CO.A.ST: Growing up in Europe: James’ Story in Greece

My Coming of Age Story (CO.A.ST), a collaborative EU project focused on strengthening guardianship support for unaccompanied children as they transition into adulthood. Led by the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR), the project brings together partner organizations from six European countries.

Alongside its research and policy work, CO.A.ST is rooted in lived experiences and highlights determination of young unaccompanied and separated children as well as the critical support that guardians provide for these children as they are coming of age and beyond. Human connection, care and guidance can make a profound difference in the journeys of unaccompanied and separated children. Yet, when transitioning to adulthood, these children suddenly face uncertainty due to discontinuation of crucial support such as guardianship.

This is the story of James* (a fictional name), a young man from Egypt who recently turned eighteen. One of the first things people notice about him is his bright smile whenever he talks about football, his greatest passion. Since arriving in Greece, Jameshe loves going to school and . He already speaks Greek well.

James arrived in Greece as a minor, completely alone. Today, he is a lively and determined young adult, though sometimes he still worries when he thinks about the future. Juggling his studies with a part-time job, he displays a sense of maturity beyond his years.

James’s childhood in Egypt was marked by hard work. Born into a family that struggled financially, he helped his parents from a very young age. Despite the heavy tasks and long days, he always found moments to dream of becoming a professional football player.

When he first arrived in Greece, James was placed in a shelter for unaccompanied minors. After an uncertain period of waiting, the authorities appointed him a guardian, someone who would become a steady guide during the critical years of his adolescence. His guardian supported him through every essential step: enrolling him in school, referring him to a lawyer to prepare for his asylum interview, and connecting him with a housing program for young people, HELIOS JUNIOR, so he would have somewhere to live once he turned 18 and could no longer stay in the minor shelter.

Thanks to this support, James continued to make steps towards the future he dreamed for himself. Just one month ago, James turned 18. In Greece, becoming an adult means leaving the minors’ shelter and all of the support that comes with it, including the daily presence of a guardian. While James has transitioned to adulthood and has benefited from the support of his guardian and the lessons he's learned, he is still working to find confidence within himself and learning to navigate the world alone.

What worries him most now are the administrative procedures, especially his asylum process. Although he is now an adult, he has not had his asylum interview yet, which causes him constant uncertainty and stress. With this transition to adulthood, his worries have intensified: until recently, his guardian handled all interactions with the authorities, and he fears making a mistake in his asylum case because he still doesn’t feel fully confident managing these responsibilities alone.

Still, James remains determined to continue school, to build stability, and to keep chasing the dream that has always carried him forward: to build a life where he can be safe, independent, and maybe, one day, even step onto a football field as the player he has long imagined himself to be.

*The child’s name has been changed to protect their identity. 

My Coming of Age Story (CO.A.ST) is a project co-funded by the European Union and carried out by a consortium of organizations led by CIR – Consiglio Italiano per i Rifugiati (Italy), in partnership with KIND (Belgium and Slovakia), Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l’Homme (France), ELIL – European Lawyers in Lesvos (Greece and Poland), and PIC (Legal center for the protection of human rights and the environment, Slovenia).