Migrant Stories
In the spirit of the Edinburgh Festival it is worth mentioning the “Migrant Stories” series at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The organisers write: “At the centre of this year’s Book Festival is a major series of events which takes a look at the migrant experience. Personal, political and historical perspectives offer Scottish, European and... Read More
The Refugee Aid App
Developed by Shelley Taylor, the mobile phone app RefAid (http://refugeeaidapp.com/) uses GeoLocation to find the nearest asylum and refugee services. The Refugee Aid App provides a single point for refugees to find information, connection and support and a single point for NGOs and charities to share their resources with refugees – location based. “The scale... Read More
The “Humanitarian Corridors” Pilot Project presented to the European Parliament in Brussels
The CEC (Conference of European Churches) writes, “Respect for the sanctity and dignity of human life requires Europe to develop safe and legal channels of entry, guaranteeing the right, enshrined in European Human Rights Conventions, to request asylum in Europe and avoiding the immense suffering caused by the present smuggling and trafficking system.” The Federation... Read More
Gender and Migration: Health and Well-being
‘Gender and Migration’ brings together practitioners, activists, and scholars to explore how gender affects the migratory experience. While considerable attention has been paid to migration within popular and academic discourses, gendered analyses remain relatively scarce. This workshop seeks to discuss the many facets and approaches pertaining to migration from gendered perspectives. When: 2nd of September 2016 Where: Serenity... Read More
Christian Aid launch #ChangeTheStory
Christian Aid launches #ChangeTheStory – an initiative that seeks to share a story of welcome for refugees. Today, more than 65 million people are displaced globally. Forced from their homes by violence, fear or desperation, each is deserving of safety, freedom and hope. The stories we hear and the stories we tell are important. They... Read More
What will Brexit mean for the work with refugees?
The Scottish Refugee Council has said: “Leaving the EU does not mean leaving behind our legal and moral responsibilities to people in need. The UK remains a founding signatory to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, the main international treaty that protects the rights of people in need of safety. We need to remember this.... Read More
Witness Bearing in Calais
Where Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre, University of Glasgow When 26th July 2016, 6pm to 7:30pm Please register at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/witness-bearing-in-calais-tickets-26029629322 In April 2016, a witness bearing delegation from Scotland visited the infamous ‘jungle’ camp in Calais. The delegation formed part of a sustained series of high profile visits which has enabled the situation in Calais... Read More
Working Together in Faith Conference
Tuesday’s Working Together in Faith Conference in Edinburgh examined how individuals and groups could grasp policy, advocacy and practical action as they exercised their faith. You can get a flavour of the event from the tweets posted using the #SFARConference hashtag. Part of the Refugee Festival Scotland, the joint-faith event opened with a reflection from... Read More
MIRO Concert
When: Sunday 14th August, 3pm Where: Colinton Parish Church, Edinburgh MIRO is a group of professionally trained and unprofessionally trained musicians from 10 global nationalities (many of them are former refugees) and a bewildering range of genres, the Manchester International Roots Orchestra has brought an exciting new voice to the world music scene since its... Read More
International Refugee Day 2016 – a joint statement from Scotland’s faith communities
20 June is International Refugee Day. As representatives of faith traditions and organisations assisting faith communities in the struggle against poverty we share an imperative to offer compassion and justice to those who are afraid and oppressed. We are saddened that there are those who would tear down bridges in place of strengthening human relationships... Read More