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19 May 2010 13:00:09
Two major events are taking place at the University of Bedfordshire’s Luton campus to mark the contribution of refugees to this country.
Refugee Week is on from 24-28 May and aims to celebrate the positive contributions of refugees to society, to challenge stereotypes, and to highlight the success of refugees in the Luton community.
The first is a speaking event called The Journey of Transition on Monday, 24 May, from 3-7pm in the CETL spaces.
A quartet of speakers include Professor Ravi Kohli and May Witwit from the University itself, Rhona Grabowski from Luton Borough Council and photojournalist Jess Hurd.
Ravi, Head of the Department of Applied Social Studies, will host the event and discuss refugee children.
Photojournalist Jess will concentrate on three sets of images from work she has done in France, the US/Mexico border and also a celebration of the colourful and innovative campaigns from around the world from Indonesian domestic maids in Hong Kong to the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees.
Rhona is the borough council’s co-ordinator for refugee and asylum seekers and all other children new to the country. Along with her colleague Wendy Tembe, they will be talking about their work with refugees in Luton, particularly youngsters, and will have young guests with them who will share their experiences of being a refugee/asylum seeker.
Iraqi refugee May, who is a research
student and part-time communications assistant, will talk about academics at
risk in her home country, the help of the Council for Assisting Refugee
Academics (CARA) and the problems of getting a visa for Iraqis, life in the UK
since she arrived here and her own future.
The second main event of the week is a film evening focusing on refugees and asylum seekers on Wednesday, 26 May, from 4-9pm in the Long Bar at the Students’ Union in Vicarage Street.
Four films are being screened – two short ones in The Bristol Bike Project by Alistair Oldham and Shall I? by Igor Drozdov, plus two feature-length ones called In This World (from the BBC) by Michael Winterbottom, and Indochina by Regis Wargnier.
Both events are free to University staff and students, although there is a voluntary donation to charity.
And during the week, both the University and Luton public library will also have a display of resources about refugees.
For further details, contact Maria Udu at maria.udu@beds.ac.uk
Bedford is also holding its own Refugee Week which is happening in the town from 14-20 June. The University supports the initiative and provides use of the Bedford campus for various activities and events.
More details are available at www.refugeeweek.org.uk or contact Maria Udu once more and/or Revd Cass Howes (cass.howes@beds.ac.uk).
Latest news» 2010» May» Luton campus stages its first Refugee Week
