The Refugee Journey

Speakers and attendees at The Refugee Journey – Global, National and Local perspectives – Exeter

The Blessed Sacrament and Sacred Heart CAFOD groups in Exeter ran an ecumenical event on Friday, 28 April, entitled: The Refugee Journey – Global, National and Local perspectives.

The Pope and refugees

We were inspired by the words of Pope Francis who has spoken about the “moral imperative” to protect migrant workers, those in irregular situations as well as those “exiled and seeking asylum” or “victims of trafficking.” Pope Francis made clear that “defending their inalienable rights, ensuring their fundamental freedoms and respecting their dignity are duties from which no one can be exempted.”

In light of this and our recent involvement with CAFOD’s work on refugees focused around the Lampedusa Cross, we wanted to involve our local communities in understanding the, sometimes desperate, ‘journeys’ that refugees take seeking sanctuary and explore how we might make a difference.

Fr. Jonathan Stewart

We were blessed with four excellent speakers. The event began with a presentation from Fr. Jonathan Stewart, parish priest at Blessed Sacrament Church, Exeter. Fr. Jonathan used works of art and scriptural passages to explain how we are all spiritual refugees. He drew on Catholic social teaching and the words of Pope John Paul II to explore the notion of separation which all refugees experience.

Neil Thorns, CAFOD’s Director of Advocacy and Education.

The second presentation was by Neil Thorns, CAFOD’s Director of Advocacy and Education. It was great to have someone of Neil’s expertise and experience to give the global view of the refugee journey. I was surprised to learn that most refugees are internally displaced people who never cross country borders. Neil explained that these people are some of the most vulnerable because they are often fleeing persecution from groups within the country in which they are still living. Neil also pointed out that the countries who take the majority of refugees are developing countries, and the impact on their social services can be great. It really made us think about how much or how little our own country does to welcome refugees.

Professor Nick Gill

Neil’s presentation was followed by Nick Gill who is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Exeter. Nick was an excellent speaker and took us through how the media report on refugees including some very distressing language used on social media about our fellow human beings. The shocking reporting about these desperate people along with the bureaucratic nightmare many find themselves in brought home just how lucky we all are not to be in that situation. Nick also reminded us of the importance of the language we all use when talking about others.

 

 

Wendy Milne from Exeter City of Sanctuary

The final presentation focused on the local scene. Wendy Milne from Exeter City of Sanctuary gave us a real insight into what is being done in our local community. It was great to hear how City of Sanctuary is getting local organisations and small business to commit to some form of action related to welcoming refugees.

There was also a plenary session during which the speakers answered questions from the audience. One question which particularly struck me was around the fear people have of Islam. In response Fr. Jonathan showed us how thinking in terms of Islam or Muslims was a way of de-humanising people and that we should remember to call people by their name, as God calls us.

Around 70 people attended the event from the Catholic community in Exeter as well as from various local churches, other faiths and non-faith groups. It was lovely to meet new friends and to discuss this important issue.

Kathrin Forster

The whole event was chaired by Kathrin Forster who is a member of the Blessed Sacrament CAFOD group and is also teaching at the University of Exeter. Kathrin drew on her expertise to provide us with some contextual information and some statistics about the numbers and types of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are journeying across the globe.

The event was a follow up to our Climate Change event in 2015, and given the response from the audience we expect to follow up with another similar event perhaps next year.

Shirley Larkin,

Blessed Sacrament CAFOD group, Exeter

The team at Plymouth CAFOd would like to give their personal thanks to Shirley and Kathirn and all the members of Exeter’s CAFOD groups who worked so hard to make the event such a success.   We would also like to thanks all the speak and everyone who attended the inspirational event.

Further information:

http://cafod.org.uk/News/International-news/Refugee-crisis-Q-A

http://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Refugee-action

http://www.unhcr.org/uk/figures-at-a-glance.html

http://www.unhcr.org/global-trends-2015.html

https://exeter.cityofsanctuary.org/

Lent in a Tent

A Dorset chaplain slept in a tent for six weeks,
the entirety of Lent, in solidarity with refugees.

While most people give up chocolate or alcohol for Lent,  Lu Worrall gave up her creature comforts, spending 40 nights in a tent in her garden.

The mother-of-four spent six weeks in the cold outdoors where this year, night temperatures in March dipped to 1 degrees. She also works as a lay Chaplin at Leweston School in Dorset.

Lu said before she started her cavas fast:

“The one thing I LOVE is sleep and that seems distinctly threatened by exposure to the elements,”

“I have four daughters who are older now, but even when they were little and camping seemed a good idea, living under canvas always seemed something of a test for me.”

“I have had numerous offers of the best torches, bedding, mattress – which, with difficulty, I’m trying to resist!”

In order to make her experience as authentic as possible, during her nights camping in the tent, Lu forgo all luxuries.

After her first night in the tent, she said:

“Gosh it was windy last night! Most strikingly, I found I was a bit lonely, a bit cold and a bit scared, which I didn’t expect; that was all knowing that I had a house I could run into and more layers than you could imagine. It was sobering as I thought of the displaced refugees who have little to comfort them.”

After less than a week in the tent, disaster struck when strong winds made her temporary accommodation collapse in the middle of the night.

When asked why she chose this challenge she expressed how, after seeing the plight of the Syrian children, as a mother she felt she had to act.

“I feel I have so much to be grateful for; warmth, clothing, food, education and a place of safety.”

“I was appalled by the atrocities, poverty and injustice of the most vulnerable in Syria and I felt called to respond,” said Lu. “I want to stand in solidarity with those, especially children, who have little or no access to the fundamental things that every child has a right to.”

UN Refugee Agency figures show that 65 million have been forced from their homes worldwide – the equivalent of the population of the UK.

Of those, there are around 4.9 million Syrian refugees and around 6.1 million people are displaced within Syria. Half of those affected are children.

All the sponsorship money raised from Lu’s challenge has gone directly CAFOD’s vital refugee work, which has been assisting people affected by the Syrian crisis since the war began in 2011.

The charity’s partner in Greece, Caritas Hellas, is helping to provide emergency assistance alongside social services including lessons, activities and schooling for children and assistance with referrals to legal, medical and psychosocial support.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Giovanna Reda, CAFOD’s Head of Humanitarian Programmes for Asia, Middle East and Latin America, said:

“There is now less attention being paid to the refugee crisis, although the number of people fleeing their homes in Syria and nearby countries remains extremely high.”

This winter, the situation for refugees deteriorated as Lu described:

“Heavy snowfalls this winter threatens refugees’ lives as they struggle to live in makeshift shelters made with blocks, plastic sheets and tin.”

“Sleeping in my factory-made tent for 40 nights didn’t come close to the discomfort experienced by the families and children who have been displaced in Syria whose tents are their homes, but it helped me to stand in solidarity with them”.

CAFOD searching for volunteers to bring message of social justice to next generation

CAFOD works in schools across the Diocese of Plymouth.

CAFOD is seeking to recruit enthusiastic School Volunteers in Plymouth who are passionate about telling our stories of faith, hope and charity to young people in schools across the diocese. In support of this, School Volunteer training will be taking place in the diocese over the coming weeks.

CAFOD is active in supporting schools across England and Wales. 

On 9 February and 23 March CAFOD will be hosting School Volunteer training in order to prepare our fantastic team of School Volunteers to go into Plymouth schools and spread the stories of the excellent work CAFOD does to fight poverty and injustice across the globe.