Participating in global events that draw attention to refugee plight
CAIRO: Student Action for Refugees (STAR) hosted the fourth annual World Refugees Day on June 17 at the American University in Cairo (AUC) to celebrate cultural diversity and raise awareness about issues concerning refugees and forced migration.
The event featured live music and dance performances, speeches by refugees, an arts and handicrafts bazaar, a national cuisine section and a display of artwork from refugee communities, in addition to a children’s activities section that included workshops and sports activities for children.
“We want to make the day as successful as we can and for the refugees to display all aspect of their cultures, says STAR President James Pearce.
At the handicraft bazaar, many refugees displayed home accessories, as well as individual accessories such as bracelets and necklaces.
“This is an opportunity for us to work and may be our only chance for earning money without being dependent on anyone and we are trying to make the most out of this day, showing our culture to everyone, selling handmade accessories and art works, says Fatma SuleimanHan, coordinator of the handicrafts bazaar and a refugee from Eritrea.
The “Yummy Food section featured national dishes and drinks from around the world, as representatives from different countries sold an assortment of their native dishes. For example, Sudan contributed maschi (stuffed tomatoes with chopped beef).
Entertainment began at 5 p.m. with 16 different bands and dance performances and one-act plays. The Gerhart Center also presented awards for the essay contest. Helda Kazi Yugusuk Tombe won for her essay, “The Experience of a Young Sudanese Woman in Cairo and Ibrahiem Ahmed Idrees won for “Refugees in Egypt.
The children’s activities section featured painting, drawing and an area for the children to display their artwork. The British Council’s Dreams and Teams coordinated sports activities for the children.
“It’s been really successful with a great number of participants in the various activities, says Jennifer Renquist, children’s activities coordinator.
The resolution to make June 20 World Refugees Day was issued by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 to celebrate “the extraordinary courage and contributions of refugees past and present, Secretary General Kofi Anan had said.
The event was approximately four months in the making, as STAR publicized the event with different refugee communities in Cairo, including Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA), Dreams and Teams from the British Council, CARITAS, Cairo Community Interpreters Program (CCIP), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the John D. Gerhert Center and Musa’adeen. Organizations contacted and brought refugees from all over Cairo to attend and/or participate in the event, representing and getting in touch with their different cultures.
However, the fact that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) did not help in organizing or participate in the event when it is among the most important organizations for helping refugees around the world was a disappointment for organizers.
STAR, a student organization, was originally started in the United Kingdom to raise awareness of refugees and their issues in local communities. It began at AUC in 2001 with students, faculty, local refugees, refugees’ organizations in Cairo and interested residents. STAR sees this event as an opportunity to call attention to refugees in Egypt and for Egyptians to learn about the refugee communities present in Cairo, as Egypt is the home to more than 90,000 refugees from about 35 countries.
