Manifesto

Ithaka - Home After Great Adversity

As you set out for Ithaka

hope the voyage is a long one,

full of adventure, full of discovery. Laistrygonians and Cyclops,

angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them: you’ll never find things like that on your way

as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, as long as a rare excitement

stirs your spirit and your body.

Laistrygonians and Cyclops,

wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

Hope the voyage is a long one.

May there be many a summer morning when, with what pleasure, what joy,

you come into harbors seen for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations

to buy fine things,

mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume of every kind—

as many sensual perfumes as you can;

and may you visit many Egyptian cities

to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.

C. Kavafis

We have decided to choose Ithaka as our name because it represents the immense travel that refugees have been through and Ithaka in the Odyssey represents the end of this voyage. As well, Ithaka reminded us of all the difficulties that the refugees have encountered and symbolises the triumph over the adversities and hazards they endured.