19 June 2020
To mark Refugee Week 2020 (15 – 21 June) and World Refugee Day (20 June), Cambridge Assessment employees have been taking part in a week of activities organised by the staff Refugee Support Committee.
The Committee was set up in 2019 to support education and aid initiatives for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced peoples.
The agenda of activities for Refugee Week demonstrated the impact refugees can make to the communities they join and encouraged deeper understanding of why people seek sanctuary.
If one thing comes out of this week of events, I hope we have all been inspired to do our part in supporting the refugee community and helping them not only survive, but thrive.
This year’s events all took place virtually and included: a series of Q&A discussions, including with author and award-winning activist, Gulwali Passarlay and a Q&A for kids with children’s literature author Onjali Rauf; an online cookery lesson with Migrateful’s Iranian chef, Parastoo; a screening of the short refugee documentary ‘Ayman’ followed by an interview with its Director as well as with Ayman AlHussein, whose journey the documentary follows; and a live Refugee Women in Leadership panel talk with Syrian refugees and activists, Sarah Mardini and Majeda Khoury.
As the week of events comes to an end and World Refugee Day approaches, Sol Escobar, Assessment Manager and Chair of the Cambridge Refugee Support Committee, said: “We wanted to share a wide range of personal stories recounted by those who have been affected by displacement first-hand: stories of resilience, bravery and determination. By providing a platform where refugees can have their voices heard, we get the chance to engage in conversations with them, on a human level, and hopefully help to chip away at misconceptions and prejudices.
“We’ve had such a precious opportunity to learn about, and from, incredible individuals; if one thing comes out of this week of events, I hope we have all been inspired to do our part in supporting the refugee community and helping them not only survive, but thrive.”
Recordings of Cambridge Assessment's Refugee Week events are available here: Q&A with Gulwali Passarly (author of The Lightless Sky), Refugee Women in Leadership panel, and 'Ayman' Q&A.
Refugee charities to learn more from: Help Refugees UK, Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign, Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group, Refugee Education UK (formerly Refugee Support Network) and Refugees At Home.