They treated him to pilaf with lamb and nuts, flavored with spices that “carry” memories and smells from their homeland and he returned the hospitality with a “thank you from the heart”, homemade brownies as “everything that is made by hand, is made with love” and words of support in their struggle to integrate into the new society where they found themselves, far from their homelands.

The United States Ambassador to Greece, George Tsounis, responded positively to the invitation of the Irida Center – a safe, participatory space for women from every corner of the planet, which operates in the center of Thessaloniki, and chose to have lunch, yesterday at noon (on International Women’s Day Refugees), with women from Afghanistan, Morocco, Ukraine and elsewhere.

Sitting in the middle of the table next to Bahar, Maniya, Leila and Sadaf from Afghanistan, Khadija from Morocco, Svetlana from Ukraine, the US ambassador shared with them the story of his parents, who left the Greece and found themselves on the other side of the Atlantic, making special reference to the opportunities they were given to build a better life for themselves and their children. However, he also spoke about Democracy, which “is not only about more opportunities and freedoms, but also about the values ​​that build a society of equal opportunities” and wished these women every happiness and success in their efforts to (re)build their lives them, in a new society, with safety and love.

He also thanked them for the food they prepared, characteristically saying that in his places food is a sign of love, while afterwards, enjoying the meal with qabili (or kabuli) palau – as the food offered to him is called in Afghani, he wanted to learn about the traditional recipes they brought with them from their homelands but also about various other topics of their daily life.

“I’m so grateful to have come here and met some fantastic women who take care of each other. One of the lessons we must learn in life is that we must stand up for each other, speak up for each other and take care of each other. We have to understand that women depend on each other,” Mr. Tsounis said, a little later, expressing his emotion for the hospitality and kindness he received, as he said, through the food and wishes they exchanged. “I will always be grateful for the hospitality,” he noted, highlighting the work being done in Iris to protect women and help them develop in a new country.

One of the areas on which the Irida Center works is that of empowering women so that – among other things – they have active participation in society and access to resources so that they can make their own decisions about their lives, a parameter in which the US ambassador said in his statements after the meal. “When the history of this century is written it will be about the rise of women in society. You can’t solve the big problems of today, whether it’s climate change or any of the other challenges we face, when you keep alienating a large portion of the population. Thus, countries that are able to attract women and ensure that they are front and center in society – not just in the business sector but in civil society in general – will prosper and have a huge advantage in achieving all that it promises. the 21st century”, mentioned, among others, Mr. Tsounis, who attributed – to a large extent – his belief that “Greece’s best days are ahead of us” to the participation of women in society.

“Gender equality is not just the right thing to do, it’s the right thing to do. It is not just a selfless act, but it is a parameter of critical importance for the well-being of a society and an economy”, underlined the US ambassador, who was accompanied – and sat with him at the lunch with the women of Iris – by the US consul general in Thessaloniki Elizabeth Lee and deputy consul Salina Rico.

Shortly before Mr. Tsounis left Iris, the Center’s founder and CEO Chloe Koussula presented him with a painting by a woman from Ukraine, while another painting was given as a gift to Consul General Elizabeth Lee.

“On this important day, World Refugee Day, we were honored to host a luncheon for the US Ambassador and Consul General. A meal lovingly prepared by women of our great multicultural community. Everything the ambassador said, here in Iris, touched our hearts and gave us the courage and inspiration we need to continue working towards our vision of a world where no woman is left behind,” said Ms Kousula. thanking, on behalf of all the women of the Center, the US ambassador and consul general for the visit.