What a week!
Across the globe many of us move, be it for work or to be near family, but for some it is not a choice but an escape. Many have seen the destruction of their homes, community and land by war whilst others have lost any sense of home due to violence and persecution. It is the creativity and resilience of these people we celebrate during Refugee Week, hoping to understand their journeys and give a warm welcome should they arrive in our city.
Our event in the Cathedral Gardens, ‘At Home in Our City’, opened the week. We were lucky to have perfect weather! We invited members of the public to write messages, of what home meant to them or messages of welcome, on fabric diamonds to add to our gazebo – we received some wonderful words.
Inside we had exhibits celebrating those who are forced to seek sanctuary – moving paintings from the ‘Hope Art Project’ in Greece, poems by refugees and local poets, Ariana Magazine showing Afghan culture and ‘The Other Side of Hope’ which is the first literary magazine of sanctuary. Many tried our quiz and we finished with a list of ‘Simple Acts’ – everyday actions people can participate in to help their understanding and connection with those who have to seek sanctuary.
By the end of the week we had a glowing orange tunnel of warm messages and would like to thank everyone who participated.
On Tuesday evening we had ‘Our Home – a Musical Reflection’ at Storyhouse featuring Matt Baker, the ‘Proud Marys’ choir and children from Cherry Grove, Chester Bluecoat, Eccleston, and St Bernard’s RC Schools. We were also treated to Varvara playing the Ukrainian Bandura and a solo by Michael Borkowski. This was a truly lovely evening, described by the audience as ‘uplifting’ with ‘incredible performances’. Many thanks for all those who performed and attended.
SHARE participated all week with a great window display inviting people to share their view of home
Ideas of home given included being part of a community, being safe, happy and warm and being with family and friends. Thanks also go to Amblongus books who had book displays whose themes matched with the Refugee Week theme.
Theatre Porto’s ‘Family Hang-out’ took the theme of ‘our Home’ and the Unity Centre held an open day with food and activities which was very well attended. Crossroads Community Hub held a ‘Great Get-Together’ picnic, showing there is indeed more that unites than divides us.
To celebrate World Refugee Day, which was on the 20th, an event was held at St Thomas’ Church in Ellesmere Port. As part of this moving stories were told by some of those seeking sanctuary in the area.
All that and we still had Dr Waheed Arian’s talk, ‘A Refugee’s Story of Survival and Saving Lives’ on Friday 28th. We showed some of our exhibits and our banners for people to look at before and after the talk.. Dr Arian gave an inspiring and generous talk telling how he had to move from his birth land of Afghanistan more than once and eventually arrived in the UK. He spoke about his path to becoming a doctor and founding both Arian Teleheal (enabling doctors in war zones or low-resource countries to consult with expert clinicians across the world) and Arian Wellbeing (a trauma-informed practice to help mental and physical health). Most importantly he spoke about the one thing we can all give to those seeking sanctuary to enable them to adapt to their new lives and thrive – compassion.
Dr Arian’s autobiography, ‘In the Wars’, is available via his website or usual bookshops.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to Refugee Week. Whilst celebrating home, together we can act in solidarity to ensure all who find themselves here feel safe, welcome and ‘At Home in our City’.
