One thing lockdown surely taught us all was how much of a difference a conversation can make. Just saying hello and asking how someone how they are can be all it takes to lift their day.

Likewise, warm and open conversations where everyone feels heard can help people around us to think about displacement and migration in new ways. 

There are hundreds of ways to have a chat – here are some ideas to get you started:

• Say hello to someone new in your neighbourhood, workplace, school or community. Ask how they’re doing. Lament or celebrate the weather. It might just make their day!
• Start a conversation with a friend or family member about what it means to be a refugee. Share your experiences, listen to theirs and discover which values you both share. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the resources below.
• Hold a ‘conversation café’ as part of your Refugee Week event – the resource below has some menu ideas to help you.

Resources:

• Changing the Conversation: A Messaging Guide by Freedom From Torture
• Our Media Toolkit: Creating messages and stories by IMIX (especially p5)
• Conversation Menu, Refugee Week 2021

Whether you’re having a one-to-one conversation or facilitating a group discussion, don’t forget to be sensitive to others’ experiences and respect their boundaries about what they want to share.

Share photos or reflections on your conversations on social media using #SimpleActs and #HaveaChat.

If your social media post includes images or names of other people, make sure you get permission first, including from parents/ guardians of anyone under 18.

Have a Chat is one of eight Simple Acts you can do for Refugee Week 2022. To view them all, visit the Simple Acts page.