Understanding the Lived Experience of Asylum Seekers
The theme for Refugee Week 2023 is Compassion, but what does this look like? The last few years have been challenging for all of us. We are still adjusting to new realities post-lockdown as well as responding to new crises. Our own experiences are all the tools we need to be compassionate, not just to ourselves and family but also to our neighbours.
The Good Relations team at Ards and North Down Borough Council would like to invite you to a Small Worlds workshop on Friday 23rd June between 6-9pm at 1st Bangor Presbyterian Church. Join us for a cup of tea and an informal chat with others who have arrived in Northern Ireland and want to make this country their home including asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. The workshop will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have from those who have lived experience and perhaps understand better the need for compassion.
Small Worlds experiential workshops: changing hearts and minds
Small Worlds are cafe-style events providing a safe space for participants to encounter others whose lived experience originates from different parts of the world and, more recently, as that of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
How it works: each workshop begins with a short introduction to the asylum-seeking/refugee context. Following this, small groups of 4-6 meet hosts from different countries for 15-20 minutes at a time. Hosts introduce themselves and answer questions about their life stories and their reasons for coming to Northern Ireland. Participants then move on to visit another ‘Small World’ until they have met most of the hosts. Typical workshops last around two hours, with 20-24 participants and four hosts.
Typical participant feedback from Small Worlds:
- ‘It will stay with me that every name we see on the screen has a very important story to tell’. (policy maker)
- ‘Extremely informative, worthwhile workshop. A different view to immigration issues’. (Law Society member)
- ‘An excellent, informative event with gracious and interesting hosts. Recommend this to any organization’. (policy maker)
Registration is best through goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk however if you are out and about, please call in and chat.