Refugee Week - 20-26 June 2005

refugee week

13th June 2005 

Celebrating the culture of welcome

For too long we’ve been told the same old story: Britain is being swamped by asylum seekers, they are ripping off the system, they should be kept out or sent home.

If the press and politicians are to be believed, the British public is universally hostile to asylum seekers and refugees.

But there is another story. A better story.

Up and down this country there are thousands of people – who get no publicity – who welcome asylum seekers and refugees to Britain.

It is this unsung culture of welcome that will be celebrated during Refugee Week 2005 which takes place from 20th to 26th June.  Refugee Week brings together host and refugee communities to highlight the huge and varied contribution made by people who come to the UK in search of safety.

Over three hundred events will be held involving tens of thousands of people. The events are organised by people from all backgrounds.

People like Tom Cheesman a senior lecturer from Wales who grew up next door to German Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. This led him to become a volunteer treasurer with the Swansea Bay Asylum Seekers

Support Group and Editor in Chief of Hafan Books. This year, he is organising a launch event for an anthology of refugee writing entitled Soft Touch. Tom hopes that being able to read about the experiences of refugees will lead to greater understanding.

People like Shahin Memishi, an asylum seeker and art teacher from Kosovo based in Glasgow who is working on a fantastic project with schoolchildren of various backgrounds entitled 100,000 welcomes.  A gigantic mural will be unveiled in Glasgow’s Kingsway Avenue on 25th June.

People like Phil Bardzil of Manchester who is Chairperson of a refugee support group operating in Manchester called Solid Earth which was set up to raise money for refugee camps in Darfur and the Congo.  Solid Earth is organising three events for Refugee Week;  an Arabian Nights themed dance night, a multi-cultural concert entitled Solid Earth Unplugged and taking part in the Exodus Festival which will be the largest Refugee Week event in Manchester.  “I became involved because my father was a refugee from Lithuania and my mother ran a refugee camp in the Second World War.  I also employed many refugees in my own decorative glass business”.

Almir Koldzic, the UK Coordinator for Refugee Week said;

“Refugee Week 2005 is particularly important coming so soon after a general election campaign in which the level of hostility towards asylum seekers was particularly shocking.  As a refugee myself, I know that British Society is not as narrow minded and mean spirited as some sections of the press and certain politicians would have us believe.  True, there is fear and ignorance and even hatred in some quarters.  But there is also a lot of welcoming people who understand why refugees have to come to the UK.  It is this culture of welcome that we are celebrating in Refugee Week 2005.”

During Refugee Week the culture of welcome takes the shape of hundreds of events taking place across the UK which are organised by numerous groups including arts organisations, national and local charities, community and student groups, religious groups, libraries and schools.  The scope and range of events is enormous and includes live music and dance performances, poetry recitals, theatre, art and photography exhibitions, film screenings, football tournaments and events aimed at educating people about refugee issues.

Refugee Week is a unique platform where different communities and sections of society come together to challenge the stereotypes surrounding refugees and to offer new and creative ways of understanding the refugee experience, and celebrate cultural difference.

Notes to Editors

•    Refugee Week is a partnership project involving the UK’s leading charities that work with refugees.  These include Amnesty International UK, British Red Cross, International Rescue Committee UK, Refugee Action, Refugee Council, Save the Children, Scottish Refugee Council, Student Action for Refugees (STAR), UNHCR and Welsh Refugee Council. The project is also financially supported by Department for International Development, Comic Relief, Arts Council London, The Home Office, Association of London Government and Greater London Authority.  For more information visit www.refugeeweek.org.uk

• Refugee Week is a UK wide festival that celebrates the great contribution made by refugees to UK life and promotes understanding of why people become refugees. Every year hundreds of arts, cultural and educational events are organised across the UK. 

ENDS

More press information

Amnesty International UK: Steve Ballinger 020 7033 1548 or Neil Durkin 020 7033 1547; out of hours 07721 398 984

British Red Cross - Clare McNeil 0207 877 7043

International Rescue Committee UK: Lydia Gomersall, 020 7692 2741

Refugee Action: Marnie Summerfield Smith –020 7654 7714

Refugee Council: Martha Lee – Tel 020 7346 6702/out of hours 0870 055 6931 pager no. 865 169

Save the Children: Pippa Ranger – Tel 020 7012 6843

Scottish Refugee Council: Andrew Dougal – Tel 0141-223-7927 or Mob: 0773-403-0763

Welsh Refugee Council: Zahid Noor – 029 2043 2977 or 07976 771 772

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