REFUGEE WEEK IN BRADFORD
20 - 26 June
Bradford, city of sanctuary, has a very special and proud tradition of welcoming refugees and people who have to leave their countries due to political, religious or other reasons. There are almost 340 families currently seeking asylum in Bradford.
The theme of Refugee Week this year is Welcome. The aim is “to create better understanding between different communities and to encourage successful integration enabling refugees to live in safety and continue making a valuable contribution”.
The plight of the refugees and asylum seekers was highlighted by various events such as arts, cultural and educational activities that were organized to mark refugee week and to celebrate the contribution of refugees in the UK and to promote better understanding of why people seek asylum. It was also to celebrate the welcome shown to the refugees and asylum seekers and to encourage and inspire communities to continue to welcome new arrivals whose lives are threatened.
On 20 June, at 5 p.m., Refugee Week was launched in Bradford. The opening address was made by Bradford City Council’s chief Executive, Kersten England, who expressed appreciation of the valuable contribution made by the refugees and, on the other hand, of how the lives of the refugees are being enriched. Different schools took part in this event presenting personal testimonies, music and new dramas depicting the lives, struggles and suffering of the refugees and asylum seekers.
On 22 June, Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON) organised a walk for justice to support, to be in solidarity with, and to highlight the difficulties faced by the people who are going through the asylum system.
They have to walk 12 miles to go to the Home office centre to sign because they cannot afford transport. So this walk was to raise awareness of the issues. Twenty five people who took part in this walk, completing a journey that the asylum seekers dispersed in Bradford are required to make independently every week. The walk started around 9:50 from the Centenary Square, Bradford with the blessing of the Bishop of Bradford and ended up around 4:30 in Waterside Court on Kirkstall in Leeds.
We were all welcomed by the people of Leeds with cheers and refreshments.
Nasreen Nazir - Bradford