To mark 20 years of Refugee Week, we invited you to do one of 20 Simple Acts to ‘help change the way we see refugees, and ourselves’.
We hoped that by each doing something small, together we could help make new connections in our communities, gain a better understanding of refugee experiences and show solidarity and support to newcomers to the UK.
Your responses were amazing.
You shared messages of welcome at your schools, workplaces and on your front doors. You wrote poems and shared cake and played football and learned songs written by people who couldn’t be there to sing them. You redefined the word ‘refuge’ and learned how to say ‘welcome’ in many different languages. And through books, films and uncovering hidden histories, you heard (and told) a different story about refugees.
Over 2,000 people used the #SimpleActs hashtag nearly 4,000 times in June 2018…
Below are just a few examples of your Simple Acts.
Share a 20 second message of welcome
Messages of welcome came from all quarters…
Have you seen our 20-second #RefugeeWeek video? Inspired by the 20th anniversary of @RefugeeWeek, we took up some of the challenges suggested in its #20SimpleActs campaign. Find out more on our blog https://t.co/qAE6GM3d19 #RefugeeWeek2018 #RefugeesWelcome #ThisisCoventry pic.twitter.com/9pXSlQosrP
— Belgrade Theatre (@BelgradeTheatre) June 21, 2018
Including the young…
#RefugeeWeek2018 #20simpleacts pic.twitter.com/lwr94PFuOY
— stvincent's (@stvincentsbham) June 18, 2018
And the VERY young:
It's #RefugeeWeek2018 and #SimpleActs Number 1 is to send a 20 second message of welcome. The Bookbug Hello Song is sung at Bookbug Sessions throughout Scotland, welcoming EVERYONE to join in and be part of their local Bookbug community @scotrefcouncil @RefugeeWeek pic.twitter.com/FxfCtI8XOo
— Bookbug (@Bookbug_SBT) June 19, 2018
Write a 20 word poem
Powerful poems flew in from schools, arts projects and individuals – including one you might recognise:
It’s the 20th anniversary of @RefugeeWeek and we are supporting their #SimpleActs. Here’s our 20 word poem by @titiandherlife – what can you say in 20 words? #supportrefugeeweek #20words pic.twitter.com/Y2Od96UgD6
— Brixton House (@BrxHouseTheatre) June 19, 2018
House keys.
What you take, right?
When you leave.
Close door, lock it
Keys in pocket
For when you get home. #SimpleActs @RefugeeWeek— Emma Manton (@emmalmanton) June 18, 2018
Syed’s story of being detained for 5 months in Europe as a child inspired powerful 20 word poems from yr 9 @QPCS
70 people in a room
Shadows from barred windows
Tripping over feet
Tick. Tock.
Never ending
When will I be free?#SimpleActs #RefugeeWeek2018#WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/gNgv0P05vt— Phosphoros Theatre 🧡 (@WeArePhosphoros) June 22, 2018
Read more in our 20 word poem blog post.
Share one of 20 refugee stories
You shone a light on the real people behind the headlines:
https://twitter.com/KeeKss927/status/1009022454377975808
In celebration of Refugee Week why not take a moment to read someone’s story and see the human behind the label. #SimpleActs https://t.co/Uoo67s0ec4 via @viceuk
— Helen Leblique 💙 (@HelenLeblique) June 22, 2018
As part of #20simpleacts, today we share Hong Dam’s story of how she fled Vietnam as a boat refugee.
Read more: https://t.co/BtmLbXn0Yo and share other stories from https://t.co/Veztb8koUD to create awareness and to celebrate our shared humanity. Let’s #unitenotdivide #simpleacts pic.twitter.com/xp80y6THYz— RootPrints Theatre (@RootPrints) June 19, 2018
Sing a song
At least seven choirs and groups responded to Music In Detention’s call to learn a song written in immigration detention. Music In Detention were so inspired they gathered the recordings into a special collection called ‘Freedom to Sing’, which you can listen to on their website.
