DERBY HIGHLIGHTS...
Prior to Refugee Week there was a Fundraising Gig featuring Delusions of Grandeur with special guests Bana Congo. Proceeds went to the Derby for Africa Initiative. There was also a Pre-Refugee Week Special hosted by the City-Zen Crew. This was an evening of music, art, food, expression, inspiration and participation!
A Celebration Service was held on the first Sunday of Refugee Week and offered an opportunity to find out what life in the UK is really like for refugees and asylum seekers and what people in Derby are doing to help. There was also the Commissioning of Emmanuel Neba fuh (a political refugee from Cameroon) for his ‘Barefoot Walk’ to London as part of a campaign to collect one million petitions from Africans for an African Union Civil Rights Charter. Real life stories, music and refreshments.
On the Monday, there was a chance to find out what Refugee Week is all about and enjoy music and performances from around the world in the Westfield Centre with Long Journey Home.
This was followed on the Tuesday by a Civic Reception hosted by the Mayor of Derby for representatives of Derby's Refugee and Asylum Seeking communities. It was a celebration of the contribution made to the city by these groups.
Wednesday was a popular evening with the Normanton Community Development Project Celebration Event for everyone living, working or volunteering in Normanton. There was also a Bollywood Keep Fit Class drawing on exercises from Classical, Bhangra, Street Dance, and even Yoga, Bollywood colour, energy and music to inspire a get-fit-and-feel-great class.
A particular highlight of the week was a performance of Asylum Dialogues which explores the everyday encounters between asylum seekers and British people, encouraging us to challenge our own preconceptions. There were also film screenings of The Kite Runner and Grow Your Own at various locations in the city.
Derby libraries took an active part in the week. The Pear Tree Library were proud to host a Poetry Night and the Central Library held a Citizenship Event as well as Internet and Email taster sessions.
The Saturday afternoon gave a chance for woment to take part in Women of the World arts workshops, performances and children’s activities exploring our diversity and friendship as women.
Finally, after a busy and eventful week, the One World Family Party celebrated the end of Refugee week bringing together dance music, food, arts and fashion from around the world. Workshops, activities and games for children. It was a great fun afternoon for everyone!
NOTTINGHAM HIGHLIGHTS...
Throughout June there was an exhibition in the Central Library entitiled "One Man's Journey Through the Asylum Process" which charts 10 years in the life of an asylum seeker through the highs and lows of the process of sustaining himself when all rights were denied him. Suffering homelessness, destitution, despair, his integrity remained intact.
On the Friday before Refugee Week Small World Kitchen and No Borders presented a Food and Music Event - an evening of discussion, traditional African vegan food and live music. Refugee Week in Nottingham began in earnest on the Saturday! Refugee Action had a Refugee Week stall in the town centre with balloons, posters and other promotional and myth busting materials and signposting people to the main launch event.
The Beyond Borders Launch Event took place in the Central Library and was a day of art activities and workshops for all the family. Face painting, fun photos, percussion and puppets; community stalls, live music and food from around the world.
Nottingham libraries hosted a number of family events during the week and throughout the city. There was mask making in the Meadows and Aspley, banner making in Hyson Green, music making in Sneinton and tie dying in Radford
The Race Equality Council organised a performance of the Banner Theatre's live multimedia show “They get free mobiles . . . don’t they?” in Mansfield. This production combined music, song video, film and theatre to highlight the real-life experiences of new arrivals to Britain caught up in the whirlwind of the twenty-first century.
Back in Nottingham, there was a chance to see a unique ‘work in progress’ sharing of an exciting contemporary youth performance, as part of Creative Room’s NOMADICA project. This project is funded by Arts Council England’s Young Peoples Participatory Theatre programme and is a youth led multi-disciplinary promenade style piece that involves theatre, new circus, sound and multi media. The event included the opportunity for the audience to participate and offer feedback.
Other events during the week included a screening of Zimbabwean film "Flame" about the battle over land that is still causing upheavals in Zimbabwe today based on accounts of women who joined the Liberation War. Whilst further afield, Loughborough University hosted a workshop entitled Women and Migration: Arts, Policitcs and Policy.
Phil Marfleet (an activist and co-ordinator of the MA in Refugee Studies at the University of East London) spoke at a public event "Refugees in a Global Era" at the Refugee Forum discussing the conflicts and contradictions in the global system and the failings of refugee policy in Europe, North America and Australia.
The Rainbow Project raised funds towards work with refugees and asylum seekers through an International Food Tasting Event on the Saturday evening.
The week concluded with "They Don't Want to Learn English" a chance to celebrate with and learn more about the issues faced by refugees and people seeking asylum who are English learners in the UK.
LEICESTER HIGHLIGHTS...
Throughout June there was a print exhibition by artist Anwor Badrie in the Central Library entitled "the Missing Pen." Visitors were able to meet him at a special event during Refugee Week.
Prior to Refugee Week there was a WORD! spoken word event featuring Amnesty International with a regular open mic for poets, storytellers, performers and writers of all kinds to come along and share their work with others.
Refugee Week kicked off in Leicester with a fabulous celebration and picnic hosted by the Red Cross' Refugee & Asylum Project. There were children's activities, exhibitions, drummers, open mic and dancers to entertain and delight.
Conflict, Flight and Sanctuary? - a panel question and answer session with an International Red Cross Speaker took place on the Monday. This looked at conflicts around the world, options for flight and destitution on reaching 'sanctuary.'
The Central Library was host to several events during the week. which also continue throughout the year. The Afro Innovation Group met there every day to provide advisory sessions for refugees, asylum seekers and new arrivals to Leicester as well as the music project which provides access to the teaching of traditional and modern music. Also the Babies of the World drop in for refugee and asylum seeker mothers with children under the age of 4 and English Practice sessions for refugees, asylum seekers, those with discretionary leave and humanitarian protection.
Leicester's Centre Project held a social drop in for asylum seekers and refugees on the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Centre offers food, advice and support, workshops, sports activities and outings. Likewise the Welcome Project held an Open Morning on the Thursday to give people the chance fo find out more about the services it offers to refugees and asylum seekers which include information and advice, clothes, toiletries and other subsistence support.
'I Came Here: 1939 to Present Day'' - film was shown by Soft Touch Arts during their Open Evening for organisations. It featured the stories of people who had moved to Leicester during the previous five years.
An eagerly anticipated highlight of the week was Leicester's 2nd annual International Football Tournament! 20 teams representing countries from all over the world came together to celebrate each other and to of course compete to be the best! Lots of people turned up to cheer on their favourite team and take part in the fun and games.
To round the week off, Newarke Houses Museum held their Connecting Cultures, Celebrating Diversity event with Stalls, Performances, Arts & crafts, creative workshops and delicious food.
