Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees.

Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the June 20th, Refugee Week is also a growing global movement.

Here in Hastings the Refugee Buddy project says: “Join us in celebrating Refugee Week 2020 with online events, activities and projects”.

Planned events include

Recipe Sharing: Each day there will be the sharing of recipes from the local refugee community, that will take a tour of Syria, Somalia, Sudan and more along with stories of why these recipes are important. These recipes will also be available to download as recipe cards on our website. These recipes are a flavour of our OPEN Family Suppers which will restart once Lockdown is over.

Online Exhibitions: Organisers say they are ‘excited’ to share the work of three artists from the local refugee community. A selection of their artwork, alongside biographies and artist descriptions of the work will be on display.

Stitch For Change: A giant patchwork quilt is being created of individual experiences and names. Thos who want to participate should make a cloth square of six by six or 11×11 inches with a message expressing their own feelings or frustration, of solidarity, or of their experience during lockdown.

Films and books: Each day links to resources will be shared to help people discover more about the lives of people seeking refuge in the UK and across the world.

These activities will be shared across the Hastings the Refugee Buddy Project social media and website:

• Facebook: /TheRefugeeBuddyProject
• Twitter: @Hastings_Buddy
• Instagram: @buddyproject_refugeeselcome
• Website: therefugeebuddyproject.org/refugee-week

Through a programme of arts, cultural and educational events alongside media and creative campaigns, Refugee Week brings about positive encounters between communities, helping them to connect and learn from each other, and promoting a culture of welcome.

Refugee Week is an umbrella festival, and anyone can get involved by holding or joining an event or activity. Refugee Week events happen in all kinds of different spaces and range from arts festivals, exhibitions, film screenings and museum tours to football tournaments, public talks and activities in schools.