We sang this song as one of 20 #SimpleActs for #RefugeeWeek2018 it’s from @MIDdetention who help people in immigration detention express themselves through music 🎶 #singing #choir #welcome #change #love pic.twitter.com/C3TWSrnUH9
— Sing for a Change! (@Sing_forachange) June 20, 2018
Find 20 objects that tell a refugee story
Museums helped us appreciate the histories of migration all around us…
This doll belonged to a child who came over to England on the Kindertransport. Whilst packing for this journey, the doll was included in the suitcase along with the 'Son' doll read more at https://t.co/mxvmGddUdX #RefugeeWeek2018 #SimpleActs pic.twitter.com/jC8uMoevYj
— The National Holocaust Centre and Museum (@HolocaustCentUK) June 19, 2018
Already a skilled engraver when he arrived in London as a refugee in the 1580s, Jodocus Hondius was allowed to use his craft, and worked on the first sea atlas published in English. #RefugeeWeek2018 #SimpleActs pic.twitter.com/NgDQ3x6oU1
— Royal Museums Greenwich (@RMGreenwich) June 18, 2018
…including the British Museum, which created a Refugee Week trail of 20 objects from its collection:
Play with 20
You did clever, creative and moving things with the number 20:
Our creative writing and performance group #WritetoLife are celebrating 20 years of @RefugeeWeek by sharing 20 powerful pieces from the group’s history. Today, Sonja Linden shares the group’s history and the very first Write to Life story #RefugeeWeek2018 https://t.co/31cqtdBh9k
— Freedom from Torture🧡 (@FreefromTorture) May 30, 2018
To build communities of hospitality this #RefugeeWeek2018 we need to offer welcome to those we see as strangers. These #20words from Hebrews shows that when we show welcome to strangers we unknowingly entertain angels. #SimpleActs #Act6 @RefugeeWeek pic.twitter.com/MdT6s8P0ZH
— Jesuit Refugee Service UK (@JRSUK) June 10, 2018
Having fun with chime bars last night, working on our 20-beat song for @RefugeeWeek pic.twitter.com/XhhOQqoobj
— Crossings Community Group (@CrossingsCG) June 5, 2018
Send a card
Over 130 of you sent messages of welcome to people arriving in the UK, via our partner Migrant Help:
There's no better #FridayFeeling than opening your post to find lots of artwork and handwritten welcome messages for the people we support. Thank you to all the pupils at Blossom House School! Read more about the #SimpleActs messages of welcome here: https://t.co/wGxKbvYL7I pic.twitter.com/9bisjHRChc
— Migrant Help (@migranthelp) August 3, 2018
Bake a cake
You harnessed the power of icing to make others happy:
Finishing the day with some lovely cake thanks to @Megs_52, bringing the @JRSUK community, and everyone in the building, together for today's #SimpleAct.@RefugeeWeek #RefugeeWeek2018 pic.twitter.com/s6NZo9viEH
— Jesuit Refugee Service UK (@JRSUK) June 12, 2018
Taking part in @RefugeeWeek #SimpleActs. #8 – bake a cake. Me and my dear Ma made this one for the service users at @ReadingRefugees drop in. Apparently it went down a treat! pic.twitter.com/1OpE6Xbs6z
— Mal (@AliceHasWords) June 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/WhyComicsOrg/status/1009093518172835844
Read a book about exile
Our invitation to travel through the page was picked up by publishers and bookshops:
‘We see migrants and refugees as a sort of mass of brown faces that are nameless, without any real stories.’
