REFUGEE WEEK 2020 - LISTENING & LEARNING

THIS WEEK WE WILL BRING YOU OUR GO-TO LIBRARY OF PODCASTS, RADIO STATIONS, BOOKS, ARTISTS AND ARTICLES TO HELP SHAPE POSITIVE AND EMPATHETIC MINDSETS. IN THESE TIMES OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THOSE THAT CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE PERSECUTION AND DISCRIMINATION. THESE ARE THE VOICES AND STORIES WE TURN TO IN ORDER TO REMEMBER – WE ARE ONE HUMANITY.

BOOKS TO READ

THE PEOPLE SMUGGLER BY ROBIN DE CRESPIGNY

This book is about an Iraqi refugee Ali Al Jenabi who flees Saddam Hussein regime and is this process of seeking asylum but caught up in people smuggling, fake passports, crowded camps and illegal border crossing and his journey to Australia. Although this is a brutal and intense account, we believe it’s is an absolute must read.

REFUGEE TO RESIDENT BY IBTIHAL SAMARAYI

An educated girl from a prosperous family in Iraq finds her world turned upside down by circumstances arising from the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. After years of hardship and persistence, Ibtihal and her small family arrive in Australia, where her youthful ambition leads her to study and later teach art as therapy for trauma. The book includes photos of the author’s story and art work.

THE RUGMAKER OF MAZAR-E-SHARIF BY NAJAF MAZARI

This is an easy to read yet harrowing sense of Howard era treatment of refugees. This book traces an Afghan refugee's extraordinary journey-from his early life as a shepherd boy in the mountains of Northern Afghanistan to his forced exile after being captured and tortured by the Taliban, to incarceration in an Australian detention centre...and finally to freedom. "An extraordinary account of an epic journey to freedom, told with great intelligence, humour, poetry and integrity. Even in his darkest hours of despair, Najaf clings to hope and his deep love of life and people." Arnold Zable.

THE GOOD MUSLIM BOY BY OSAMAH SAMI

Not so much about the refugee experience but the lead Osamah emigrated to Australia after the Iran Iraq war. It’s about his journey trying to be a Good Muslim Boy and more about a journey of retaining and rejecting culture and being a young person of refugee background In Australia. Light hearted but really great and covers some important topics. It’s also a movie.

WHAT IS THE WHAT: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF VALENTINO ACHAK DENG

This is a 2006 novel written by Dave Eggers. It is based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese child refugee who immigrated to the United States under the Lost Boys of Sudan program. It was a finalist for the National Book Award.

THE KITE RUNNER BY KHALED HOSSEINI

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed.

NO FRIEND BUT THE MOUNTAIN BY BEHROUZ BOOCHANI

Behrouz Boochani is an Iranian writer, poet and journalist. This is his biography, written one text message at a time from within the Manus detention centre where he was detained for 7 years. It’s really (really) intense and heavy especially when he talks about his boat journey. Read if you want to understand his experience of hopelessness, resilience, prolonged uncertainty, trauma, detention and grasp the dehumanising of people seeking asylum. It’s surreal and powerful and almost unbelievable. Filled with real lived experience but written in a surrealist style. It is beautiful. Follow up No Friend But The Mountain by reading this interview between artist Hoda Afshar and Behrouz Boochani.

BOOKS RECOMMENDED BY OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY:

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE - SAMRA HABIB

FIGHTING FOR HAKEEM - CRAIG FOSTER

THE BONE SPARROW BY ZANA FRAILLON (YOUNG ADULT)

SEA PRAYER BY KHALED HOSSEINI (YOUNG ADULT)

OUT BY ANGELA MAY GEORGE (KIDS PICTURE BOOK)

HOME AND AWAY BY JOHN MARSDEN

MORNINGS IN JENIN BY SUSAN ABULHAWA

FIRST, THEY ERASED OUR NAME: A ROHINGYA SPEAKS - HABIBURAHMAN, SOPHIE ANSEL (TRANS. ANDREA REECE)

BOOKS FOR YOUNG MINDS

*I'm Australian Too by Mem Fox & Ronojoy Ghosh*

*My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood*

*All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman*

INSPIRATIONAL HUMANS TO FOLLOW:

THROUGH MUSIC, POETRY AND SPEAKING THERE ARE SO MANY HUMANS FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. FOLLOW OUR STORIES TO SEE JUST SOME OF THE HEROES WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO READ ABOUT THIS #REFUGEEWEEK2020.

*Nyadol Nyuon, Lawyer + Human Rights Advocate*

*Fadak Alfayadh, Community Lawyer, Advocate + Refugee*

*Julian Burnside, Australian barrister, Human rights + refugee advocate + author*

Sisonke Msimang, Author, Activist + Political Analyst

AND NOW, TAKE ACTION!

IT IS EASY TO FEEL DISMAYED AT HOW POLARISING THE NARRATIVES AROUND REFUGEES AND SEEKING ASYLUM CAN BE. DESPITE THE COMPASSION AND BIG-HEARTEDNESS AND CURIOSITY THAT WE AT FREE TO FEED ARE FORTUNATE TO WITNESS WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT, THIS IS STILL NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WHOLE POPULATION. THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE! THIS #WORLDREFUGEEDAY, WE’RE CALLING ON YOU TO TAKE ACTION AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER. HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE:

Volunteer and give back through:

www.refugeecouncil.org.au/volunteering/

Make an EOFY donation:

www.freetofeed.org.au/donate

www.asrc.org.au/donate/

Host a Free to Feed gathering in your home or let us cater your next event or dinner party!

freetofeed.org.au/home-experiences / www.freetofeed.org.au/catering

Visit asylum seekers in detention and provide social support:

crossingborders.org.au/detention-centre-visits/

Watch and discuss these films with your friends and loved ones:

Capernaum (2018)

A Separation (2011)