sound of strength, what are the colours of hope?

Melissa Network was envisioned as an open beehive of coexistence, communication and creative exchange, bringing together women of diverse origins.

Over the past decade, it has been a home away from home and a safe space of learning, healing and imagination for women from over 50 countries, women running away from wars, persecution, violence and oppression, women who seek a better future. The stories that are shared every day around a long table or in the inner courtyard of its 1928 building in the heart of Athens trace the entire world and create a world anew: a world made of care, understanding, solidarity, beauty, power, resilience and self determination.

Melissa will open up part of its daily activities to the public and encourages the space of togetherness visitors to join in and share this world with us.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE

Poetry Readings and Workshops with Melissa’s Poetry Lab and A. E. Stallings, Oxford Professor of Poetry | 16 October & 17 October at 12.15 & 13.15

A rehearsal and performance of Melissa’s Polyphonic Choir & Angeliki Toubanaki | Thu 17 October at 14.30

Origami Wish-making with Deborah Valencia & the Philippino Community

Communal Collage-Patchwork with Beatrice Ikharo & Susanna Rafizadeh

Hand-knitting with Click Ngwere

Ukrainian Bantura performance with Irina Chernova

WishMe | Melissa’s polaroid portrait wall with Unicef & Enri Canaj, Magnum Photos

Silent walk through the garden with Melissa’s mental health drama therapy group

Board games with Melissa’s educators