Read an extract from Exit West, as chosen by Farrah Jarral on @BBCRadio4's A Good Read: https://t.co/xkylSUJcD9 #RefugeeWeek2018 pic.twitter.com/KzFWio0Pr9
— Penguin Books UK (@PenguinUKBooks) June 19, 2018
True stories, original fiction and inspirational books for children – take a look at the selection of books we've gathered together to mark #RefugeeWeek, a festival celebrating the contribution of refugees to the UK. https://t.co/wXN1Z9fE30 pic.twitter.com/kZNBVmHiLe
— Waterstones (@Waterstones) June 20, 2018
Book reviewers…
#RefugeeWeek2018 Book Blog Tour: Review of #AppleCakeandBaklava by Kathrin Rohmann, culturally rich English translation by @RuthAhmedzai https://t.co/qgMGJxeiYz via @kimtyodickerson #GlobalLitinLibs #inTLchat #MGlit #SyrianRefugees #LiteratureinTranslation #20simpleacts
— Kim Tyo-Dickerson (@KimTyoDickerson) June 24, 2018
And appeared on a billboard outside Borough Market:
Yesterday we got to see the installation of our #TheDisplaced #RefugeeWeek2018 billboard, next to Borough Market. If you're passing by, snap a photo and tag us! It's up until Sunday, with an extract from @viet_t_nguyen's powerful introduction@RefugeeWeek @Waterstones pic.twitter.com/NGp7pCCfON
— Abrams & Chronicle Books 📚 (@AbramsChronicle) June 19, 2018
Watch a film
You screened and watched films about people on the move – Upbeat Communities even made a special Refugee Week list of 20:
20 films for @RefugeeWeek's 20th birthday: https://t.co/qnkoOk5Vyv. #DerbyRefugeeWeek is next week and there are 20 awesome events taking place! Read more here: https://t.co/xVNmczoLbM pic.twitter.com/IxQ5OLaRKE
— Upbeat Communities 🧡 (@UpbeatUpdates) June 15, 2018
Share your refugees welcome banner
You took Refugee Week’s message of welcome everywhere:
I’m sharing my message of welcome for #RefugeeWeek2018, one of 20 #SimpleActs to help change the way we see refugees, and ourselves. Will you do one too? https://t.co/xUXsqjSZTO pic.twitter.com/nuKtnmC034
— Sara Hunter (@MsSaraHunter) June 19, 2018
Great to see such a caring attitude https://t.co/Fe1KoCAyit @HellesdonHigh @RefugeeWeek @BroadlandDC @justeditor @JustRegional #Hellesdon #refugeeweek @WensumTrust pic.twitter.com/c1o8DMIXW7
— Alex Hurrell (@JustAlexnews) July 27, 2018
Proud to see our #refugeeswelcome flag flying high in celebration of @RefugeeWeek More info on @KingsCollegeLon work with forced migrants here https://t.co/Ca3OlCIfis #simpleacts https://t.co/Igy24oF4XY pic.twitter.com/MLkGVMnPge
— Student Success (@KCLsuccess) June 19, 2018
A lovely #RefugeeWeek2018 social today @DewsburyRoadHub ☕️📚 Sharing stories, bringing books to life with augmented reality and lots of talking 🗣@leedslibraries #simpleacts #AR #learning #haveagomonth #FestivalOfLearning pic.twitter.com/ZnP8ePHpud
— Rachel Benn (@Rachel_Benn_) June 18, 2018
Simple as. Dario, Antonella and Miriam @V_and_A. Download and print your own poster at https://t.co/EttjYIwpvN and join the #SimpleActs movement for #RefugeeWeek2018 pic.twitter.com/gCKF6WSUBl
— Refugee Week 🧡 (@RefugeeWeek) June 23, 2018
Define the word refuge
“For me refuge means creative freedom”, said author Dina Nayeri…
Author Clementine Wamariya turned her attention to the word ‘refugee’…
Author of ‘Girl Who Smiled Beads’ @clemantine1 on why ‘refugee’ doesn’t define her. Join her in rethinking our shared language by (re)defining the word ‘refuge’ this #RefugeeWeek2018: https://t.co/N0jsygxvEq #SimpleActs @PenguinUKBooks @PenguinRHUK pic.twitter.com/3xsGEuNWdo
— Refugee Week 🧡 (@RefugeeWeek) June 20, 2018
As did Robert Macfarlane, whose definition became one of the biggest Tweets of the week…
Word of the day: "refugee" – a person forced to leave home & seek refuge elsewhere due to persecution, war, natural disaster & other forms of displacement (classical Latin "refugium"; a place or means of shelter, a protector) #RefugeeWeek@RefugeeWeek https://t.co/6JrhT8KDrA pic.twitter.com/EXT4DIrmD9
— Robert Macfarlane (@RobGMacfarlane) June 20, 2018
…While others found refuge in their own bodies:
Day 5 of Refugee Week.
