![Headshot of Tayler Bowser]()
Tayler Bowser, a Carroll University Class of 2017 graduate, has written the essay, “Stories from Inside a Refugee Camp,” that is included in the book, “We Rise to Resist: Voices from a New Era in Women's Political Action.” The book was officially released on March 1, 2018.
Bowser’s essay discusses her experience volunteering at Camp Eleonas, a refugee camp in Athens, Greece. Her essay, she describes the layout and conditions of Camp Eleonas and shares the stories of some of the refugees she met. The purpose of the essay was to help readers understand that people are people, regardless of culture and situation.
Upon her return home from Camp Eleonas in January of 2017, Bowser brought back a strong understanding of the reality behind the refugee crisis, the conditions of the camps, and the people fleeing their homes in search of safety and peace. She wanted to educate others on the current crisis so she wrote a spotlight article about her experience for the Dodgeville Chronicle. Soon after the article was published, she was contacted by the editors of the book in hopes that she would share her story as a part of a collection of essays surrounding the current U.S. political issues. “I feel honored having the opportunity to share the stories of the kind, resilient people at Camp Eleonas, especially when many do not have the ability for their voices to be heard,” Bowser shared. “Publishing this essay has made me proud and strengthens my passion to continue writing about important global issues.”
Bowser also credits the Cross-Cultural Experience Curriculum for her understanding of cultures different from her own. “The CCE program provided me with the tools necessary to think about how different cultures might influence what people think of when they hear the term refugee.” She adds, “I enjoyed sharing this same impactful experience during my Global Perspectives Colloquium in my final semester at Carroll.”
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