AKHRAT: “ALL YOU CAN DO IS SIT AT HOME AND WAIT.”
Refugees dominate the news. But all too often the discussion is about them, not with them. At Humanity House, however, refugees have their say. Why does somebody leave everything behind? And what does a refugee encounter during and after their journey?
On our Journey of a Refugee you step into the shoes of a refugee. After that, you meet eight people who tell of their personal refugee story. For example Shaza Manla (12) from Syria, a musical talent with big plans for the future. And Akhrat Selevani (17) from Iraq, who explains what it was like to spend eight years living and waiting in various Dutch asylum seekers’ centres.
What will the students do?
Why does someone decide to flee their home? In the first session we confront students with difficult questions such as “Would you flee without your family?”. After each question, we zoom in on a current theme. With the help of such questions, facts and figures, we prepare the students for the Journey of a Refugee.
Then the students personally ‘check in’ and set off together on a journey with an assignment book in their hand. Afterwards they share their experiences. What did the journey trigger?
In short: in our museum, your students are not only observers, but also participants, thinkers and doers.
Combine!
Combine your refugee journey with a personal encounter with Sahar, Ayham, Qorban, Yaman or someone else who has fled their home. Your pupils discover that ‘a refugee’ is a human being just like them, with dreams, feelings and fears. Somebody who goes to school or work, likes to spend time with family and friends, and likes to have fun. In short: a refugee leads a life that is not all that different from theirs.