On August 29th, STCP organized a full-day program for more than 180 students from IES Abroad Paris, combining two workshops with a refugee camp simulation. In the first workshop, Journey to Paris, STCP Sports Coordinator Nathanael Koehler facilitated alongside Faris Alameen Mohammed and Dipta Dhar, who courageously shared their personal journeys to France. I
n the second, Immigration Challenges in Europe, Paris based immigration lawyer Daniel Tostado guided students through small group discussions on possible solutions for Europe’s migration future. Following the workshops, students entered the simulation: a roleplay exercise that placed them in the shoes of asylum seekers and refugees navigating border patrol, asylum tribunals, overcrowded tents, and systemic barriers. Remarkably, some participants organized protests within the simulation, demanding fair treatment from police, judges, and service providers.
This spontaneous action reflected how closely they connected the experience to real struggles for justice and dignity. The combination of workshops and simulation proved powerful, helping students approach the program not as a game but as an eye opening window into the struggles faced by refugees.