We define the word refugee with the childs pose. Childs pose is a place where in Yoga we can find calm, peace & rest. This feeling of peace & protection that refugees seek.Thank you again to everyone who donated to @refugeeweekuk yesterday evening. pic.twitter.com/T1hnfkWz2B
— bahiayoga (@BahiaYoga) June 22, 2018
Learn a few words in another language
You expanded vocabularies and shared stories…
Saying a few words in someone else’s language is a sure fire way to make them feel welcome, and to bring you a little closer to where they’re from #SimpleActs pic.twitter.com/mivnR7DsMa
— Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy (@rainbowPLA) June 19, 2018
Voices from the UK, France, Australia, Libya, Germany, Syria and the Congo took part our #SINGABlabla language café for #RefugeeWeek2018. We loved the experience of practising a new language + sharing stories about our different cultures. This is connection. These are #SimpleActs
— SINGA UK (@SingaUK) June 19, 2018
In the classroom…
…and online: over 60 of you shared ‘welcome’ in your language on the Refugee Week Facebook page!
Have a kickabout
Oh yes, and it was the World Cup. Across the country, you dribbled and tackled with old and new teammates… and some familiar faces spoke up for refugee rights:
Our Junior Club had football fever tonight supporting #SimpleActs to celebrate #RefugeeWeek2018. #YOYP2018 #Since1980 pic.twitter.com/D7JATpSEjW
— CitadelYouthCentre (@CitadelYCLeith) June 19, 2018
"Football has a home for everyone." On #WorldRefugeeDay, join Granit Xhaka, @MesutOzil1088 & @PetrCech in showing that people who flee torture, war & persecution and seek sanctuary in the UK are welcome here. #RefugeeWeek2018 #SharingMySanctuary @AFCCommunity pic.twitter.com/R38KKnEKBC
— Freedom from Torture🧡 (@FreefromTorture) June 20, 2018
Find five facts about refugees
Hundreds of you shared this sobering and important graphic by the Immigration Advice Service:
Amidst the celebrations for #RefugeeWeek2018, a reminder of why we're all doing this. Here are five important facts about how our country is treating people in the asylum and immigration system. Thank you @IASimmigration for sharing #SimpleActs pic.twitter.com/9pgWiBabqY
— Refugee Week 🧡 (@RefugeeWeek) June 23, 2018
Look to the future
As we looked back over the past 20 years, you helped us imagine a better tomorrow.
THANK YOU.
Why not complete a #simpleact to celebrate Refugee Week?
STAR student leaders completed one during committee training by sharing their hopes for refugee rights over the next twenty years #RefugeeWeek2018
Help imagine a better and more welcoming society!! pic.twitter.com/cplhJxBDsi
— STAR (Student Action for Refugees) 🧡 (@STARnational) June 18, 2018
@RefugeeWeek My hope for the next twenty years is for all refugees to have their rights and humanity recognised and upheld wherever they seek safety #RefugeeWeek2018 #SimpleActs
— Charlotte 🧡 (@CCionnfhaolaidh) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/NaziaTaiPawb/status/1008733870076911616
You can take part in Simple Acts at any time of year. Why not do one at your school, home, workplace (or somewhere else) today? Visit the Simple Acts page to find out more
