|
UK: Kurdish Young refugees with stories to
tell...
24.11.2006
By Stuart Robinson |
|
|
|
November 24, 2006
They were among thousands of refugees and asylum
seekers who fled their war-torn homes in search of a
better life in the UK. Now a number of Kurdish
teenagers are set to tell their stories to the
people of Wakefield after producing their own film
which has helped them clinch a prestigious award.
The 13-strong group who have made new homes across
West Yorkshire, mainly in the Wakefield area, got
involved in a Community Cohesion youth project which
encourages young people to become involved in
working towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The youngsters, who are all Iraqi or Iranian Kurds,
worked to complete a series of projects to achieve
Bronze Award status, learning new skills to help
them come to terms with life in England.
Wakefield Youth Services worker Denise Wheatman, who
worked with the group on the project, said: "The
project was all about getting young people involved
who might not otherwise be part of the Duke of
Edinburgh Awards.
Performing "It involved them performing dance
routines, learning how to use a digital camera and
those sort of things. "But when the West Yorkshire
Sculpture Park heard about the project, they said
they were interested in us putting a film together
about it."
The film, which has been given the title Expedition,
charts the group's arrival alone in Yorkshire.
It sees members of the group, mainly aged between 15
and 19, visiting a local school in traditional
costume, performing a dance and telling their
stories to children.
Organisers are now hoping that the film can be
circulated to groups and schools around Wakefield to
raise awareness of the issues affecting asylum
seekers and refugees in the city.
It presents the young men setting out to explore
their new country, experiencing Yorkshire customs,
documenting their daily lives, meeting residents,
and exploring the ways in which they are able to
express their own cultural background.
Ms Wheatman said: "There are a lot of misconceptions
about asylum seekers and refugees and the hope is
that this film can show local people what life is
like for them, that they are normal people who like
to have fun and that they are here trying to make
their way in the community."
Broadcaster Seven of the film's participants have
been awarded a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The awards were presented yesterday by the Lord
Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe and
Yorkshire writer and broadcaster Ian Clayton at the
sculpture park following the premiere screening of
Expedition.
leedstoday net
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 