Imagining a better world this Refugee Week

Refugee communities in Blackburn with Darwen are imagining a better future as they shine a light on refugee experiences this week.

During Refugee Week, both Blackburn’s Asylum & Refugee Community (ARC) and Darwen Asylum & Refugee Enterprise (DARE) are releasing videos on the theme of ‘Imagine’.

The theme of Refugee Week, which runs from 15 to 21 June, aims to encourage people to think about how they would like life to be. Activities during the week will help to give people a better understanding of what refugees have gone through to flee their home nations in the hope of a better life elsewhere.

Blackburn’s ARC Project has released a video of some of their clients, refugees speaking about how they’d like the world to be. The video is an emotive insight into what their lives were like before coming to the UK.

In the video Ayman, a doctor from Syria, says, “Imagine you are punished with arrest and even execution only because you treat the wounded and peaceful protesters.”

Watch ARC’s video now.

Saida Soge is the ARC Project Manager. She said:

We are proud of our asylum and refugee community who, despite their own struggles, history and experiences, give so much to the people who welcomed them.

This video was created to raise awareness of those seeking sanctuary, to connect different communities, to learn from each other and to foster a culture of peace and hope in these challenging times.

In Darwen, DARE has worked with We Are Noise and Meeting Places on a special version of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, which brings together the town’s refugee community.

15 people – aged from six to 70 years – attended individual recording sessions at We Are Noise’s studio in Darwen, which allows for safe social distancing.

People from Iran, Myanmar, China, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan and Iraq joined voices with some of DARE’s volunteers on the recording.

Funded by Meeting Places, We Are Noise have created the track specially for Refugee Week, and it is now being used to fundraise for DARE’s refugee support services.

The ‘Imagine’ song and video will be premiered at a special Refugee Week online afternoon tea for DARE clients, volunteers and local partners on Thursday 18 June.

Lym and her six year old daughter Ivy took part in the song. Lym said:

This was the first time I have ever been in a recording studio. I loved the experience and was so proud of my daughter singing. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

John East, DARE Co-ordinator, added:

DARE supports asylum seekers and refugees who live in Darwen. We recently launched an appeal to raise funds to support their learning and wellbeing, to give them an opportunity to learn and be part of a caring community. Just imagine a town that is caring, supportive, tolerant, inclusive, loving, compassionate and everyone is welcomed.

We are grateful for the support of Meeting Places, Mindcheck One Two CIC, We Are Noise, Blackburn with Darwen’s Our Community, Our Future programme, The Community Foundation for Lancashire, and Lloyd Trust for supporting us.

DARE have set up a Just Giving page to raise money for projects that will support Darwen’s refugee community.

Martin Rawcliffe from the We Are Noise project said:

Both myself and Tony feel honoured to be involved in the creation of the video and song to highlight such a worthy cause.

Steve Frisby of the Meeting Places Community Hub in Darwen said:

It was a privilege for Meeting Places to be part of this collaboration for Refugee Week. We look forward to welcoming the Darwen Asylum & Refugee Enterprise group and other Darwen groups to our Community Hub.

Watch DARE’s ‘Imagine’ video here. (Warning: some footage may be upsetting for some people.)

Coun Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Refugee Week aims to help people understand the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers as they make agonising decisions to leave their homes in the hope of a better life elsewhere.

These two videos are a powerful way of encouraging empathy with our local refugee community, and to put ourselves in their shoes. My congratulations go to everyone involved.

Refugee Week is held in June every year. To find out more, visit www.refugeeweek.org.uk.