COWC’S THEME YEAR FOR 2023-2024
Carlisle One World Centre has organised a series of talks and events, in partnership with Carlisle Refugee Action Group, under this theme to raise awareness of where refugees, people seeking asylum and other sanctuary seekers come from and some of the issues that they face, on their journeys and here in the UK.
In September a talk on Sudan by COWC’s patron, Rae McGrath, outlined some of the challenges faced by that country and many others that have experienced war, division and instability. This talk was followed by questions and a discussion and several men and women from the region were in attendance and able to make a contribution.
In October, the manager of Cumberland Council’s Refugee Resettlement Programme told us about Afghanistan and the evacuation in 2021 and how families are settling in Carlisle with the help of Cumbria County Council. Two groups of refugees spoke including the Ghafoori sisters who came to the UK in 2022 via Iran but who still have strong connections with their homeland. Discussions that followed questioned why some refugees are more eligible for support than others.
Later in October a group from COWC watched a screening of Ken Loach’s latest film, The Old Oak, about a community in Co. Durham learning how to welcome a group of families from Syria.
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