On Saturday 25th June 2011, The Cardiff Story Museum along with five national and local voluntary organisations are holding a ‘Refugee and Asylum Seeker Fair’ to celebrate the contributions made by refugees and people seeking asylum to Cardiff.
The Fair will take place from 12 to 4pm in the museum’s Englehardt Learning Suite and will feature stalls from the participating organisations as well as craft activities, poetry recitals, story telling and live music. The fair will offer something for people of all ages.
One of the highlights of the day will be a poetry recital and live music from Patrick Jones, collaborator with Manic Street Preachers and recently returned from Hay Festival. Contributors to “Seeking Sanctuary – Journeys of Hope and Despair”, a book created by Women Seeking Sanctuary Advocacy Group (WSSAG), will also read extracts from their stories about fleeing persecution and rebuilding their lives in Wales. A presentation will also be made to the winner of the Welsh Refugee Council’s school art competition, entries to which will be displayed in The Cardiff Story throughout Refugee Week.
As well as the events on Saturday 25th, The Cardiff Story will be holding a range of activities throughout Refugee Week (20 – 26th June) including a chance for visitors to try their hand at the UK British Citizenship Test, something all refugees have to take to qualify for British citizenship.
‘Safe Haven’, an exhibition about refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff, will be on display in the Engelhardt Learning suite for the whole week.
One of the main aims of the Refugee Week at The Cardiff Story is to give visitors the opportunity to find out more about the lives of refugees and asylum seekers by being able to speak to them and listen to their stories first hand. Volunteers and employees from the Welsh Refugee Council, Women Seeking Sanctuary Advocacy Group (WSSAG), Ethnic Minority Communities First, Displaced People in Action, Oasis Cardiff and Cardiff STAR (Student Action for Refugees), will all be manning their stalls at the museum to tell people about what they do and to increase understanding surrounding issues facing people seeking sanctuary.
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “We’re really keen to celebrate Refugee Week and explore Refugee and Asylum Seekers contributions to Cardiff and are delighted to be working with so many great organisations that provide such invaluable services. The migration of people from around the world is a huge part of Cardiff’s history, which is explored in the museum.
“Throughout the city’s history, people from all around the world have come to Cardiff for a better life, to find work, to join family, to escape conflict, or seek sanctuary. Cardiff has benefited hugely from the diverse contributions people of different nationalities and cultures have made to the city, and Refugee Week is a great opportunity to celebrate those contributions. ”
Althea Collymore of the Welsh Refugee Council said: “This year Refugee Week Wales 2011 will be celebrating 60 years of contributions by refugees to the Welsh Culture and WRC is very proud of all these contributions – there really are too many to mention. We are really looking forward to collaborating with The Cardiff Story Museum on Saturday 25th June.
The WRC have also arranged a range of activities for Refugee Week such as The Umbrella Parade Wales which will involve over 300 people walking from Wales Millennium Centre to Sophia Gardens with specially marked umbrellas. This event will also include music, stalls, dancing, food and lots of fun.”
