“In gatherings like this one where we come together from all walks of life… there is healing in this place right now, in the place of togetherness.” – Laura Nyahuye

The theme of Refugee Week 2022 is ‘Healing’: celebrating community, mutual care, and the human ability to start again.

At the Refugee Week and Platforma Monthly Meet on 02 December 2021, we explored the theme of Healing, and began to think about how we might respond to it in our Refugee Week activities in June 2022.

Together we discussed what healing means for people stuck in the limbo of the asylum system, how community, belonging and creativity can help us heal, and the connection between healing, nature and climate justice.

The discussion was chaired by Laura Nyahuye, Artist and Founder of Maokwo, and the speakers were:

Loraine Masiya Mponela, Chairperson, Coventry Asylum and Refugee Action Group (CARAG)

Elli Free, Director, Room to Heal

Ashish Ghadiali, Filmmaker and Climate Justice Activist

We were also thrilled to be joined by Athens Comics Library, who invited us to imagine ourselves as superheroes…

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Refugee Week & Platforma Monthly Meets are free, friendly online meet-ups on the first Thursday of every month, for people interested in arts, culture and social change to share learning and expand their networks. We are taking a break for January and then look forward to seeing you for the Refugee Week Conference in February!

Platforma is a national network that supports and develops arts by, about and with refugees and migrants, and Refugee Week is a festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees. Platforma and Refugee Week are run/ coordinated by Counterpoints Arts.