Altruism is often seen as the ultimate act of selflessness, but what happens when activism and personal sacrifice collide? In this talk, I explore the paradox of altruism—how the pursuit of doing good can blur the lines between genuine care and self-interest, using my experiences with Creative Play and refugee advocacy to question what it truly means to help. Ifigeneia Gianne, born and raised in Athens, Greece, is a rising senior at Bard College majoring in Anthropology and Theater. She is the co-founder of Creative Play, a Davis Projects for Peace Award-winning initiative that brings storytelling workshops to refugee communities in Malaysia through music, theater, and podcasting. Alongside this work, Ifigeneia explores the complexities of refugee resettlement in the United States for her senior thesis in Anthropology, examining the intersection of displacement, identity, and state policies. A passionate theater maker, Ifigeneia has directed Blood Wedding by Federico García Lorca, Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, and co-directed and acted in The Ant Play, which she wrote herself. She was named the Stephen P. Snyder '62 Scholar for the 2024-2025 academic year and is committed to exploring the intersection of art and social studies, particularly through the lenses of activism and volunteering. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx